Driving range woes

[kris]

Ok guys, so I have a problem that isn't as serious as it is annoying.

I can't hit for the life of me on the driving range. Well, that's not entirely true. I can hit my hybrid, driver and wedges ok most of the time. But when I attempt to hit an iron, i either top it, hit it thin, or skull it sideways at an odd angle. This happens like 7 out of 10 times. the most unusual thing to the whole story is.... I don't have this problem AT ALL when i'm out on the course! i generally hit clean shots that are relatively straight and I actually appear to be a normal golfer out there. but when i go to the range to try and get some consistency going, the whole thing goes to sh*t.

Now, it's not as big of a problem as the reverse might be (good on the range, lousy on the course) but it's still an annoying problem nonetheless. I guess i wouldn't mind as much but I'm slightly worried these bad memories on the range will creep in to my play on the course and that would not be a pretty sight. I just want some consistency in my swing so that it doesn't matter at what location i'm hitting the ball, at least i'm hitting the ball well.

Does anyone else have or has anyone had this problem before? Any advice on how to fix it?

[Drennen13]

Just think that your out on the course, getting ready to hit the shot shot onto the green or off of the teebox. Golf is a huge mental game, and it sounds to me like your not getting the face of the club square on impact because your so worried about hitting the perfect shot. Just relax and let it come natural so you get the confidence to hit the same shot every time.

[PingGKEN]

Same thing here. Out on the course its a totally different mental game. There is a solid goal, a real target, you (hopefully) use a different club every shot, your surroundings change between shots, ..... all of those and more help to keep me focused and not worrying about mechanics and making the "perfect shot".

On the range, I'm so worried about hitting it correctly every time, so I can say that I am practicing correctly, that I end up going to sh*t too.

I took a lesson, recently, from the pro here and he let me know what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong. We focused on one thing to work on for starters. (Staying on plane in the backswing.) That way, I can focus in on exactly what to practice at the range and not be too worried about the results.

For me, when I know that I am being productive, and working on the right things, the range sessions seem to be ok.

[CG031]

You're probably over swinging too hard...that's when I get off my game at the range, and then I hit it really bad. But on the course, I have a certain tempo and rhythm, so I don't over-swing. But on the range, I have a tendency to overswing.

Try this.

[Elsfan]

It will creep into your play on the course. I remember it happened to me. Thing was I was playing great on the course and terrible on the range. Then terribly on both and went and talk to a PGA pro. Something is going on with your swing.

[HSip]

You don't mention if your range is grass or mats. I get some pretty squirrely irons off mats (trying to hit down, etc, etc). If that's not it - are you picking a target when practicing on the range? One thing for sure, you are absolutely right that good on course/ bad on range is MUCH better than the opposite. Cheers

[Mark E. Wallace]

I have the same issue, but I don't really think too much of it, for two reasons.

1) Performance on the course matters most, and
2) Despite the occasional range woes, my practice pays off on the course. I consistently get better through practice. Were that not the case, the range issues would bug me.

- Mark

[mrserv0n18]

I cant slice a drive at the range no matter how hard I hit the ball, when I am on the course I have to drop 15mph from my swing just to keep it straight.

[flopdarock]

You don't mention if your range is grass or mats. I get some pretty squirrely irons off mats (trying to hit down, etc, etc). If that's not it - are you picking a target when practicing on the range? One thing for sure, you are absolutely right that good on course/ bad on range is MUCH better than the opposite. Cheers

this is what i was thinking also...

id rather hit off of dirt than hit off of those mats... ive been to courses where you warm up on mats and it totally doesnt give you an indication of your tendencies with irons... even the tee height screws with me when i hit a couple of driver shots... you can never find a whole rubber tee... but if your range is grass... then id have to say its more of a mental thing

[kris]

You're probably over swinging too hard...that's when I get off my game at the range, and then I hit it really bad. But on the course, I have a certain tempo and rhythm, so I don't over-swing. But on the range, I have a tendency to overswing.

i think you and Hsip hit the nail on the head.

i noticed while warming up today on the range that i was trying to kill the ball. i was over swinging like mad. don't know how i never noticed this before. Once i figured it out, i calmed myself down a bit and kept it smooth and, whatta you know, i'm hitting as usual again. also, as Hsip and flopdarock said, i think the mats may have something to do with it. most of the ranges i play at have mats and this totally doesn't simulate what i'm doing on the course. when i'm taking a practice swing on the course, i concentrate on brushing the grass so i know i'll have the proper rhythm for the actual swing. i don't do this on the range, well, because there's no grass. i have noticed that on grass ranges i tend to have better range sessions. thanks for the replies guys.

[Greg]

one thing you might do is try to find a specific spot to hit your iron to, as if you were trying to hit it to a green. I usually just try to hit my irons smoothly and as straight as i can, at the range i go to most often, i try to hit from straight away from the yardage signs and try to keep my shots inline with them, thats how I determine how straight im hitting them, might even get real daring and try to hit them sometimes, but usually cant control the ball that well.