Range vs. Course

[Mathew]

A quick question for the forum;

What would you recommend.

A. Play 18 holes 3 times a month, range time limited to preround. or

B. Range once a week and playing 18 holes once a month.

Being a high handicap player that wants to get better. I was wondering if playing on the course would be better vrs. the driving range.

Thanks.

[FX(TM)]

Although you can get lessons and improve your swing on the range, there's no way to improve your overall game and actually put that swing into action unless you're playing on the course as often as possible.

[Gioguy21]

as a high handicapper, hit the range more than playing on course...but don't limit how many times you get on the course...once a month...?

[James_Black]

I'd say do 50-50
go to the range 1 day, go on the course the other.

[FX(TM)]

Hey, seems you guys have different ideas to me! I just didn't find playing on the range to be any benefit whatsoever. Shame.

[mhenrickson]

As much as I like to go to the range and just pound balls, for me that just doesn't compare to actually playing a round on the course. From a pure enjoyment perspective I would always choose playing on a course vs going to the range.

I also think with more playing you will get better. On the range you can get into a groove and really start striping balls, which doens't always carry over to the course, because on the course you're not hitting ball after ball from the same spot with the same club.

[Teklabz]

A quick question for the forum;

you must be busy to not be able to do both I guess. Or married with a less than supportive spouse! Like me : {

[Mathew]

Money is the cause of the once a month course play, if it was up to me I'd play three times a week!

[Mathew]

you must be busy to not be able to do both I guess. Or married with a less than supportive spouse! Like me : {

I guess the 50hr a week job and the two kids has some effect on it too. HA

[nevets88]

If you want to improve your score, the course. If you want to work on your swing, the range and real grass or at least the simulated grass.

[Teklabz]

I suppose it does! My full time and part-time job (so about 60-70 hrs per week) and 1 kid (with another due in September, thankfully AFTER the summer!), and of course the disapproving spouse, limit my time as well.

[parplease]

I would say more range time only if you're actually hitting off grass. Those rubber mats give a false sense of good contact. Don't be like a friend of mine who practices his golf, on the golf course. No range at all "I'm gonna hit another, and another" is heard quite often when playing with him. The golf course is to play golf. The range is the place to work on things in preparation to play golf.

I'm a high handicap and now instead of continually hitting balls at the range, I'll sneak over to the executive course and play for the cost of Jumbo bucket.

There are plenty of options. But as long as you get the club in your hands, you can't go wrong. Good luck.

[Leftygolfer]

I have always liked playing the most and improved the most playing. Usually at the range, unless I have a specific thing I am working on (I always work on alignment) I feel like I waste my time there. It isn't like playing golf to me. If I hit any more than a small bucket I feel tired and bored by the end. I am much better on the course than at the range becuase when I am playing there is a sort of way about the game. I am wild on the range, when I am playing I rarely am. I vote play.

[Mathew]

I'll have a really good session on the range (even before a round) and I just cannot get it to transfer to the course. I'm happy with my short game, of course it needs some work, but my real issue is off the tee. Driver is horrible, Left one hole, Right the next, what's a Fairway??? Last round I played I put the Driver away after 13 and used my 3W from 14 on. Hit 4 of 4 fairways. So I plan on woking with the 3W a lot more.

[FX(TM)]

I'll have a really good session on the range (even before a round) and I just cannot get it to transfer to the course. I'm happy with my short game, of course it needs some work, but my real issue is off the tee. Driver is horrible, Left one hole, Right the next, what's a Fairway??? Last round I played I put the Driver away after 13 and used my 3W from 14 on. Hit 4 of 4 fairways. So I plan on woking with the 3W a lot more.

Perhaps you should use the 3 wood whilst you feel un-confident with the driver, meanwhile use the driver at a proper grass range so you have the feel of the ground too. Then when you build a bit of confidence, take it out on the course.

[saevel25]

When going to the range, always lay down something for alignment, maybe just a club or some elaborate set up. Run through your preshot rutine on every shot. You can just go out there and wack balls, have no clue if your aiming right, then you get to the course and wonder why its going right or left..

[Giospro]

This what works for me (Work full time job and i teach golf part time at night 2 to 4 hrs every other night-12 to 14 hrs for work time some days or less and still have time with the kids, married, 3 kids), i go early in the morning and do 9 or 18 hole or on the range do it randomly before work, you don't want to have the same routine all the time every day but every day is diferent couse of the kids or something., lunch at work i spend 1/2 to 1 hrs on the range.
The thing is, there is always ways to work around it, to practice and play if you have family or not.

[sean_miller]

What would you recommend.

When you play, make a note of shots you'll need to work on (or shots you'd like to add to your arsenal) next time you're at the range. They may not transfer right away, but stick with it.

When I started golfing, I preferred playing over range time. Then again I worked on the course and on days could practice on empty holes - without paying!!