Practice versus play.

[Stretch]

Let's say you're a mid-handicap hacker who's never really had time to devote to the game before. But now you do, and you have access to a decent course and decent practice facility. You'd like to become a solid player who can go out and generally shoot somewhere in the 70s and enjoy the round without getting too bent out of shape about a shot here or a shot there. No one's contemplating going out on tour.

So, how much do you practice and how much do you actually play? Pulling a number out of my ass, let's say you can put in about 14 hours a week. And how do you break up your practice time between the putting green, the short game area and the range?

Any rules of thumb gratefully accepted.

[Felenah]

Hmm I usually spend about 10 hours a week at the practice range. In 2 days I usually spend about an hour and a half putting, 2 hours chipping, an hour and a half to two hours hitting 100 to 150 yd shots, then about 30 mins hitting my driver. This doesn't include the time I spend at home swinging my wieghted club and swinging in front of the mirror to look for abnormailties. I usually play about 1 round a month, golf is pricy atm. when it hits 100 plus degrees then I'll play more, golf usually gets to about $10 a round.

[RobS]

Make a practice schedule devoting as much time, if not more, to your short game. Ok, more. Stick to it and you'll be shootin in the 70s in no time!

[alomar123]

I thought the range was awesome till I started playing 3 times a day. If you can get a membership take advantage of the play

[martytilma]

If I were you I would devote at least 3/4 of your time to your short game! That is where you really start making up strokes! What I like to do is practice out on the course. Don't know if that is possible for you or not, but at my course when I play there is nobody out there and I can do pretty much whatever I want. Nothing better than working on different things out on the course!

[Zeph]

I practice a lot more than I play. Practice is probably about 95% full swing, 4,9% chipping and 0,1% putting. Don't have a chipping or putting green, so I sometimes just putt on a green on one of the holes on the course. Chipping I just do in the backyard of the house.

[ks8829]

I played one year everyday without practicing and never got better except for an occasional low round followed up the next day with a high round. If I had to do over again I would practice my short game 95% of my practice time, starting with putting, chipping and pitching or in another words practice from the hole backwards. If you do this for the first two months and one round a week or every two weeks you will see results. I would modify the percentage of practice bases on your reassessement of your total game after the initial two months of entirely short game.

I started doing this a couple of years ago and its the fastest way to lower your score and stay low. The beauty of practicing more than you play is that you start to see the result of your practice immediately and its a great feeling.

[martytilma]

....in another words practice from the hole backwards.

dead on!!!!

[atrapasuenos]

I practice a bit more... yesterday I went to the range from 11am to 1:30pm and then from 5:30pm to 8:00pm... Today it's a different stroy, I will go to practice 1 hour, then play 9 holes, the I will go to the other course at 4pm and play until 9pm that the light is out hehehe, I think I will play 36 holes today!

Greetings!

[Jcp907]

I was contemplating Range and lessons vs play. I went Range and lessons with 1-2 rounds per week. The issue with rounds is that you have no control with regard to how long they take.

With regards to what to practice, I am going to go against the grain and offer my opinion that you should practice where you are weakest. Determine where your game needs work, and then work on saving strokes there. Do you get a lot of penalty strokes? Practice ball striking. If all else is equal, practice Putting, then chipping, then pitching, then full swing. Practice based on recommendations of an instructor, not free advice.

[kpaulhus]

I have been slacking on my range time lately, but Im saving money for a golf vacation. When I do go to the range 3 days a week, I bring my 8-60* and putter two of the 3 days. Ill hit 150 balls with just those clubs. My range has greens out at 85, 115, and 135 so its nice to practice my shrot game. Then I chip and putt on the practice green. I usually break up they 2 short game days with all my clubs, but I hit less balls.

[amccarroll]

I'm in the same situation that the OP describes, I'm a relative beginner and can play every day. I've been having a lesson a week, playing a couple of full rounds and the rest of time on the range and chipping green. This strategy has knocked about 10 strokes off my score so far quite quickly, I do practise driving at the range a lot albeit with a three wood as this is the area that has the least consistency in my game at the moment.

[Stay True]

Totally new golfer here and was thrilled to see this thread. I am 20 years old and have been practicing 1-2 times a day at a local course. I just picked up the sport because my back gave me problems from a snowboarding accident maybe 6 years ago. Anyways, swinging a club no longer hurts and I am loving every second of it.

For me, playing a round of golf does no good. When I am at the range I continually see significant improvement everyday while getting great help from friends that work at the course I practice at. I usually go to the range for about 1-2 hours then the putting/chipping green for another hour at least. I also spend about 2 hours a day hitting balls in the yard. I have yet to hit a neighbors window...

[BallStriker]

I honestly think you have to have a good mix of both -- you can groove your swing on the range all you want, but that only goes so far on the course -- you need experience playing (adjusting for) balls out of the rough, sidehill lies, uphill lies, downhill lies, etc.

A big factor of successful play is playing with confidence -- I think that stems directly from playing good shots on the course -- I personally don't feel that good ballstriking at the range translates to confidence on the course. Plus, for many, there is an added element of anxiety that is invovled when trying to "take it to the course" -- the bottom line is that you need to play to get fully comfortable with being on teh course.

A good example is someone playing in a tournament for the first time against someone who has played hundreds -- even with identical handicaps, I will put my money on the guy with experience becasuse the "tournament" factor is not new to him and he will generally feel more comoftable.

My 2 cents.

[golfro]

Totally new golfer here and was thrilled to see this thread. I am 20 years old and have been practicing 1-2 times a day at a local course. I just picked up the sport because my back gave me problems from a snowboarding accident maybe 6 years ago. Anyways, swinging a club no longer hurts and I am loving every second of it.

wait you just p icked up the game and now have a 8 handicap? Impressive......

Anyway, I'm usually at the range every other day or so. Only get to play on course rouhgly every other week, if that even...Once a month lately. At the range, I focus a lot on my iron play. My local range doesn't have a practice green so I'm stuck at the matts for now. I usually do a little warm up with a 9 iron. I do a weird routine where I start with 9, then 3 iron, 8, 4, 7, 5, 6, fairway woods, driver, then I spend a good amount of time with my wedges. Ends up beign roughly a hour and half to two hours.

[bshack]

Honestly I feel the range is good practice if you hit off the normal grass. Too much practice off the fake turf doesnt seem to help as much.

Also if you are a member try hitting 3 balls from 100 and in. For example:

Playing a Par 4:
Drive the ball to 105 out. Drop two more balls at the site and hit 3 approach shots. Say 1 hits the green and two are in the sand. You chip the two from the sand and then pick up once on the green.

Also 3 hours a day at the range is okay but you must simulate the game during practice. You cant just hit the ball for 3 hours to hit the ball. You must pick a flag or marker and hit to that marker. Concentrate more on ball striking and accuracy than anything else. Also use the last 20 balls are a round of golf. Any practice is good practice.

For example:

Hit a driver , then an Iron

then a wedge

and repeat.

This methods help me. Obviously dont ever play more than one ball if the course is crowded.

cheers

[anthony]

I honestly think you have to have a good mix of both -- you can groove your swing on the range all you want, but that only goes so far on the course -- you need experience playing (adjusting for) balls out of the rough, sidehill lies, uphill lies, downhill lies, etc.

Great post! Adapting to different lies is a big one to consider for all golfers. I agree a mix of both is where it's at. At the range you can work on your mechanics and simulate course play by picking targets, but you can't simulate being on the first tee with everyone's eyes on you. That only comes from being out there. Your right about confidence too. That's the missing link for people who can't "take it to the course". I was in that group for a while and still am to an extent. But, making good shots comes from believing you're going to make a good shot to begin with.

I also agree with whoever said working on weaknesses should be top priority. The trick is to identify them correctly. I practiced chipping all winter and still practice nearly every day at home and it's paid off. I use to be a horrible chipper and the practicing has cut down on my 3 putts tremendously this year.

[bshack]

Great post! Adapting to different lies is a big one to consider for all golfers. I agree a mix of both is where it's at. At the range you can work on your mechanics and simulate course play by picking targets, but you can't simulate being on the first tee with everyone's eyes on you. That only comes from being out there. Your right about confidence too. That's the missing link for people who can't "take it to the course". I was in that group for a while and still am to an extent. But, making good shots comes from believing you're going to make a good shot to begin with.

I agree about chipping. While I think every part of the game is vital. If a player can chip well they can really lower there score. Bogeys turn into birds and pars. A good chip not only gets you on the green but puts the player in position to make an easy 1 putt. Its something I work on a lot.