How do people practice if they are not a member of a club?

[Buckeyebowman]

On 7/5/2018 at 4:16 AM, Thomasredstone said:

You certainly are right...I would like to work on spin wedge shots that bounce once then stop...difficult on the range...maybe stick with my bump n runs...

Good idea! Trying to practice spinny shots that bounce once and check with range balls? Good luck with that!

[billchao]

11 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Good idea! Trying to practice spinny shots that bounce once and check with range balls? Good luck with that!

I agree.

If you're going to practice the short game, use the balls you normally play so you learn how they behave when they hit the green.

[Patch]

14 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Good idea! Trying to practice spinny shots that bounce once and check with range balls? Good luck with that!

Another option for the drop, and stop ball is to hit flop shots. Imo, that is an easier shot to learn than putting enough spin on the the ball to do the same thing.

Most golfers who find it easy to to get out of the sand, already have some of  of the components of the flop shots. Plus, if hitting off the turf, you can practice flop shots with range balls. 

[David in FL]

On 7/3/2018 at 6:04 PM, Used2PlayALot said:

Driving range is one small slice of golf.

When I played 5x a week, I would use my club's course to practice.

• I'd hit 5-10 balls out of the trap (even if I didn't go into the trap)
• I'd putt on each green for 10 mins. after my hole was done.  
• I'd chip out of the rough onto the green.
• I'd practice bump and run with 7 iron.
• I'd practice flop shots.\
  
  
  Any shot under 20 yards, I'd play 5 times since the course was empty.
  I did this for a few years ago got to 13.  (Never was able to hit 90s drivers)

 

How do people practice if they are not a member of a club?

 

Sorry, but all of that seems like a really good way to beat up the golf course.

I can only imagine if a significant number of players did all of that on the course...

[Patch]

20 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Sorry, but all of that seems like a really good way to beat up the golf course.

I can only imagine if a significant number of players did all of that on the course...

Luckily, thin lies off the green were not listed. I have seen some scarred up greens where folks took iron shots off them. 

[Thomasredstone]

On 7/5/2018 at 2:20 AM, Grizvok said:

I mean if you are willing to “lose the range ball” so to speak you can absolutely just hit that shot at the range. 

 

On 7/5/2018 at 3:16 AM, Thomasredstone said:

You certainly are right...I would like to work on spin wedge shots that bounce once then stop...difficult on the range...maybe stick with my bump n runs...

Grizvok, I think I misunderstood your point about "loose the range ball"...I think you meant to willingly use ones gaming balls, albeit prolly scuffed ones, for longer pitch shots at the range and consider them a donation to the range. I do have a handful I hit in the garage that could be used but it would be hard to walk away from em...cost of improvement I guess.

[Grizvok]

7 minutes ago, Thomasredstone said:

 

Grizvok, I think I misunderstood your point about "loose the range ball"...I think you meant to willingly use ones gaming balls, albeit prolly scuffed ones, for longer pitch shots at the range and consider them a donation to the range. I do have a handful I hit in the garage that could be used but it would be hard to walk away from em...cost of improvement I guess.

No, I simply meant to hit those 10-30yd pitching shots you were looking to work on at the range with normal range balls. Only later did you make a comment about specifically wanting to get the feedback of being able to see the spin and what not which I agree is nice to have.

I'm a new'ish golfer and a higher handicapper so I don't really spin the ball much per se, but I do have pitching shots which certainly stop a heck of a lot quicker which is surely some level of spin at play.

Of course range balls aren't as receptive to spin, but I think the general feel of contact is relatively consistent between range and game balls which you might be able to use as some type of feedback?