Jump to content
IGNORED

Practice every day


keller19xc
Note: This thread is 3990 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

I think if you rotate what you practice, you're better off. I tend to get burned out, though. I do rotate an hour of putting, and hour or more of short game/bunker, and an hour or more on the range. I rarely practice all three or two of three on the same day.

I find that practicing probably saves 4-5 strokes off some of my rounds, and wonder if it's really worth the effort just for that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Moderator

I guess it depends on how you define practice.  Will going to range everyday and hitting balls for an hour help your game?  Yes to a point.  Most effective practice would be working on your priority piece, doing slow motion swings, practice drills and simulating shots on the course.  Some great practice, what I've been trying to do more of, can be at home, slow swings, mirror work, etc.

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I did some of my best practice at a time where I could hit balls on a net at home. If I wanted to hit some balls, try a different feeling or something, I just went out and hit some balls. Sometimes an hour at a time, but often just 5-10 minutes here and there. I think that worked better for me than hitting balls for 1-2 hours a few days a week.

Ogio Grom | Callaway X Hot Pro | Callaway X-Utility 3i | Mizuno MX-700 23º | Titleist Vokey SM 52.08, 58.12 | Mizuno MX-700 15º | Titleist 910 D2 9,5º | Scotty Cameron Newport 2 | Titleist Pro V1x and Taylormade Penta | Leupold GX-1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I did some of my best practice at a time where I could hit balls on a net at home. If I wanted to hit some balls, try a different feeling or something, I just went out and hit some balls. Sometimes an hour at a time, but often just 5-10 minutes here and there. I think that worked better for me than hitting balls for 1-2 hours a few days a week.

I really like be able to do this as well. Short and specific, with a purpose, trumps bashing endless balls any day.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I don't have unlimited time to practice every day. Also, going to the range and spending $15 on a bucket of balls vs going and walking 9 holes for $16 to $18. I find that I would rather go play and enjoy the walk. I find that when I have time to hit balls, I generally have 2-3 hours to do it. Does playing 9 holes help more than going to the range? I don't know, I think it depends a lot on the particular round. For instance. I have been struggling with the driver. At the range, I can hit 8-10 shots and be what I would consider a playable drive, but when I get to the course and realize that I have only one attempt, I tend to over swing and this causes my miss. I think if you could practice short game every day, chipping and putting, you will likely see the best improvement in your game instead of hitting full shots at the game. That being said, I don't practice my short game nearly as often as I should, and I know that is what is causing me the most strokes.

In my bag:

some golf clubs

a few golf balls

a bag of tee's some already broken the rest soon to be

a snickers wrapper (if you have seen me play, you would know you are not going anywhere for a while)

and an empty bottle of water

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Lately I've been playing or practicing every day. I play at least 18 a day. I think I'm a bit of an anomaly in that I find time on the course to be much better practice than the range. Maybe I just don't practice "correctly" at the range. But I feel that my swing is consistent enough that the biggest thing I need to work on is bad lies, bad angles at the pin, awkward distances. To sum it all up, I personally think that playing a round vs time at a range is better because it makes you learn to adapt to unique situations that wouldn't present themselves at a driving range.

In the Bag 2013:

Driver:  FT-9 Draw i-Mix 10.5*

3 Wood:  R11s 15.5*

3 Hybrid:  Idea Tech V3 19*

Irons (4-PW):  ZB Forged

Wedges:  Tom Watson PVD; 52.07*, 56.13*, 60.07*

Putter:  White Ice #1 33"

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I forgot to add, I am one of the biggest pro-at home practicing people there are. That's the time that I focus on mechanics and implementing any change. I make slow swing in front of a mirror to certain spots, repeat that a lot. I suppose I might have invalidated any argument I may have made in my first post with that.

In the Bag 2013:

Driver:  FT-9 Draw i-Mix 10.5*

3 Wood:  R11s 15.5*

3 Hybrid:  Idea Tech V3 19*

Irons (4-PW):  ZB Forged

Wedges:  Tom Watson PVD; 52.07*, 56.13*, 60.07*

Putter:  White Ice #1 33"

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I suppose I might have invalidated any argument I may have made in my first post with that.

You are definitely sending mixed signals... The course is a good place to see if your swing works and practice challenging situations, but it's not ideal for making swing changes. Having a swing thought on a round is fine, but you'll have a harder time making changes.

Ogio Grom | Callaway X Hot Pro | Callaway X-Utility 3i | Mizuno MX-700 23º | Titleist Vokey SM 52.08, 58.12 | Mizuno MX-700 15º | Titleist 910 D2 9,5º | Scotty Cameron Newport 2 | Titleist Pro V1x and Taylormade Penta | Leupold GX-1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by Zeph

You are definitely sending mixed signals... The course is a good place to see if your swing works and practice challenging situations, but it's not ideal for making swing changes. Having a swing thought on a round is fine, but you'll have a harder time making changes.

Haha I realize that and I didn't mean to do it. I'm definitely more of a feel player but I don't try to make changes on the course. I make changes at home more than anything. If I feel I need it, I'll go to the range and hit a few buckets, focusing on just a few specific things. But overall, I'd rather just take my swing to the course on a non busy day and drop some balls in bad lies or angles and see what I can do. I practice specialty shots at the range or practice hitting off of a slope. Not sure if I clarified that at all..

In the Bag 2013:

Driver:  FT-9 Draw i-Mix 10.5*

3 Wood:  R11s 15.5*

3 Hybrid:  Idea Tech V3 19*

Irons (4-PW):  ZB Forged

Wedges:  Tom Watson PVD; 52.07*, 56.13*, 60.07*

Putter:  White Ice #1 33"

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Take it with a lot of salt since I'm a pretty high handicap, but while I don't get to the range or practice green all that often I do a little something almost every day.  I have an extra gap wedge that I bought before getting the (good) advice to match my wedges.  I keep that club in my living room and constantly pick it up when I'm on the phone or watching TV or whatever and practice my backswing and setting the club.  4 or 5 times a week I'll take that same club in my backyard and hit foam balls over the house with a full swing or onto the roof with a half swing and let them role back down.  I think it helps a ton to just keep the feel of the club between rounds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Everyday at home while watching TV I'll swing a weighted club for a while, and then I'll putt for a while (I put a bottle of Bourbon on the carpet and try to hit the bottle as I putt from several feet away). I may also do some swings in front of a big glass window that serves as a mirror. I do this practically every day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Most people will go out to the range, bang a bunch of balls and never actually get much value out of it. Same goes for putting and chipping. Merely hitting balls isn't going to help much aside from maybe helping your contact.  Practicing can be extremely beneficial if you actually setup goals for each session and focus on what you're doing, rather than just doing it to do it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I played my best when I got at least some practice in most days.  I'd still take a week off here and there when I just felt like I needed the time away.  But I felt my ball striking was sharpest, my "touch" was best when I got to practice.  Sometimes it was as little as 5-6 shots on the range and 20 minutes around the practice green.  If that's all I needed that day, then that's all I needed.

Other days....I shudder at the thought of how many hours I've spent in the sun baking away, in the rain getting soaked, just trying to "tighten it up".

So, I guess put me in the "it depends" camp.  If you need it, then practice.  But at the same time, if you're just mindlessly hitting balls or chipping and find yourself not doing what you need to be doing (and sometimes that means practicing not caring...if that makes sense), then you should stop for the day/week/month.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


As many say here, if practice means hitting balls on the range, than i think you still would benefit something,

but if you set targets you will improve far better and faster.

If i have a range session i always have some drills to work on, i will hit to a target and i'm trying to shape the ball,

specially fades. having a hard time hitting them left to righters.

Last month i did a lot off pitches and i got to say that this makes the most difference to my game, i manage to

make up and down from 50 - 60 yards in on a regular basis. this makes me feel very confident about my game,

really want to try to get to hdc 5 by the end off this year. I think a solid short game is key to get there.

Dirver: Mizuno JPX 825 9,5 Fujikura Orochi Red Eye Stiff 65 g.
3 wood: Mizuno JPX 825 14 Fujikura Orochi Red Eye Stiff 75 g.
Hybrid: Mizuno JPX 825 18 Fujikura Orochi Red Eye Stiff 85 g. 
Irons: Mizuno MP 59 3 / PW KBS Tour stiff shaft ( Golf Pride Niion )
Wedges: Taylormade ATV Wedges 52 and 58 ( Golf Pride Niion )
putter: Taylormade ghost series 770 35 inch ( Super Stroke slim 3.0 )
Balls: Taylormade TP 5

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I have spent a whole winter working on my swing in a net without a round of golf for some 4 months. Best thing I ever did. Got really into silly little details too some of it not needed. Went to the outside of my swing like grip and wrist break and arm bend. It was beneficial to check but not change. However it was working from the centre of my swing where the magic happened. My turn and weight distribution and address position. This had a massive change on my ball striking. I have been chipping every day just about. To stop the boredom I hit different chips and pitches,and my Labrador gets exercised because she runs after the halls. Mickelson's hinge and hold has transformed my chipping. The feel I have now. Also I could never do one handed chipping drills before. That early wrist break really makes a difference. Practice but as others say with a plan. I think Erik outlined the 5 S's didn't he? Can't post the link because I'm posting this from a mobile but its easy to find if you do a search.

"Repetition is the chariot of genius"

Driver: BENROSS VX PROTO 10.5
Woods: BENROSS QUAD SPEED FAIRWAY 15"
Hybrids:BENROSS 3G 17" BENROSSV5 Escape 20"
Irons: :wilson: DEEP RED Fluid Feel  4-SW
Putter: BENROSS PURE RED
Balls: :wilsonstaff:  Ti DNA

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Note: This thread is 3990 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...