Tell me about how much you practice.

[Patch]

I do something with golf club everyday. Alot of times it's just swinging my Kallassy club back and forth focusing on where the club path is in the down swing. 

Other times I work on short game stuff, as that is my game strength. Pitches, chips, and putts, from various lies get alot of my attention. 

A couple of times a month I (might) work on my long game stuff. However that is mostly to see that my carry distances are still validated with each club.

One of my favorite practice regimens is to take my dogs to a local dry lake bed for 2-3 mile walks. I take an old Hogan Apex 6i, along with 3 balls, hitting those balls off the thin lies the lake bed offers. Picking the ball clean of the dirt, and using what ever targets I can find is my main focus. That, and personal exercise. 

[Hategolf]

Thanks for the responses. 

Since I joined this forum I decided that either I was going to get better or I was going to quit Golf. I was shooting in the 100s, before i used to shoot in the mid nineties. Something was really wrong and I could not find the right help or figure it out.

My athleticism, coordination and mental capacity are pretty good.I played professional soccer in the past. There is no reason why I wouldn't be able to improve. I just needed a few pieces of information that I could not get from instructors. Finally I was able to find a couple of pieces that have helped me to free up my swing, get rid of the shanks, hit an 8 iron 155, added distance to my driver 230+- carry when I'm on, and  reduce the blading shots around the green.

I practice some times twice per day, 4 times per week, play once per week or more and practice in a small yard unable to hit balls due to the lack of space.

I finally shot 85 and 88 without having to struggle much, the course were fairly easy though. Mostly boggies, a couple of pars, a rare birdie and a couple of doubles..you know  the drill. 

My goal by the end of the summer is to shoot in the 80s..meaning have most rounds in the80s..I'm telling you, I'm on my way. I'm hoping I can play in a tournament which I have never done because I felt my game was very poor for my own standards.

The practice is engraining in muscle memory more and more, the problem?

I don't belong to a country club, in my area there are no all you can hit deals other than a discount.

So I'm looking for an alternative because I'm spending more $$$$ than I'd like.

I have gone from LG to med buckets..because I am now better and I can make the best out of every swing. I'm that guy who looks for the left over balls just to get a few more swings in before leaving the range.

I feel that once my swing is pretty established I could get away with only 2 sessions per week. In the meantime..I have to find a more cost effective way to practice. 

I'm a numbers guy so I'm crunching numbers to find the less cost for the most improvement.

 

[jsgolfer]

 

2 hours ago, David in FL said:

I don't practice.

Although I'm a member at a nice club with 2 separate and very comprehensive practice facilities, it's unusual for me to ever just go to practice.  I'd rather play.

I also admit that my game would likely improve if I did though...

Ditto, except we only have 1 practice area and it's just OK.

 

[pushdraw12]

"how much" you practice is kind of pointless to track. If you're out there beating balls without a goal you might actually be getting worse. The key is to practice and work on your flaws. Focus on what you do wrong and change it. So if you slice the ball, you should be on the range, trying to learn to hit a draw. That is how you improve. You spend the majority of your time on your weaknesses and try to turn them into a strength. I know guys that go to the range twice a week and have never improved. And I have improved by simply doing takeaway drills in my house without even hitting a ball. 

[shanksalot]

Right now I don't practice and have not for a few years now. When I was playing well back in my early and mid 60's I would practice every day. I had a course where I got free balls with my membership. They had a driving range and at the back of the range they had a short game setup. I would spend hours there. The course I am at now does not have a driving range any longer they tore it up and are building condos and commercial enterprise buildings. So I go out back and just swing every day. No ball to hit just have a grass area to swing my clubs. I miss the practice area, but the nearest one is 30 miles away.

[lastings]

I have a membership to a local driving range.  unlimited balls from April to October.   costs me $150/year.  

I also have a membership to PGA superstore, where they have hitting bays and launch monitors.  one year membership is $199, but I think I got it for much less when I bought something at some event there last summer.  

how much I practice is really relevant to what I am working on that that time.   If I am not working on anything specific and I feel like my swing is in good shape, I'll probably go twice during the week just to keep my body loose and my swing in it's current place.   

If I am working on a specific swing change, I might go 5 or 6 times during the week, but usually only four about 15 min.  (10-20 balls).    once your body is tired, it will usually just revert to the natural swing it already knows, and it will be counter productive to the changes you are trying to make.   

 

I don't really practice putting or chipping.   Not to say I am already great at those things, but it's pretty inconvenient for me.   The green at my local driving rage is terribly slow, and practicing there probably does more harm than good.  It's about a 20-30 drive for me to go anywhere that has a green with decent pace.  When I gold on Saturday or Sunday mornings, I usually have about 30 in after I warm up to practice on the putting green.  Doing that once or twice a week + the putting mat in my living room when I'm bored works well enough to keep me sharp(ish).  

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2017 by lastings

[Hategolf]

45 minutes ago, pushdraw12 said:

"how much" you practice is kind of pointless to track. If you're out there beating balls without a goal you might actually be getting worse. The key is to practice and work on your flaws. Focus on what you do wrong and change it. So if you slice the ball, you should be on the range, trying to learn to hit a draw. That is how you improve. You spend the majority of your time on your weaknesses and try to turn them into a strength. I know guys that go to the range twice a week and have never improved. And I have improved by simply doing takeaway drills in my house without even hitting a ball. 

I could not agree with you more. Believe me I know all about banging balls vs good practice. I practice mechanics that are main components of most good golfers swings. It is just that, when I learn something new about the proper mechanics, I need to get the feel for it, and how the ball flies in relationship to that swing feel tells me what I might need to adjust...sometimes it takes me 20 actual shots to get the right feel - results combo, some times more. Then there is a 4/5 iron feel, then the woods and driver swing, then 60 yr 58 degree wedge shot.. next thing you know..you are out of balls.

How fast one can improve besides how effective their practice sessions are, I feel has to do with your handicap. If you are a low handicap and more knowledgeable about the swing, I'm sure you can practice in the mirror and improve.

Someday.  

 

3 minutes ago, lastings said:

I have a membership to a local driving range.  unlimited balls from April to October.   costs me $150/year.  

 

That is an unbelievable deal...that's $25 per month. I spend that in a week. 

[lastings]

yeah, it's a sweet little municipal range that I found.  It's actually $300.00 per year.   But, I split it with a buddy, and they are cool with that.  we just can't go at the same time.  (and we always have to go pick up the card from each other, which is kind of a pain...    but, worth it)

[Kalnoky]

I hit balls off of grass 2-3 days per week, 30 balls each time @ $3 ea. I use an alignment rod and a small convex mirror Eric recommended. If I have a bad practice I don't hit more balls, I just go home. I've come to accept some days I will not hit the ball well and there is no reason to change my swing or overthink things. I'm hitting the ball better than I ever have now. For me less practice and less obsessing translated into better golf.

I do keep a wedge at work in the conference room and sometimes I will go in there and just practice takeaways.

 

 

Edited April 13, 2017 by Kalnoky

[WUTiger]

I spent last season re-going my long clubs, and am hitting them fairly well (especially the driver). Also redid my wedges, making solid contact but need to figure out yardage gaps.

And, from a late-season lesson and follow-up comments from other pros, I've got my weight back on my heels more, resulting in much steadier stable base.

On range, I plan to do twice a week - one putting/shortgame and one full shot. This will be focused, not two hours pounding away.

That said, I want to practice out on the course more - realistic scenarios - rather than too much range time.

Note: Your survey choices on range cost left out a lot of options. My wife and I have a couple's yearly golf club membership, with unlimited range balls included. This is fairly common at semi-private clubs.

[Hacker James]

1 hour ago, Kalnoky said:

I hit balls off of grass 2-3 days per week, 30 balls each time @ $3 ea. I use an alignment rod and a small convex mirror Eric recommended. If I have a bad practice I don't hit more balls, I just go home. I've come to accept some days I will not hit the ball well and there is no reason to change my swing or overthink things. I'm hitting the ball better than I ever have now. For me less practice and less obsessing translated into better golf.

I do keep a wedge at work in the conference room and sometimes I will go in there and just practice takeaways.

 

 

@Kalnoky Could you tell me more about the mirror in regards to size, how far away to place, and where to find one? I think that would work better for me than filming. For some reason or other, I am just too self conscious of a camera (or maybe don't like the truths revealed). I would want something small in size that would fit in a golf bag, Thanks.

 

[Kalnoky]

13 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

@Kalnoky Could you tell me more about the mirror in regards to size, how far away to place, and where to find one? 

 

Hi @Hacker James yes, I am happy to, it is the "EyeLine Golf 360-degrees Mirror for Full Swing and Putting" on Amazon for $42. This was recommended by Erik in a previous blog, but I couldn't find the blog or else I'd have quoted it herein...

Anyway, I would say it's about 12-14" in diameter. I set it up behind me just inside the alignment rod, so I am getting a good down-the-line view of my takeaway and backswing. Because it's convex, it will capture your entire body. It comes with a little stand so you can set it on the grass, but if there is a bench available sometimes I will use the stand to hang it up on a bench about waist high. It has been a huge help to me, I keep it my car at all times. 

Cameras are garbage in my opinion. The mirror gives you real time feedback so you can practice your swing in slow motion and fix it while you're still there at the range. I just never got much use out of watching my bad swings on a camera at home. 

 

Edited April 13, 2017 by Kalnoky

[rehmwa]

I don't call what I do practice:

once the weather clears up, I'll hit a bucket or 3 a week, but it's not really focused - if it's going poorly, I just work on those things that relate to good contact and distance control.  If contact is going well, I'll play around with shaping and controlling the shot.  I have goals (shorter backswing, etc) but these are a side thought most of the time

and I'll play 1 -3 times a week, and I kind of treat that the same way

I really should take lessons, a higher percentage of clean contact would pay off.  as would some short game work.  And a big win would be chip type shots within 100 yards, that would pay off big.  But it's not high enough on the priority list yet, maybe soon.

I did join, as a substitute (so I'll likely play every week) a beer league that plays at a local short course I'd never pay to play on.  I think showing up with just short irons and only hitting approach shots can be a good thing for GIR.

Edited April 13, 2017 by rehmwa

[mcanadiens]

“We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice.”

- A.I.

Edited April 13, 2017 by mcanadiens

[Hacker James]

1 hour ago, Kalnoky said:

Hi @Hacker James yes, I am happy to, it is the "EyeLine Golf 360-degrees Mirror for Full Swing and Putting" on Amazon for $42. This was recommended by Erik in a previous blog, but I couldn't find the blog or else I'd have quoted it herein...

Anyway, I would say it's about 12-14" in diameter. I set it up behind me just inside the alignment rod, so I am getting a good down-the-line view of my takeaway and backswing. Because it's convex, it will capture your entire body. It comes with a little stand so you can set it on the grass, but if there is a bench available sometimes I will use the stand to hang it up on a bench about waist high. It has been a huge help to me, I keep it my car at all times. 

Cameras are garbage in my opinion. The mirror gives you real time feedback so you can practice your swing in slow motion and fix it while you're still there at the range. I just never got much use out of watching my bad swings on a camera at home. 

 

Thank you ever so much. That will be my next online purchase.  I guess doing an DTL view you would just have to look back during your backswing to see take away and position at the top, otherwise face on view as well.

Thanks again.

[Lihu]

22 hours ago, Hategolf said:

I am crunching some numbers and I am considering some alternatives for practicing my swing.  I figure who better to ask than folks in here.
 

Please if you will, take the poll. Names are private.

Thanks.  

At least for me, the numbers will change depending upon the season.

I'm guessing that most people will play more now that it's spring/summer? I put down less than 2 times a week and my balls are inclusive, but I haven't practiced on a range that much these past two months. Mostly on course practice during practice rounds. When it was kind of cold and wet, I practiced a lot on the range or indoors at a golf learning facility and went on the course maybe once a week at most?

[jbishop15]

I practice 4-5 times a week. I work from 7-3, so I go to the course at 330ish.

i try to get the gym during my lunch hour, each day, but that's more hit or miss. Usually 2-3 times a week.

[Dave2512]

Haven't practiced in a year.