Does a range before a round make a difference?

[acegolfer]

All my current golf buddies practice at the range before they tee up, which I'm not used to. I just show up 20-30 minutes early to practice on the green.

I'm curious to know how significant the pre-round range session is.

[shades9323]

All my current golf buddies practice at the range before they tee up, which I'm not used to. I just show up 20-30 minutes early to practice on the green.

It depends on the person. For me it would not have an effect, so I never do it. I usually don't even putt. I just stretch for a few minutes.

[acegolfer]

I'm not sure whether I'm imagining this.

But without practice, my swing is all arms early round. Once I get warmed up during a round, my arms get passive and my swing gets smoother.

I think I'm a candidate for pre-round range session but I'm too cheap to pay extra $6 for 30 balls.

[Leftygolfer]

It has no effect on me either. I've went to the range before, had a great practice session then totally sucked on the course. I've also showed up and went straight to the first tee and played well for me. The only thing that makes a difference is not being in a hurry. I hate feeling rushed and that does seem to effect me adversely.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Tuesday, i tried to qualify for the state pub linx. I was just ripping the ball on the range, i didnt miss a single one. Not even the pitches. Ended up shooting 84....

so there you go...

[BSH]

Depends entirely on the player of course but for me, it varies. Somtimes I like to hit some balls just to stretch out but usually just hit a few putts then hit first tee and go. 20 minutes before a tee time is not the time to "work" on my swing.

On a side note, I do find it hilarious to see people get genuinely pissed off on the range. Seriously, how much fun are they to play with if a duffed range ball is that big of a deal?

[goblue107501]

It makes a pretty big difference to me. Without it, I will struggle with the first few holes until I get warmed up. I don't think of it as a 'session', just a warm up to get loose. My local course charges $5 for a small bucket. I hate to pay it, but I also hate being 3 over through 4. What I have started doing is to bring a plastic grocery bag with me and I will hit about half the balls and save the other half for the next time. I don't need the full bucket to get loose anyway. Usually around 15 balls or so is enough. If a course offers free balls I will hit more and go through the bag a little more.

[shades9323]

Tuesday, i tried to qualify for the state pub linx. I was just ripping the ball on the range, i didnt miss a single one. Not even the pitches. Ended up shooting 84....

See, you used up all your good shots on the range!

[Keep It Simple]

My driver always needs to be warmed up so if the opportunity is there I will hit a few 7-irons to set my swing and then rip a couple drivers to make sure I am loose and swinging in sequence.

[kafka01]

You shouldnt call it practicing on the range before a round, cuz then you are mostly screwed, but i normally need my 30-50 balls to warm up.
Its really everytime the same i start off on the range - fat/thin/short/bladed, it just takes some time to get in the groove. But that is most likely true for every sport.

[Jonnydanger81]

I usually split a bucket with whoever I'm playing with. 3 or 4 wedges, a few 7i, half a dozen drives and I'm good. Then to the putting green to get a feel for the greens for the day. Right now I find it more important to putt before the round because I hate getting to that first hole and having no clue what the greens are rolling like for the day.

[Bullitt5339]

After a few back surgeries, I need to hit a few on the range just to get things stretched out and working properly. I'm not so much concerned with the outcome of the shot on the range, I just need to get the juices flowing to all the joints before I take my first real swing.

[Zeph]

How can we know what you need to get ready for a round of golf?

[PiustheDrGolf]

MUST! if you know what I mean.
Range session before a round is NOT to get your swing correct. It's all about to see how your swing/ball strikings are for the day. And adapt or plan it to your game plan for the day. If you witness unexpected shots at the range session, try go over basics (setup mostly) and adjust. If it is not from your basics, adapt it to the round.

[deronsizemore]

If the course has a range, I'll typically arrive an hour early so I can hit a small bucket and then putt some before tee off. Although sometimes you're hitting the ball bad and it's unavoidable, I do try to not really think about anything on the range before a round. I'm only there to loosen up and try to get rhythm for the day and not so much worrying about what the ball is doing. Like I said though, there have been times when I feel like my swing has gone South for the winter a few months early and I have no choice but to work on something before the round.

[rwfastrax]

I only have a short practice range at my home course. Driver or fairway woods are way too long to hit. If at all possible I will try to find a teeing area and aim to an unoccupied part of the course and hit a few shag balls with the driver. It's not always possible though. I'd love to be able to hit 20 balls before the round...

[DavidFehertysBike]

See, you used up all your good shots on the range!

I know....

[Kieran123]

I usually hit some balls before a round. I like to get my body in the swing of things.

I also putt and chip too to get the speed of the greens