From the Range to the Course

[billk86]

I have been a casual player for a long time, and inevitably my first round(s) of the season would typically be my best.  Recently I decided to try to play more and take the game more seriously.  I bought some new equipment at the end of the winter and have been going to the practice area each week.  I think I have a pretty good routine and have been working on all areas of my game.  I have also been reading a lot and studying different approaches to the game.

Here is my problem:  At the range I have been hitting the ball solid, straight, and high but when I get on the course it is like I am holding the club for the first time.  The last six rounds that I have played it seems like I am digressing again.  I am only able to hit 4 or 5 decent shots per round.  My practice and warm-up sessions are still solid but I can't hit it a lick when I get out on the course.

Any thoughts?  I am sure this isn't unique.  I wonder what others have done in this situation.

Thanks for your feedback!

Bill K

[Shorty]

My thought is that people can fool themselves into thinking they're hitting it well at the range when in fact they aren't for 2 main reasons:

1. If you're hitting off mats it's almost impossible not to hit the ball solidly as lonhg as you have half decent technique.

2. Just say you're practising with a driver. In the space of, say, a few minutes, you could hit quite a few shots. You hit 4 bad ones in a row and then immediately afterwards, within a minute you may hit 2 perfect ones that feel fantastic.

Next time you play, you hit a driver and it's a shocker. You may then not hit another driver for half an hour, and the pressure builds up over that time because of your most recent memory of hitting it.  On the range you can erase bad memories almost immediately because you are hitting lots of shots.  Bad shots don't have any real immediate consequences. On the course they do.

[phillyk]

Originally Posted by Shorty

My thought is that people can fool themselves into thinking they're hitting it well at the range when in fact they aren't for 2 main reasons:

1. If you're hitting off mats it's almost impossible not to hit the ball solidly as lonhg as you have half decent technique.

2. Just say you're practising with a driver. In the space of, say, a few minutes, you could hit quite a few shots. You hit 4 bad ones in a row and then immediately afterwards, within a minute you may hit 2 perfect ones that feel fantastic.

Next time you play, you hit a driver and it's a shocker. You may then not hit another driver for half an hour, and the pressure builds up over that time because of your most recent memory of hitting it.  On the range you can erase bad memories almost immediately because you are hitting lots of shots.  Bad shots don't have any real immediate consequences. On the course they do.

I definitely agree with this, but I'd also add to hitting more from grass mats and take your time on the range.  Hitting ball after ball too quickly won't help much.  Go through the entire routine of hitting a ball and imagine you're on the course.  Make every ball hit count for something, ie you want to make sure you're accomplishing something as you hit the ball, not just to make sure you have solid contact.

[1par2win]

Originally Posted by phillyk

I definitely agree with this, but I'd also add to hitting more from grass mats and take your time on the range.  Hitting ball after ball too quickly won't help much.  Go through the entire routine of hitting a ball and imagine you're on the course.  Make every ball hit count for something, ie you want to make sure you're accomplishing something as you hit the ball, not just to make sure you have solid contact.

This is the value of a routine and it must be practiced while hitting balls at the range. Same thing on the practice green. Myself I usually practice putting with 1 ball only to simulate what I do on the course. Looking at the line, judging speed, and trying to hole the putt. Plus it saves on back fatigue. I think of my practice time as more "simulator" time than just beating balls. I wish I had understood the value of proper practice 5 years ago.

[billk86]

Thanks for the feedback!

[Late4ttime]

I just wanted to add that sometimes it not your swing, or practice routine at all- its in between your ears.

There is no consequence on the range- therefore no pressure. You hit a bad shot- big deal- there are 60 more balls in the bucket. Find a way to put game pressure on your range sessions- have an accuracy contest with a buddy for drinks- if you are alone- and you hit a bad shot- take a ball you haven't hit out of the tray and put it back in the bucket- when you hit a good shot,  put back in the tray- if you finish and there are "bad shot" balls left in the bucket DON'T HIT THEM- give them to some kid on the range- that way there is a penalty for hitting a bad shot- just like on the course.

Also check out Zen Golf, I loved it- there is some good info about not letting our mind get in the way of our swings.

Late-

[greenshit]

It's not a matter of taking the range to the course, but more about how to take the course mentality to the range.

[Zeph]

This is an interesting situation. You hit it great on the range, but suck on the course.

I like to practice on the course as well as on the range. Since it's so hard to make the transition, why not do it more often? Play more golf on the course instead of hitting it on the range, and take with you a swing thought each round.

It is no doubt a matter of mentality and being comfortable, the best way to overcome it is by repetition. Treat the round of golf like you are hitting balls on the range, don't worry too much about the score, just focus on doing the same things you work on at the range.

Taking the course mentality to the range is also a good point. Give yourself targets on the range, hit to flags, hit shots where you tell yourself you have to get it between those two flags, or you're in water.

[soloredd]

When you are on the range, pretend you are playing a round. What I do is envision 3 holes at a favorite course and I play each shot from tee to green. Hit driver, estimate distance left, hit whatever club that is and so on. Go through the full drill - pre-shot routine and everything. I'll usually do this on the latter part of a bucket, after I've worn through working on whatever it is that day (wedges, irons, woods, etc.)

You want to make your practice real. By that I mean, when you are in a round where strokes matter, it should feel like it does during practice. You've been there before, you've hit that shot before, you know what it should feel like.

[mkrolewski]

I might suggest that your good hitting on the range is also a bit of an illusion.

I occasionally watch the other hitting at the range. Every once in a great while, one can see a great hitter. I am not talking about power or distance but very consistent ball flights to the same spot over and over. Most people have very inconsistent ball strikes.

Next time you go to the range. Take a piece of paper and pencil and track each ball. Pick a club, a target and record what happens. Record every ball, how far wide (left and right) of center and distance.If you want to simulate the course, switch club after every ball.

Now compare this to details on the course. Pen and paper would be good here too. Track where you wanted to be versus where you ended up.

The facts are quite surprising.

[CalBoomer]

Originally Posted by soloredd

When you are on the range, pretend you are playing a round. What I do is envision 3 holes at a favorite course and I play each shot from tee to green. Hit driver, estimate distance left, hit whatever club that is and so on. Go through the full drill - pre-shot routine and everything. I'll usually do this on the latter part of a bucket, after I've worn through working on whatever it is that day (wedges, irons, woods, etc.)

You want to make your practice real. By that I mean, when you are in a round where strokes matter, it should feel like it does during practice. You've been there before, you've hit that shot before, you know what it should feel like.

I really agree with this post and often do the same thing. Why? Well, when you are on the range, it is easy to "groove" the swing for a particular club. On the course, you are almost always switching clubs from shot to shot. And the swings for a driver, long fairway iron, and medium pitch are just not the same; so you loose that sense of groove that you have on the range. Having said that, I also agree with all who have said that there is just more "pressure" on the course. Just ask Rory McIlroy or Dustin Johnson what pressure can do to even the best golf game.