is a good session at the range empowering?

[clearwaterms]

last night I was at the range, and I hit the ball very well. With few exceptions, I was picking my spot and hitting towards that spot. I was hitting my driver straight and was consistenly hitting it pretty far. So my question to you is this. When you hit the ball well at the range, do you feel impowered that you are out for a better round? Or is it decieving?

A few weeks ago, I had a break through at the range, I felt like I hit the ball great - only to go to the course the next day and play terrible. So now I a leary about a good day at the range.

[O.B. Right]

I don't know how long you've been playing but maybe you're like me. I have had great sessions at the range and played horribly at the next round. It's mental. When I'm standing at the tee and looking up the fairway some circuits switch over in my head and I start to do things I know I shouldn't do . . like pull away from the ball during my downswing . .or look up too soon.

Next time this happens try doing what you do at the range. Slow down your swing. Start swinging 3/4 strength or even less . .until the ball starts going straight again and you get back into your groove.

[Bullitt5339]

I do the same thing. If I'm hitting super at the range, my next round will normally be horrible. It's all mental though, at the range it doesn't matter if you hit a bad shot, so you normally don't. When you get on the course, it really matters, and gets in your head, and then you try too hard.

I have identified my problem, but I can't seem to get myself to just relax and hit decent shots on the course.

[RCF]

A good session at the range for me will carryover to the course and vice versa.

A month ago I had a bad time at the range because I was trying out my new fariway wood. Three days later I played my worse round of the year.

[ControlJunkie]

I wouldnt say it's decieving, as good shots, whether you're at the range or on the course, come from good swings. The range can definitely help build confidence. I also take everything at the range with a grain of salt, as range balls arent anywhere near the quality of what we normally play in a round.

I tend to agree with what the previous guys said -a lot of it is mental, because at the range, there's no pressure, you know you have 100 balls, and if you hit a bad shot, so what?? You've got a bunch more to fall back on.

I like to have a progression where I'll spend time at the range, then play 4-6 balls on the course on some days (when there's no one else on, obviously ) because I feel like it helps me translate the good things I do on the range to the course, and I have that security blanket that I'm playing multiple balls. I'll also try out different shots from varying lies.

Try that out and see if it helps, it should serve as a good bridge between the range and your normal rounds.

[zrlaegel]

i feel it can be. when i go though i typically look for a range that has a grass hitting area(practice like you play) hitting from the mats i feel is somewhat deceiving because you are hitting it from a good spot every time. playing on the grass you can vary your difficulty to prepare for situations you encounter while playing. after that you can try shaping shots as well. maybe once a week when im warmed up i'll also use some of my balls (4 or 5) to better visualize my progress in whatever aspect of my game i am working on

[kfowler]

It's empoowerring until you hit that first shank on hole number 1. Then it's back to reality.

[zrlaegel]

lmao.......good one

[Supermanwoot]

It's empoowerring until you hit that first shank on hole number 1. Then it's back to reality.

thats me. I am dominating balls with the driver on the range then I cant hit it straight for my life on the course.

[deronsizemore]

A few weeks ago, I had a break through at the range, I felt like I hit the ball great - only to go to the course the next day and play terrible. So now I a leary about a good day at the range.

It takes a while (something like 2000 repetitions) to start ingraining something new into your swing. You likely started hitting it well at the range because you got into a groove. Happens all the time. You get in a groove because you're hitting the same club over and over again rather than hitting a driver, then wedge, then 5 iron, etc. like you would on the course.

Once you got to the course the next day you likely reverted back to what felt comfortable rather than sticking to your breakthrough from the range the previous day. To answer your question, I do feel like I know when I'm about to have a good ball striking day based on previous range sessions. It works both ways though. Earlier in the year I felt like I couldn't hit anyway straight on the range and was pretty aggravated at myself. Next day I shot -1.

[Dub]

It's empoowerring until you hit that first shank on hole number 1. Then it's back to reality.

Ohhhhh nooooooooo.................

It can seem that way.....if you let it. No...let your good range session boost your confidence so that when you are out on the course you know you are capable of making good things happen. Let the mishits and bad lies challenge you....get you fired up about recovery. "Okay....I hooked my drive a bit....now I'm blocked from the green....hmmnnn......". You could get all pissed off and defeated for hitting a bad shot....or you could respond at this point with a challenge...."Okay, I've hooked it over here.....let's see if I can hook it back to the front edge of the green and still get par". Golf is all about having the confidence to know that you can do it, and then setting up properly to do so....then clearing you mind of everything but the target.

[n8dogg2669]

I went to the range yesterday. I practice at the Michigan State University golf course. I have a range card that lets me practice on the short game area which consist of 2 greens and some bunkers and you can hit 70yd shots to the greens. Yesterday I had a real good session. I feel extremely confident with my 60* wedge right now. I was able to hit multiple different types of shots to the pin, low grabbing shots, high soft landing, running them a bit. I even hit the pin twice yesterday .. but i left there feeling really confident with my favorite wedge. We'll see on sunday, playing a 4 person scramble on a short course with 2 guys who compete in Long Drive tourneys... should have alot of wedge shots sunday..

[2bGood]

I find I shoot worse at the range then on the course. Truth is in a real round I am more focused on the result then ball flight etc. At the range I have been working on a swing change, it I really focus my range time on makeing that change, come game day i just play with what I got (wich is bit more like the swing I am building then the last time, but less then my "range" swing)

[Doctorfro]

I don't put much stock in the range unless I simply can't hit the ball at all. As a matter of fact I've gotten to where I don't like going there at all. It just messes me up mentally if I hit it poorly. I know practice is essential in becoming a better golfer but I think hitting shots on the course is far better for your game in the long run. I know, who has two to five hours to "practice" on the course. The range for me now is more of a place to warm up before a round and maybe a place to figure out how to hit a certain shape or trajectory shot. I don't find a good session there empowering. I hope it's simply productive. And right now, I'm playing my best golf ever. Must be on to something here.

[kfowler]

I went to the range yesterday. I practice at the Michigan State University golf course. I have a range card that lets me practice on the short game area which consist of 2 greens and some bunkers and you can hit 70yd shots to the greens. Yesterday I had a real good session. I feel extremely confident with my 60* wedge right now. I was able to hit multiple different types of shots to the pin, low grabbing shots, high soft landing, running them a bit. I even hit the pin twice yesterday

I actually think short game transfers very well from the range/putting area. For me it has anyway. Probably because it's something that's hard to find a good facility to practice on.

[Smiffy]

I never, ever go to the range....never.

Don't know what your ranges are like "over there" but over here we have to hit solid plastic balls off of astroturf mats or rubber tees that are chewed up and about 3 times higher than normal wooden ones.
Doesn't matter how well I have played on the course, put me on a range and all thoughts of a decent swing go out of the window and I'm lucky if I can hit my driver 180 yards. A good 7 iron for me off of the mats is about 120!!

Number of people I have seen hitting balls like God, straight as an arrow with their drivers and then they get out on the course and are continually chipping sideways out of trees and bushes!

[deronsizemore]

I never, ever go to the range....never.

That's crazy. I guess I take for granted how well I have it. I go to the range during lunch break and then usually again after work and hit off real grass with real golf balls. I can't imagine having to only hit off mats and having to hit plastic golf balls. How do the driving ranges stay in business over there? Are there no ranges with real grass and real balls to use?

[Smiffy]

Are there no ranges with real grass and real balls to use?

I'm not aware of any out and out ranges that have grass over here. A few of the bigger golf courses have decent ranges, but you have to be playing there to use them. Of course, most have practice grounds but once again you have to be a member, or at least playing as a guest for the day, to use them.

Driving ranges over here are big business, but as I say...mats and plastic balls. Sure the balls feel and look like the real deal but they only fly about 80% of the distance. http://www.golfschool.co.uk/practicefacilities.htm If the link above works, the top picture will give you a good idea of what we have to put up with over here. This is a public driving range.....