Gate Drill on the Course

[HJJ003]

Today was the first day I have ever done the gate drill. Not the "tees on either side of the ball" gate drill I have done that plenty of times. I am talking about the one where you put alignment sticks upright in the ground about 20 feet or so from you and form some "goalpost" like gates to hit through. I read it in LSW, though I know its probably a common drill I just have never done it. My thoughts on this drill are WOW. I used these gates while hitting 7 Iron, 5 Iron, 3 Hybrid, and 3 wood. This drill did a lot for me on all of these clubs. When hitting Irons I really wanted the ball to start over the gates rather than through them and it allowed me to really compress (deform) the golf ball so I could let the club loft do the work for me. That caused me to reply shift my weight forward and I noticed an immediate increase in distance..especially with the 3 Wood (off the tee). It was amazing how much more accurate my shots were (even if they curved) in relation to my target with proper start lines. Seems stupid I know...but was really an encouraging practice session today. My question is...have you ever taken this drill to the course? Obviously, not in a physical manner...but in a mental one? Would it be a good strategy for me to picture these gates in front of me on the golf course in line with my target? Or this is just a. good range drill to get a feel, but not something that should be taken to the course? 

[Patch]

I would think if it helped you at practice, and you could duplicate the same mental picture on the course, then why not. It would be worth a try at the very least. 

I do something similar when putting to help roll the ball on my chosen line. I get this mental (pretend) picture of a dime about a foot or so in front of the ball. 

[HJJ003]

3 minutes ago, Patch said:

I would think if it helped you at practice, and you could duplicate the same mental picture on the course, then why not. It would be worth a try at the very least. 

I do something similar when putting to help roll the ball on my chosen line. I get this mental (pretend) picture of a dime about a foot or so in front of the ball. 

thanks for the reply. The dime trick sounds like a good one for putting too...I will have to try that.