Officially burned out on practice!!!

[ohiolefty]

Been hitting around 225 balls every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the past six weeks in order to get ready physically and swing-wise for a very busy golf season - have a membership now so I expect to be playing 2-3 times a week until June and 5+ times a week from June to August (I'm a teacher, we have summers off).

It was going well, very productive, until the end of Febuary. Then I had a swing emergency (shanks, first time in my life!) which I was able to remedy, and now we're at Mid-March.

So ready to play golf it's ridiculous. I'm in better shape, stronger, flexible, with more of a sense of what my swing should be. Now it's time to play.

Physically, I'm fine and much better than where I was where I started. But, I am a little mentally fried from all these practice sessions. I NEED TO WALK 18 BEAUTIFUL HOLES AGAIN. It doesn't even matter if I play bad...as long as I break 90 and hit a few good shots, it's okay

It makes me really respect the pros that can grind and grind and grind on the practice tee. That's why they play for money and I play for the 5-10 shots I 'pure' every time I go around.

[enis750]

Philly Mac said it best

it not practice that makes perfect...it's perfect practice

the need to hit this many balls probably is un called for?
maybe....

personally....

I hit like 10 buckets ALL SUMMER AND WINTER......
bores me to tears hitting balls
I would rather putt, chip and practice from 30-110 yds out
you will benefit from this way more i think

but i do hear ya on getting out
im getting itchy too :)

[James_Black]

hitting that many golf balls could be teaching you bad habits.
are you getting lessons too?

[mattttt25]

I just hit the range for the first time this year. Absolutely great session, playing with a good friend. About 150 balls, most of them a 7-iron just working on an athletic swing. Really hit well, can't wait for this year.

[ohiolefty]

Yes - I am getting lessons.

And, that pracice regimen is over...thank god. I think it did more for me physically than it did for my swing.

[WUTiger]

Years ago when I shot in the 80s, I used to have a spring "warmup" time. I would block off two weeks in March. For about 10 of 14 days, I would work on the game for an hour or two, and arrange a couple of nine holes with range balls before and after.

Toward the end, I would take a lesson to short-circuit any serious glitches I saw. It got me back into the game mentally, and helped get my shot routine back to fairly automatic.

Then, as long as I played once a week and hit a few balls on another day, things worked OK.

I haven't done the preseason but once in the last ten years, and I never seem to get "in the groove" except for an occasional round. With some warmups this spring, and the fact I switched to regular-flex shafts last season, maybe I can stabilize the swing.

[Rexx]

That's a lot of golf balls to hit. My back hurts just thinking about it. :) I'm with enis750... probably even less... a half dozen times to the range a year (usually tagging along with someone else). When I first started golfing, I would go to the range a lot (about once per week), but now I'm just too lazy to practice... would rather just play if I'm going to a course. Probably should reconsider that position at some point.

[deronsizemore]

Like others have pointed out, that's a TON of balls to hit three days in a row. Your body is likely getting worn down and thus you start making bad swings. When you think about the average round of golf being anywhere from an 85-100 and half of that score is short game, you're only hitting 40ish full shots during a round of golf. So essentially you're swinging equal to four+ rounds of golf for three days in a row for the last six weeks.

I'd suggest going to the range and hitting no more than 45-50 balls. If you do hit more than that, make them shots inside of 100 yards so you're not really using much energy. Spend more time around the putting green too instead of those extra balls. Your scores will love you for it.

[Shanks A Million]

I don't know, I hit a minimum of 700 balls a week, and that's not a big deal. I'll hit 250 in a day sometimes. As you do it week in and week out, you'll get used to it. I am on a mission though, and I love to practice. I went from shooting in the 110s (30+ handicap) last January to being around a 9 this January. I'm trying to get to scratch by this next January. I'm by no means in good shape, but you can get used to nearly anything.

I know it's only a matter of removing the boneheaded mistakes from my game at this point, and getting more confident with long par 5s (I'm not good with fairway woods, but getting better). I think it's possible. I can get mostly pars now, and birdies are becoming easier, especially when playing with good, fast greens.

[clubchamp]

I barely hit the range much anymore because I went through the same thing. I got burned out from hitting balls so I decided to take more of my 6 to 9 hole evening rounds make them practice sessions. I work on my short game a lot but ball striking I just work on while I'm playing. It seems to keep me from losing focus and I can also work on a lot more shots.

[Zeph]

To ingrain new feelings and changes, hitting balls is the only way, or at least swinging. You can do it on the course, but it's more difficult.

[ks8829]

If your practice gave your results you would feel energized instead of burn out. I only practice making solid contact and work on distance control with my wedges. The wedges warm up before a round also helps me make a good backswing.

[ericstamper]

take a buddy to the range and play point games.......also try hitting new shots (100 yard 7 iron).......bored???? aim for the guy picking up the balls in the cart thats make it fun for me.........after your bucket drive in your car back and forth honking in someones backswing that will get a little fun

[Titleist_ProV1x]

practice!!! practice!!! practice!!! lol

I usually hit 2 small buckets a day, one in the morning and another in the late afternoon, why small buckets? I learned it's not how many you hit, but how well you hit what little you have, I try to hit each shot as if I'm playing a course

[Shanks A Million]

practice!!! practice!!! practice!!! lol

I'm thinking of switching to something like this. I currently hit 120 full shots, + chipping and putting each day, about 6 days a week. But my leg has been injured twice in the last 3 months, and I'm starting to think I'm overdoing it. I might go to 60 full swings, chipping + putting and just spend more time chipping.

[BonoVox]

take a buddy to the range and play point games.......also try hitting new shots (100 yard 7 iron).......bored???? aim for the guy picking up the balls in the cart thats make it fun for me.........after your bucket drive in your car back and forth honking in someones backswing that will get a little fun

Yeah ahving a buddy with you is fun. A lot of times my buddy and I will share a hitting area and alternate shots.

I have seen a lot of younger players bringing Ipods to the range. I have never done this. But don't rule it out.

[Prairie Golfer]

Praciticing the full swing has bored me to death since I was a child. I hit three buckets on the range in March and, if I don't take an extended break from playing during the season, that will be the last time I hit the driving range this year. I like practicing the short game though. I drop a ball near the practice green, pick a club to chip, then hopefully grab the putter and try to complete the up and down. Toss the ball somewhere else interesting and repeat.

[Doctorfro]

I've gone away from being a range rat. Playing is more fun and.....isn't that why we're out there? I get to the range maybe once a week. I'd rather spend time on the course and if I do practice, I spend it on the putting green. Range is necessary now and then, especially if you can't get it on the club face at all. But I say go and play, practice on the course. Go out and play when the course is not busy and hit extra shots when you hit it bad.