Driving Range Woes and Lead Shoulder Help

[JGus]

Will start with the Driving Range Woes, I always seem to struggle when I go to the range. I never feel comfortable with anything I do, which is weird as when I am playing the course everything feels comfortable. I can't seem to find the same level of confidence at the range as I do on the course and always feel like I am changing something in every swing. In the past I have not spent to much time at the range, but now that I have joined a club I plan to hit the range at least twice a week. Is this a mental block that I just haven't gotten past or is it because I don't go the range enough? I am hoping that practicing at least twice a week helps to overcome this problem, but don't have any idea on why this happens. Has anybody else overcame this issue and if so, what did you do that helped, or is anybody going through the same issues? My normal practice session starts with putting/chipping for about 30 minutes, then I go to the range, I stretch out some more, and start with easy swings with my PW or 7 iron until I feel ready to fully swing. I start with my SW and work my way up, and if I have time I will work back down, then I putt/chip for another 30 minutes.

Second issue, my left shoulder (righty). My instructor pointed this out when I took my lessons at the end of last year and I have been working on it, but just can't stop it. On my down swing when I start my bump/slide/weight shift my left shoulder turns with my hips so at impact it is not parallel with the target line/ball, which causes me to come more out to in with an open club face. Is there any drills that can help me keep that shoulder square through impact. When I force it to stay it feels like I have no acceleration through the ball. Any help/tips would be great! Thanks!

[Zeph]

Concerning the woes, think about every ball you hit on the range being important, like it is on the course. Pick your target, find a club, set up like you normally would and swing away. It is easy to start minigunning balls at the range without any goal or objective at all, that is counter-productive. Always have something to work on and pick yourself targets.

[saevel25]

So lets at the top of the swing, if your shoulders are 90 degrees to the target line, then your hips are 45 degrees. So your saying at impact your shoulders are open to the target line, not square. Thats fine, actually i believe majority of the time at impact your chest should be pointing slightly ahead of the ball. But if its way ahead, then your just rotating everything at once, loosing all torque. I would try to get the feeling of of holding your back to the target more at the top of your swing.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Look at tom watson hit a golf ball. He tuns back, then everything is going down and through the ball. If you concentrate on swinging down from the top, your back will stay to the target a little longer and you wont spin your shoulders out. Try that at the range with some half shots and see how it changes your feel.

[JGus]

Concerning the woes, think about every ball you hit on the range being important, like it is on the course. Pick your target, find a club, set up like you normally would and swing away.

I try to do this, but I let the frustration and thoughts of always changing my swing take over, but agree this is what I should be doing. Just need to force myself to focus on this now that I am going to the range more.

I would try to get the feeling of holding your back to the target more at the top of your swing.

If you concentrate on swinging down from the top, your back will stay to the target a little longer and you wont spin your shoulders out. Try that at the range with some half shots and see how it changes your feel.

Thanks, will add this to my list of things to work on the next time I get to the range!