Best way to improve game playing once/week?

[oltombon]

Hello All,

I shoot high-80's/low-90's. I've been playing off and on since I was little. Now I'm settled with a good job and I find myself able to play once a weekend. However, I'm finding that my game isn't really improving. So, I'm asking for some of you more experienced gentlemen to give me some tips on the best strategies to improving my game. I work 8-6 M-F, free on weekends. I'm thinking about hitting the range Sunday night after a round Sunday morning. Or maybe going out to the range Wednesday night to try and keep some sense of muscle memory between rounds. What do we think?

[vikramraju]

I think the best thing to do would be to find some time after work to practice chipping and putting. It usually doesn't cost anything and its a fantastic way to shave shots off your game. I dedicated a couple of evening sessions after work to just those two parts of my game and easily shaved 4-5 shots to my round.

[ochmude]

I don't even manage to get out once a week.  I'm playing nine holes about 3 times per month currently.  However, I try to get to the range at least once a week.  What I did was find a range very close to where I work (less than 5 minute drive), and I keep my clubs in my trunk pretty much 24/7.  Just a small bucket, once or twice a week, will be enough to allow you to improve.  It might be slow going, but it's certainly better than nothing.  Small buckets don't take too long and I think it's a better approach as well since you don't get too worn out and start wasting practice time with swings that have horrible form.

EDIT:  Also, if you can find a course close to where you work or close to home, hit up the practice green.  30 minutes on a putting green at a muni is 100% free and guaranteed to shave off strokes if you practice diligently.

[dbuck]

Originally Posted by vikramraju

I think the best thing to do would be to find some time after work to practice chipping and putting. It usually doesn't cost anything and its a fantastic way to shave shots off your game. I dedicated a couple of evening sessions after work to just those two parts of my game and easily shaved 4-5 shots to my round.

+1 on this.

Also, if it is convenient to go to the range on Wednesday, I think that would be helpful.  Don't wear yourself out, but work on basics and smooth rythm. A bucket at most, then 30 minutes of chipping and putting.  Be sure to stretch adequately before your practice and before your round.

-basically what ochmude said.

[Cut68]

Practice whenever possible. It's often easy to find a little time here and there. Range a couple times a week, putt when you can. I have a small area of my lawn I keep short to practice chipping on. I'll get in 20 minutes a night while I cook dinner on the grill. I get the credit for dinner, when in reality I flipped the food a couple of times and worked on my game for 20 minutes. Another thing I started doing this year that I've been told is helpful is to just swing, every day. I'll make about 50 swings in the back yard every night (hitting wiffle balls, or just swinging off a welcome mat) It's a great way to focus on the mechanics of the swing and understand what the good swing feels like. I think you become more aware of these things if there's no ball in front of you