Does a range before a round make a difference?

[nevets88]

I used to play all the warmup balls, usually 30, but now, a dozen will just do. I like johnnydanger's method of splitting a bucket. Putting for 5-10 minutes, but the speed on the practice green sometimes does not match the speed on the actual greens.

Many courses don't allow you to chip and pitch around the practice greens, so ironically, the practice I think that helps the most in terms of scoring isn't available. You can chip and pitch on the range, but it's not the same.

[Yukari]

I used to think it didn't make any difference. And for years, I would just show up, stretch for a while and go. But in the last couple of years, I started warm up with a small bucket. Usually, I would split the bucket with a buddy. And it does seem to make a difference. The key is NOT to practice, but see what kind of game you have for that day and adjust accordingly.

[purduegolfer]

Usually splitting a small bucket will do, just to get the body warmed up and find my tempo before I tee off. Putting and chipping a few definitely helps me the most though, just so I can get my feel before playing a hole.

[golfro]

a good stretch and just 10 minutes on the range does it for me. I usually get to the course about an hour or so early and spend some time on the green. I hit about 30 balls on the range to get a feel for how my swing is that day.

[Leftygolfer]

MUST! if you know what I mean.

The problem is I am not consistant so I hit the ball on the range, then I hit it totally different on the course. Maybe I just suck but my swing is an evolving thing throughout a round. I get 'hot' and have a great stretch for 5 holes where I really have control then I just loose it. So I'd rather save my control for the course and not the range. It is a rationed thing in my game.

[alomar123]

For me its just nice to warm up and get in a rhythm

[Kieran123]

Also, when I do practice putting/chipping...I use the balls I will use on the course, NOT the practice ones.

[WUTiger]

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. ...

Before I leave for the course, I do stretches and try to get my arms, legs and back loosened up. If I ever joined a golf club, I'd probably hop on the elliptical bike in the workout room before the round.

I do some putting and chipping when I get to the course, and then hit some full shots. If I don't hit full shots, I have big trouble with control early in the round - as opposed to small trouble. On the full shots, I do a full alignment and pre-shot routine to get into the mood.

[zeg]

I like to do a bit of warm up, but not really practice per se . If I'm trying to work on a particular aspect of the swing, I may focus on that for a few minutes so that I get the feel and don't have to think about it on the course, but mostly I just like to get the swing feel for the day. Even a small bucket is too many, I just don't like the first real swing of the day to count for my score. Whether it makes much difference or not, I don't know.

[dbuck]

I like to hit a few, maybe 10-15 balls just to see if it is Jekyll or Hyde today and loosen up. I still stretch and so on first. Then hit a few chips and putts if I have time--not to really test the greens but to get a little feel going. I think this mild warm up helps a bit over the first 2-3 holes rather than starting out cold.

I have heard it said you should put first, then hit a few rather than the other way around. That way your back is not so stiff on the first tee from putting.

[kris]

i usually hit a few balls before each round to get a rhythm going but today the range was full, so I just putted for about 30 min before teeing off..... and i shot my best ever, 88.

[SpoiledRotten]

I get the PW and head to either the practice green or the 18th green and pitch some balls. That gets me somewhat loose and also gives me so feel for the game before I tee off the 1st hole. Also builds my confidence level to get started.

[clubchamp]

I like to show up stretch, putt a few, and go tee it up. The range before a round is just not my thing but I think it's just a personal preference.

[tws1098]

Makes a pretty big difference for me, but I think that is more typical for a mid-high handicap. I get a free small bucket with my round at one of the courses I play, so that is nice.

[Ash1974]

I am better if I go on the range, but mainly I use it as a warm up and to get my swing going, if I don't then I don't start shooting until after about 5 holes which by then is too late to post a number.

My club is £1 for 40 balls for members so it is not a massive amount to hit before a round and doe snot cost much.

If I am teeing off at stupid'o'clock then I will not go on the range but will chip and put and try and make as many full swings as possible with an iron.

[andy101]

I find hitting a few balls on the range is important. I find it loosens me up and more importantly I like to get my rythm started early, so that I feel comfoartable on the 1st tee.

[Koth]

I always try to warm up on the range before a round. To me it makes a huge difference. I also try to warm up with some putting to so I can get the feel down. Playing a couse cold is really difficult for me.

[RedCard03]

I use the range to do my pre round stretching for my pre hab. Once I am done I start off with a 54DEG and PW just to give me the sense of clean contact. I hit about 20 balls, and then I work my short game chipping and putting. I always hit 2-3 foot putts just to visualize the ball going into the hole. This routine requires me to show up to the golf course at least 45 minutes prior and it prevents me from rushing to get to the first tee. DONT BE THAT GUY!.