Practice For Relaxing

[Patch]

As per the topic title, have you ever practiced, just hit balls, for no other purpose than to just unwind, and/or relax?

I do this ocassionaly. No swing thoughts. Doing nothing to help enhance my game. Just easy swings, hitting the the ball "out there" some where, with a clear mind. Not just raking balls to hit, mind you. Just hitting balls. I did this earlier today after a putting practice session.  Just wanted to hit some more balls with the 9i I had with me. Needed to finish unwinding from the previous night's activities. 

I play rounds of golf for a score, in a relaxed state of mind. Mostly a hit the ball, go find it, and hit it again type attitude. I do pay attention to a few things, like alignment, and the conditions of the lie of the ball. After that, I'm on auto pilot. 

However I play, it is what it is. Miiss a fairway, or a 5 footer? No problem. I will make do better next time.....maybe.

[saevel25]

Not really. If I did that, I would just be practicing bad habits from the swing I am trying to change. 

[tehuti]

Nope. My practice sessions are always with a purpose.

[criley4way]

10 minutes ago, tehuti said:

Nope. My practice sessions are always with a purpose.

There are times when working on routine is the purpose. I often work on just hitting balls with a calm mind.

[DrMJG]

11 hours ago, Patch said:

As per the topic title, have you ever practiced, just hit balls, for no other purpose than to just unwind, and/or relax?

I do this ocassionaly. No swing thoughts. Doing nothing to help enhance my game. Just easy swings, hitting the the ball "out there" some where, with a clear mind. Not just raking balls to hit, mind you. Just hitting balls. I did this earlier today after a putting practice session.  Just wanted to hit some more balls with the 9i I had with me. Needed to finish unwinding from the previous night's activities. 

I play rounds of golf for a score, in a relaxed state of mind. Mostly a hit the ball, go find it, and hit it again type attitude. I do pay attention to a few things, like alignment, and the conditions of the lie of the ball. After that, I'm on auto pilot. 

However I play, it is what it is. Miiss a fairway, or a 5 footer? No problem. I will make do better next time.....maybe.

I have done that when I have had a highly stressed out week or two of very focused practice interspersed with a few rounds.  Gets me back to enjoying the game, and in that joy and focus is returned to allow the next focused period to return. 

Edited September 9, 2018 by DrMJG

[Piz]

I often go to the range simply because I want to.  While I head out with no specific purpose it is inevitable that one will emerge after I loosen up.  It is a bit like going to the grocery store without a list.  

[RussUK]

On ‎9‎/‎8‎/‎2018 at 6:25 PM, Patch said:

As per the topic title, have you ever practiced, just hit balls, for no other purpose than to just unwind, and/or relax?

I do this ocassionaly. No swing thoughts. Doing nothing to help enhance my game. Just easy swings, hitting the the ball "out there" some where, with a clear mind. Not just raking balls to hit, mind you. Just hitting balls. I did this earlier today after a putting practice session.  Just wanted to hit some more balls with the 9i I had with me. Needed to finish unwinding from the previous night's activities. 

I play rounds of golf for a score, in a relaxed state of mind. Mostly a hit the ball, go find it, and hit it again type attitude. I do pay attention to a few things, like alignment, and the conditions of the lie of the ball. After that, I'm on auto pilot. 

However I play, it is what it is. Miiss a fairway, or a 5 footer? No problem. I will make do better next time.....maybe.

I do this a lot as i find going to the range really helps with stress,

I dont just blast ball after ball but i dont go there with a regimented plan in place. I work up through the bag with a couple of balls each then decide what i will focus on (if anything) at that time.

There are times when i do go with a plan of action but generally i dont like being too structured with my golf.

[MarvChamp]

I usually practice with the first thought of building back a little strength lost over the last year. Then, after warming up, I try to send the ball specific distances toward specific targets. I am practicing "setup routine" which, for me, usually translates to a solid shot. All this is relaxing. Best, -Marv

[RFKFREAK]

Reminds me of this guy:

 

[billchao]

No, can't say that I have. Usually when I want to unwind or relax I'll take a nap or something.

[boogielicious]

I can practice with a purpose and still relax. I like practicing when I am not rushed.

[LeftyWhiff]

I do this I think in a more regimented way. I like to work through the bag without much of an agenda or goal. I'll hit driver, long club, iron, wedge--two balls for each, and then repeat  through the bag with a big bucket (80 balls). What I want is to get to a point where I do this without having to think about it and it relaxes me, not only with regard to golf but everything else that stresses me out. Halfway into the bucket I'm on automatic pilot, hitting reasonably well without thinking about anything. The feel of the body moving without over analyzing everything is like meditation, or as close to it as I get. I get something like this on my better rounds on the course, especially if I can play fast at a rhythm. My golf buddies can't understand this, and think I'm not approaching my shots seriously or appropriately. I put up my best score once playing like this on my own.

Sometimes I will work on specific clubs on specific issues at the range. This is different. Maybe better for my golf game, but not the same for peace of mind.

[GolfLug]

On 9/8/2018 at 1:25 PM, Patch said:

As per the topic title, have you ever practiced, just hit balls, for no other purpose than to just unwind, and/or relax?

I do this ocassionaly. No swing thoughts. Doing nothing to help enhance my game. Just easy swings, hitting the the ball "out there" some where, with a clear mind. Not just raking balls to hit, mind you. Just hitting balls. I did this earlier today after a putting practice session.  Just wanted to hit some more balls with the 9i I had with me. Needed to finish unwinding from the previous night's activities. 

I play rounds of golf for a score, in a relaxed state of mind. Mostly a hit the ball, go find it, and hit it again type attitude. I do pay attention to a few things, like alignment, and the conditions of the lie of the ball. After that, I'm on auto pilot. 

However I play, it is what it is. Miiss a fairway, or a 5 footer? No problem. I will make do better next time.....maybe.

Absolutely. Why not? We often say and hear "have fun" and almost never mean it. It is what we make it to be. But you seem to have gotten it right.

Lot of us serious golfers spend our entire lives in pursuit of betterment that resembles a perennial all consuming walk on a tight rope. Surely needed considering how hard golf is but it can be exhausting.

So yes practice is for pursuit of a better swing mostly but I think ok to pause sometime the full-on attentive work and just enjoy whatever level of skill we have acquired without much thought. There are no rules that say otherwise. 

All power to you.

[DrvFrShow]

Sure, why not?