Better to putt or hit the range first?

[OCdude12]

When warming up for an early morning tournament, do you like to hit some putts first, getting your slow rhythm going, or warm up on the range with the full swing?

[deronsizemore]

I like to putt first simply because I want to be as loose as possible and I like to try to get in some kind of rythmn when I head to the first tee. If I go to the range first and loosen up and then putt before I go to the first tee, depending on how long I putt I could get stiff again.

[Fourputt]

Since I never hit the range, but I also don't putt first, I guess I have no answer for your poll. I warm up for 15 or 20 minutes at the chipping green with short pitches and chips, as well as a few bunker shots. Then I may hit a half dozen putts right before I go to the tee. But I don't even bother with the chipping green unless it's for a tournament.

[Dub]

Don't play many tourneys.


On the casual rounds that I play, I prefer to stretch and warm-up on the range first.

I then like to fill the remaining time on the chipping and putting green.

[MiniMoe]

I always putt a little first just to get a little loose and gain a little feel. I play a quick 18 holes of different lengths and different breaks. It takes 10 minutes and gets my mind off of other things and ready to go. After that, I only need about 25 balls to warm up and be ready to go. My first 10-15 balls are 1/2 and 3/4 swings and are without regard to where they go or contact or anything other than getting my muscles lose. The last 5-10 are with a purpose. A few wedges, a few 7 irons, and a few drivers... all just like I'm on the course. Then it's back to the putting green to make a few short putts. I want the last thing I want to be in my brain are thoughts of made putts... no matter how short.

A good warm up routine is the start to a good round.

[Zeph]

First range, then chipping, then putting.

Getting warm on the range then calming down with some easier swinging and finally putting. Don't think either way will make any difference to my game. I always stretch and take a couple extra practice swings on the first tee, I won't get stiff in 5 minutes at the putting green after hitting a bucket or two of balls.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

I usually hit the range first. I like to hit the practice green whenever possible but the focus is only on the stroke, never the results. In my experience there are a lot of courses that don't maintain the practice green up to level that you'll see out on the course.

I play cheaper courses more often than I play the upper tier ones so I'm sure there's some correlation but I can't stand grooving a distance stroke on the practice green then going out and racing the first putt 6 feet by.

My putting is pretty consistent (note that I didn't say it's very good) but my iron play has been hit/miss lately so I'd sooner devote the time I have to grooving a good iron/wedge swing because that tends to influence my score the most lately.

[retexan599]

I like to hit no more than 4-5 balls on the range just before -- because I just don't like to go from the parking lot to the 1st tee, but not to tire myself out before I even start...same for putting, just about 2 real short putts, then 2 fairly long ones to test the greens.

[PEZGolf]

When warming up for an early morning tournament, do you like to hit some putts first, getting your slow rhythm going, or warm up on the range with the full swing?

I prefer to warm up at the range, and then go through a routine of hitting three quarter shots, and then full shots with a 7 iron, 4 iron, 5 metal wood, and then the driver. After that, I go to the practice putting green and practice both putting and chipping. By that time, I am ready for the first tee.

[user9800]

I used to hit the range first, but I have been putting first lately and I seem to get a better start at the 1st tee. As long as I don't need to wait around to tee off. My driver seems alot happier that it doesn't have to wait in my bag while I putt.