Practicing versus Playing

[AmazingWhacker]

  mvmac said:

Yeah that's not the best way to get better, better as in shooting lower scores

Maybe so . .but I'm hitting my driver almost 100 yards further than I used to when I played a lot.  I wouldn't recommend my approach unless you, like me, enjoy the act of swinging a golf club more than actually playing golf.  There's just something so gratifying about it for me.  I love the the sound and feel of impact . .I don't even actually need to see where it goes most of the time, lol.

[Pillo]

Wow, so many interesting thoughts. Thank you for the precious links. :-) I know that now I have to focus on my technique, but I already took several lessons, so maybe I just need to be at the range or the course more often (or give up :-D). I'll post my swing in the correct section of the forum soon. Meanwhile I'm going to read those threads you suggested me. Anyway, mine was a general question on how, "statistically" (well, considering these forum's users), players behave when they have free time and want to play golf (with the aim of playing better). And if there's correlation between spending time practicing or playing or if, as someone pointed out, it's really relative to oneself. Of course playing is much more fun (well AmazingWhacker, not for anyone), but does it help with your game more than practicing? p.s. Thank you David, I'm going to read that thread too.

[Lihu]

  Pillo said:

Wow, so many interesting thoughts. Thank you for the precious links. :-) I know that now I have to focus on my technique, but I already took several lessons, so maybe I just need to be at the range or the course more often (or give up :-D). I'll post my swing in the correct section of the forum soon. Meanwhile I'm going to read those threads you suggested me. Anyway, mine was a general question on how, "statistically" (well, considering these forum's users), players behave when they have free time and want to play golf (with the aim of playing better). And if there's correlation between spending time practicing or playing or if, as someone pointed out, it's really relative to oneself. Of course playing is much more fun (well AmazingWhacker, not for anyone), but does it help with your game more than practicing? p.s. Thank you David, I'm going to read that thread too.

One more thing, if you can't hit the ball consistently enough, playing a round can be a pretty miserable experience. So, there's definitely a balance between playing and hitting. The main thing is to enjoy all aspects of it.

[NotPortlyNJ]

You really need to do both, and playing a course teaches you things such as course management which you can't get from a range.  That and actually seeing the results of that 50 yard pitch as it hits a green, and the fact that the practice green is only 1 green, and there is a lot of difference between that and the 18 on the course, so yes, you're missing a lot if you're not out there playing.

[inthehole]

  AmazingWhacker said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvmac

Yeah that's not the best way to get better, better as in shooting lower scores

Maybe so . .but I'm hitting my driver almost 100 yards further than I used to when I played a lot.  I wouldn't recommend my approach unless you, like me, enjoy the act of swinging a golf club more than actually playing golf.  There's just something so gratifying about it for me.  I love the the sound and feel of impact . .I don't even actually need to see where it goes most of the time, lol.

I'm perplexed - that's a very peculiar approach to golf.   That's like practicing casting a fishing rod in your backyard and getting very good at dropping that spinnerbait in a bucket 30 ft out, but never intend to use those skills by getting a lure wet.

Maybe a better analogy would be hitting a tennis ball against a wall over and over, and improving your swing mechanics dramatically over time, but never have the intention of playing a game of tennis with another person.

I guess in the end it's all good ... it's still golf after all if you're limiting yourself to the driving range

[Keith White]

Pillo

Lessons are good, from a Professional, or extremely good amateur. The risk is that when you practice a lot you can stray off of the good habits unless you are staying under the eye of the pro.

Whenever my swing begins to play up, I go for a check up with the pro.  Be careful that you don't spend long hours on the range doing bad things, that is the most common thing that sets people back. Learn, practice a bit, put it into play.

Try getting to the 18 hole course a little more, and don't wear yourself out on the practice areas :-)

[Lihu]

  AmazingWhacker said:

Maybe so . .but I'm hitting my driver almost 100 yards further than I used to when I played a lot.  I wouldn't recommend my approach unless you, like me, enjoy the act of swinging a golf club more than actually playing golf.  There's just something so gratifying about it for me.  I love the the sound and feel of impact . .I don't even actually need to see where it goes most of the time, lol.

Not just you, it's a fantastic feeling. Move up to blades and you'll really love it. Not going off on a tangent on Mizuno, but. . .

  inthehole said:

I'm perplexed - that's a very peculiar approach to golf.   That's like practicing casting a fishing rod in your backyard and getting very good at dropping that spinnerbait in a bucket 30 ft out, but never intend to use those skills by getting a lure wet.

Maybe a better analogy would be hitting a tennis ball against a wall over and over, and improving your swing mechanics dramatically over time, but never have the intention of playing a game of tennis with another person.

I guess in the end it's all good ... it's still golf after all if you're limiting yourself to the driving range

That feeling is really great, and the few times I can do it on the golf course are really what makes me go back on the course. When I do it more often on the course, maybe the nostalgia will wear out a just little. For now, I feel like every one that I do right makes me feel good about the entire round no matter how crappy I shoot. If I make that one good shot, I can double the hole and still feel good.

[Pillo]

  Keith White said:

Pillo Lessons are good, from a Professional, or extremely good amateur. The risk is that when you practice a lot you can stray off of the good habits unless you are staying under the eye of the pro. Whenever my swing begins to play up, I go for a check up with the pro.  Be careful that you don't spend long hours on the range doing bad things, that is the most common thing that sets people back. Learn, practice a bit, put it into play. Try getting to the 18 hole course a little more, and don't wear yourself out on the practice areas :-)

Thank you Keith. :-) My instructor, a pro, checks my swing once or twice a month, so luckily I can't mess it up (at least I try not to). Yes, still I need to make my body move as requested. It's the hardest part. Talking about consistency, it's incredible how hitting from the range is so different from playing the course. And then there's obviously course management, strategy and several situations that you never encounter at the range. In some way, playing the course is practicing as well.