Hit driver better on course than at practice range

[SQ Bimmer]

Usually it is the other way around for most people. Although I wasn't that great off the tee during my last round, I drove the ball much better than I do during practice and it is becoming really frustrating. I feel like I can't practice my driver and learn anything at the range. Can it be the rubber tees at the range that just aren't working for me? The club? I hit 3w and 5w just fine.

[Chilli Dipper]

It could be that having a frame of reference in which to aim your shot (as in having a fairway, rough, and hazards in front of you instead of an open field) helps you off the tee.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

It could be just that you concentrate more on the golf course. I know for me it's easy to get on the range and just beat balls and lose focus. Whenever I do that I'll eventually start hitting it very poorly. Maybe try playing the course per say on the range instead of hitting driver after driver after driver without much purpose.

[Scott_K]

If the rubber tee is higher or lower than what you normally do on the course, it can throw you off. Prior to going to a 460 driver, I use to have a tough time with the rubber tees at my range because I tee'd the ball lower on the course. Now those tees seem to be fine.

[murpbrad]

I've always been much better at driving the ball on an actual hole than on the range. It is much easier for me to pick a target and set up correctly when I have an actual idea of what I want to do with the shot

[wubskis]

Perhaps it's the target to aim for as others said, but perhaps you just strive well under pressure and perform to your peak. Either way, this is one of those things you shouldn't question

[SQ Bimmer]

It's definitely not the target. I aim for a 220 yard green. I aim all my 4iron and higher shots at that green. Usually my drives will carry right over the 220 yard sign if I hit it spot on. So I definitely have a small target, as I do on the course, I always have a small target so that I can miss small.

If the rubber tee is higher or lower than what you normally do on the course, it can throw you off. Prior to going to a 460 driver, I use to have a tough time with the rubber tees at my range because I tee'd the ball lower on the course. Now those tees seem to be fine.

It is an automatic ball dispenser, and the tee has 4 height settings, and I am in between the two highest settings. The 3rd setting is just a tad too low so I have to put the ball a little more in the middle of my stance, and the highest setting is a tad too high, so I put the ball just a tad forward.

It might be the height of the tee, but I play those heights on the course sometimes, depending what kind of height I want to get out of the shot, and I hit them mostly fine on the course as well. But yea, maybe I'm trying to get my stock ball flight out of my non-stock tee height and that is messing me up. Tonight I am going to the range that I can hit off the grass, so I will see if I do better hitting my standard drive. The only problem with this range is they have pretty old shag balls with worn dimples and you cannot get the distance.

[Yanks Fan]

I have the same "problem" as you; although I gotta say it's a nice problem lol. I know for me personally, out on the range, I just get bored with hitting balls over and over even if I act like I'm playing the course on the range. The longest range session I've had in the past year was probably 30-35 balls. I can't even finish a small bucket of balls before just getting bored with it.

[mrprovisional]

I wish I had your problem. I rather be bad at a range and do good on the course.

[Meisce]

I have the same issue ( only with the driver. Opposite happens with the other clubs ).

In my case it's because I just let go on the course, whereas I'm trying to correct aspects of my swing on the range. Maybe swing thoughts on the range allowing tension to creep in?

I discovered this recently and have been hitting the driver better when I release all tension and just swing on the course. I'm automatically in analysis mode on the range. I'm starting to figure out how to switch off the brain when actually playing

[Scott_K]

It's definitely not the target. I aim for a 220 yard green. I aim all my 4iron and higher shots at that green. Usually my drives will carry right over the 220 yard sign if I hit it spot on. So I definitely have a small target, as I do on the course, I always have a small target so that I can miss small.

I adjust tee height on the course as well. About half of the ball is above the top of the clubhead for a higher shot and about 1/3 of the ball above for a lower shot. This is provided I hit it right

I try not to use range balls to gauge distance. It's more for ball striking and shaping shots. I've gone to the same range for a number of years where they cycle in the range balls a few times a season. Sometimes they're ok, sometimes they're horrid. A lot of people dump used balls into the mix, so ever bucket you usually get a handful of decent balls. I'll use those handful to help confirm that I'm working on something correctly.