Get Off the Darn Range and Go Play Golf

[iacas]

With knowledge comes great great responsibility.

Unfortunately, as one's golf knowledge increases, one tends to spend a whole lot more time on the range trying to make the perfect swing, and fix those last seventeen little things that annoy them.

Then these guys venture onto the course, where they promptly lose to a guy whose swing is all over the place, but who plays a lot of golf. (And quite likely, their reaction is to blame those 17 last things and to go back to the range to fix them so they can seek revenge in three months when they finally get out on the golf course again…).

I'm a big fan of practicing. A big fan. I've written lots of articles about it, I've done it myself for a few hundred hours.

But I like GOLF a helluva lot more. You don't play golf on the range. The range is not where you get to see the results of your hard work. The range is not where you learn how to get around the golf course.

The range is where you work on stuff.

In 2009 I was a 1.8 index. I'd gotten that low without a single lesson, ever, except of course those I gave myself. In the years since, partly due to a lack of time, my swing has improved quite a bit, but my handicap has still hovered around the 0.0 to 1.5 range. I'm not kidding you when I tell you that the swing I had as a 1.8 was garbage… it really was. But since improving dramatically, because I can't play as often as I used to, my handicap index hasn't dropped much.

So again, I'm just encouraging everyone to go play golf more. That's why you work on your swing, isn't it? To improve at golf? So get out there.

If you want to tell me that you're the type that enjoys practicing more than playing, that's fine. Good for you. But unless your range has varied slopes, rough, trees, and other obstacles and such that you can find only on the golf course, I'm going to tell you this: playing is practicing too. You can "practice" on the golf course, and if you aren't, you should. It's the only place you're going to be able to re-create real-life situations: 173 to the flag, pin tucked on the left edge, with a big bunker and the wind into and from the left, with your ball in a slightly cuppy lie in the first cut of rough. You need a {score} on this hole to shoot a {whatever} on this nine holes…

So if you're somewhere warm, go play. If you're somewhere cold, play a lot of golf in the summer time. You have all winter to practice, you bums.

P.S. This mini rant inspired by people who worry way too much about how their swing looks and not the number they're writing down on their scorecards… as well as those who haven't had to write a number down on a scorecard in weeks or months because they never leave the range.

[Abu3baid]

Very nice! I have played a round with my friend every day this week so far, and I only have time to work on my swing at home when the kids are sleeping! Hey I'm going to take advantage of the situation I'm in the best way I can!! Nice post!

[Pave]

[Ernest Jones]

Paging @mvmac lol.

GO PLAY!!!!!

A LOT of my practice this year will be on the course. I'm getting a membership that doesn't include range balls and the wife will certainly not understand why I'm paying for range balls after spending a grand on a membership...

The upside is my course is rarely busy so I can play rounds where I'm working on stuff and play rounds for score with no issues.

C'mon snow, F**K OFF already!!!

[BENtSwing]

Love it!

[iacas]

I have played a round with my friend every day this week so far, and I only have time to work on my swing at home when the kids are sleeping! Hey I'm going to take advantage of the situation I'm in the best way I can!!

Paging @mvmac lol.

Uh, so truthfully, the happy medium probably lies somewhere between @Abu3baid (plays all the time, only ever seems to practice without a golf ball indoors :D), and @mvmac (has to be reminded where the first tee on his home course is).

:D

[mdl]

Well Erik, you're a better natural golfer than I am.  I've had two lessons in 6-7 years of regular golf, and I've only gotten down to my current HC.  1.8 is a pipe dream...

I've finally gotten tired of not feeling like I'm ever going to get down to low-mid single digits worrying only about what the shot looks like, and not too much with what my swing looks like, relying on self-tweaking, info mainly from this site, and athletic ability.  So I've jumped into a binge of video practice with a major assist from Mike.  For the first time I'm getting hyper obsessed with what my swing looks like.  It's maddening, but hopefully will bear fruit.  But honestly I can't see ever getting to the point of not bothering to play much in favor of practicing.  Playing the game is the whole point!  And where the real fun is!  This is a sport with endless facets and weird variation out on the course after all.  The fun is trying to put it all together to post a good score.

[David in FL]

With knowledge comes great great responsibility. Unfortunately, as one's golf knowledge increases, one tends to spend a whole lot more time on the range trying to make the perfect swing, and fix those last seventeen little things that annoy them. Then these guys venture onto the course, where they promptly lose to a guy whose swing is all over the place, but who plays a lot of golf. (And quite likely, their reaction is to blame those 17 last things and to go back to the range to fix them so they can seek revenge in three months when they finally get out on the golf course again…). I'm a big fan of practicing. A big fan. I've written lots of articles about it, I've done it myself for a few hundred hours. But I like GOLF a helluva lot more. You don't play golf on the range. The range is not where you get to see the results of your hard work. The range is not where you learn how to get around the golf course . The range is where you work on stuff. The range has flat lies and, the same huge targets, and no stress. In 2009 I was a 1.8 index. I'd gotten that low without a single lesson, ever, except of course those I gave myself. In the years since, partly due to a lack of time, my swing has improved quite a bit, but my handicap has still hovered around the 0.0 to 1.5 range. I'm not kidding you when I tell you that the swing I had as a 1.8 was garbage… it really was. But since improving dramatically , because I can't play as often as I used to, my handicap index hasn't dropped much. So again, I'm just encouraging everyone to go play golf more. That's why you work on your swing, isn't it? To improve at golf? So get out there. If you want to tell me that you're the type that enjoys practicing more than playing, that's fine. Good for you. But unless your range has endless slopes, rough, trees, and other obstacles and such that you can find only on the golf course, I'm going to tell you this: playing is practicing too. You can "practice" on the golf course, and if you aren't, you should. It's the only place you're going to be able to re-create real-life situations: 173 to the flag, pin tucked on the left edge, with a big bunker and the wind into and from the left, with your ball in a slightly cuppy lie in the first cut of rough. You need a {score} on this hole to shoot a {whatever} on this nine holes… So if you're somewhere warm, go play. If you're somewhere cold, play a lot of golf in the summer time . You have all winter to practice, you bums. P.S. This mini rant inspired by people who worry way too much about how their swing looks and not the number they're writing down on their scorecards… as well as those who haven't had to write a number down on a scorecard in weeks or months because they never leave the range.

A man after my own heart! Tomorrow will be my 26th round so far this year. I clearly need to pick up the pace! :-D

[Golfingdad]

I practice more than I play, not by choice, but out of necessity.  I have a range down the street and head over there on my lunch break a couple of times a week.  On the weekend, if we're sitting around relaxing and the kids are behaving, I may sneak over to the range by my house for some practice.

I long for the day when one or both of the kids will want to play golf all the time and I can get at least one round in every weekend.

-------------------------------------------------

Slightly related note:  I'm going home right now to meet with a landscape designer to start coming up with ideas to remodel our backyard.  High up on my list of wants (the very top) is a synthetic putting green.

[saevel25]

Once the golf league season starts, I play much more than I practice. I am so itching to get out on the course. I am a big time, play more than practice golfer. I have enjoyed the strides taken to improve my golf swing thought.

DAMN YOU WEATHER, GET WARMER!!!

[joekelly]

Yes, indeed.  And if you personally cannot get out, then you now have the opportunity to help a fellow golfer 'get out and play'.  How?  By simply sending the needed funds directly to my Capital One 360 bank account.  All matters confidential.  Just send me a PM and i'll give you the account number.  A single round for me is $110, so please, don't be cheap.

[Lihu]

I was just thinking of this as I was playing this afternoon.

The range is all great and everything, but I am finding that I can hone the swing on the course as well. I think it might be because I rest more between shots, and I mentally rehearse more before every one.

Thanks for sharing this, Erik.

[cipher]

I love this!  The only thing I wish is that I would live somewhere where I can play all the time.  I do my best to make up for lost playing time in the summer though.  I really don't like to practice all that much.  I try to like it but can't really keep my focus on repetitive tasks as long as others can.  I can keep the focus and excitement, on the course as each hole is a new challenge.  I have figured out how to make practice work for me .  I plan the session out before hand and attack it quickly.  I work hard at it, but there is a short window where I can effectively make that change.   I do wish I were able to focus a little more on practicing but I am glad to enjoy playing so much.

[Shindig]

Excuses, excuses. Nothing but excuses from +Shindig! I can't play this weekend because, among other things, I'm taking a potential convert to the range (not the one mentioned in the "create a golfer" thread) I guess I have to play twice next weekend then. But then it's back to working on my swing for a week before the follow-up weekend!

[mvmac]

[chris3putt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvmac

Ahhh, iacas wouldn't start a whole new thread just to have a dig at a fellow moderator...............

Quote:

~~ and @mvmac (has to be reminded where the first tee on his home course is). :D

Maybe.

[chris3putt]

P.S. great post!!

[Bechambo]

[SIZE=3]I think tristanhilton85 needs more time on the range. All he does is play the course. I generally do 1 hour of range per round, which works out to about 6 hours of range per week.;-) [/SIZE]