This kind of got started in another post but my question to all of you is this - the $1,000,000 question - how can you practice at the range and produce "course" pressure to practice as "game like" as you can? I know hitting 200 balls with the same club is not going to be game like - I actually back off of every ball at the range...stand behind it, pick intermediate target, visualize shot, grip club, practice swing, align, address, waggle and go - I am the king of the range - but on the course, it's tough to pull off the shots I know I can hit - suggestions?
producing course pressure at the range
- Thread starter Short Game Frankie
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Franki, I read some of the others posts.
But it just strikes me that this is backwards, making the range into what it is not. The "other way" is to treat the course as real, and then just use the range to practice a certain shot or whatever, so you have the confidence you can hit the fade or draw or whatever, and then on the course you just "do it."
If someone is all worried and worked up on the course, then I do not think the answer is to bring that bunch of nerves to the range, but to eliminate the problems at the course.
If you are talking about 18th hole adrenaline from match play where it "all" is on the line, that's going to be tough..maybe a person would have to get IN that position a few times and learn from it directly.
Now this is not to say your method might not work for some people, just I didn't want the alternative view overlooked. Jmo. Carry on.
But it just strikes me that this is backwards, making the range into what it is not. The "other way" is to treat the course as real, and then just use the range to practice a certain shot or whatever, so you have the confidence you can hit the fade or draw or whatever, and then on the course you just "do it."
If someone is all worried and worked up on the course, then I do not think the answer is to bring that bunch of nerves to the range, but to eliminate the problems at the course.
If you are talking about 18th hole adrenaline from match play where it "all" is on the line, that's going to be tough..maybe a person would have to get IN that position a few times and learn from it directly.
Now this is not to say your method might not work for some people, just I didn't want the alternative view overlooked. Jmo. Carry on.
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thefuture37
Banned
do this everytime you go to the range. buy an extra large bucket. take ten balls and warmup just to loosen the muscles. then take one ball, pick one target, and hit it. if you "miss" the shot(for whatever your skill level), then pack up and leave the remaining 90 or whatever balls and go home. if you make the shot, then practice as usual.
Slicey McDuff
New
Frankie:
As a hack my advice may not be worth too much, however I have just come back from shooting 43 for 9, my best ever score!!!
Previous best was 46 average is 50, I generally only play 9 obviously.
I do have a point... It is this, Don't try to reproduce course pressure on the range, try to reproduce range "lack of pressure" on the course.
Play every ball on the course as if it were the only ball you had hit for the day.
forget about the previous shot, and don't think too much about the next shot (naturally you have to think about setting it up etc).
I was shooting high 50's to low 60's for 9, 2 months ago with the most horrid slice ever.
Brians vidoes and some lessons with a local instructor got me down around 50 reasonably quickly, but it's the mental game that'll do wonders for you (YES I have seen the "other" thread).....
Today I was on my own, I took my time over every shot and bang! They went mostly where I was aiming.
I might add that I have had a couple of "breakthrough's" and they have each happened while playing solo, that makes it very easy to have no pressure.
Once you KNOW you can shoot a certain score then it becomes easier to reproduce when your buddies are around or whatever other pressures you face.
My 2c YMMV.
As a hack my advice may not be worth too much, however I have just come back from shooting 43 for 9, my best ever score!!!
Previous best was 46 average is 50, I generally only play 9 obviously.
I do have a point... It is this, Don't try to reproduce course pressure on the range, try to reproduce range "lack of pressure" on the course.
Play every ball on the course as if it were the only ball you had hit for the day.
forget about the previous shot, and don't think too much about the next shot (naturally you have to think about setting it up etc).
I was shooting high 50's to low 60's for 9, 2 months ago with the most horrid slice ever.
Brians vidoes and some lessons with a local instructor got me down around 50 reasonably quickly, but it's the mental game that'll do wonders for you (YES I have seen the "other" thread).....
Today I was on my own, I took my time over every shot and bang! They went mostly where I was aiming.
I might add that I have had a couple of "breakthrough's" and they have each happened while playing solo, that makes it very easy to have no pressure.
Once you KNOW you can shoot a certain score then it becomes easier to reproduce when your buddies are around or whatever other pressures you face.
My 2c YMMV.
self-mastery
New
I would rather learn how to play golf on the course than tinker away at the range. Too many range rats, not enough golfers. What is this "course pressure" that you speak of? Golf is simple-- See the ball; hit the ball.
Yeah, that'll put a little pressure on you, especially if you don't have a lot of disposable income.
Course Pressure
On the range there is no consequence to hitting a bad shot. You hit a bad shot, you roll up another ball and hit it again. I am an outstanding "range" striker. On the course, there is a pressure to perform that is not present when you are practicing. I am a 12 handicap so I can hit the ball the way I want to most of the time but I would say in any given round, I hit about 5-8 bad shots that may lead to an extra stroke, maybe 2 on that particular hole. Most sports can produce practice that is "game" like - in sports like football, baseball, basketball you can have scrimmages which are actual "games" in practice - they allow you to experience exactly what you will experience in an actual "game" - what type of practice, drills or mental approach can golf offer to say the same?
On the range there is no consequence to hitting a bad shot. You hit a bad shot, you roll up another ball and hit it again. I am an outstanding "range" striker. On the course, there is a pressure to perform that is not present when you are practicing. I am a 12 handicap so I can hit the ball the way I want to most of the time but I would say in any given round, I hit about 5-8 bad shots that may lead to an extra stroke, maybe 2 on that particular hole. Most sports can produce practice that is "game" like - in sports like football, baseball, basketball you can have scrimmages which are actual "games" in practice - they allow you to experience exactly what you will experience in an actual "game" - what type of practice, drills or mental approach can golf offer to say the same?
thefuture37
Banned
you might not be as good of a "range striker" as you think. it could be that you forget the bad shots and remember the good shots. another way to practice more effectively on the range is to find uneven lies.
welshdentist
New
How to reproduce on course golf
Here goes from MY point of view
Practice playing golf on course OR practice mechanics
Practice playing golf
Never hit the same club twice in a row or the same shape shot twice in a row when practicing "on course golf"
Have a piece of paper with two lines parallel going from top to bottom. representing a fairway and a circle representing a green.
Every shot you hit either put a cross on the fairway to show where it would be (never hit two drives in a row) and put a number (instead of a cross)representing what iron you hit and where it would of finish on your imaginary green (your target). Do this and hit loads of chips/pitches/draws/fade/high/low etc etc etc.
You'll get a pattern of what happens on course...
Anyone can start to hit a club fine when you hit 10 of them in a row.....but what happenes when you hit a high fade to a green 150 away with a right to left breeze and only get one go at it?
But what happens when you hit it one time only?
This will tell you what to work on when working on mechanics (range rat mode) and do this at a different session.
Injury gave me a new insight into practice...
I can't hit hundreds any more and I have NEVER hit it better. Learn how to learn BETTER. I have mentioned before the 32 ball drill by Carey Mumford.
It is REALLY HARD to just work on one thing at a time....and we need someone like Brian to tell us what that should be
I really believe practicing mechanics is different to practicing on course golf....
Annikas coach had one guy at a golf school who was SO frustrated at not taking on range performance onto the course...
Then he worked it all out....
He loved range hitting, it chilled him out and he loved tinkering......
He just didn't like playing on a course. The range WAS golf to him.....
I love that story
Hope this might help, I have read a fair bit about it and would happily recommend books if anyone want to pm me
Here goes from MY point of view
Practice playing golf on course OR practice mechanics
Practice playing golf
Never hit the same club twice in a row or the same shape shot twice in a row when practicing "on course golf"
Have a piece of paper with two lines parallel going from top to bottom. representing a fairway and a circle representing a green.
Every shot you hit either put a cross on the fairway to show where it would be (never hit two drives in a row) and put a number (instead of a cross)representing what iron you hit and where it would of finish on your imaginary green (your target). Do this and hit loads of chips/pitches/draws/fade/high/low etc etc etc.
You'll get a pattern of what happens on course...
Anyone can start to hit a club fine when you hit 10 of them in a row.....but what happenes when you hit a high fade to a green 150 away with a right to left breeze and only get one go at it?
But what happens when you hit it one time only?
This will tell you what to work on when working on mechanics (range rat mode) and do this at a different session.
Injury gave me a new insight into practice...
I can't hit hundreds any more and I have NEVER hit it better. Learn how to learn BETTER. I have mentioned before the 32 ball drill by Carey Mumford.
It is REALLY HARD to just work on one thing at a time....and we need someone like Brian to tell us what that should be
I really believe practicing mechanics is different to practicing on course golf....
Annikas coach had one guy at a golf school who was SO frustrated at not taking on range performance onto the course...
Then he worked it all out....
He loved range hitting, it chilled him out and he loved tinkering......
He just didn't like playing on a course. The range WAS golf to him.....
I love that story
Hope this might help, I have read a fair bit about it and would happily recommend books if anyone want to pm me
Believe me when I tell you I am a stud at the range. When I hit balls at the range, I buy an 80 ball bucket. After 10-15 balls of "warm up" (I start with a 3 iron - little trick from Tom Watson), I grab a SW. Get behind it, line it up, intermediate target, imagine shot, grip club, practice swing, address, align, waggle, go - 5 yard draw to the 100 yard green. Then I grab a PW, same thing to the 125 yard green. Then 8 iron to the 150 yard green, 6 iron to the 175, 4 iron to the 200, 2 iron to the 225. Then I tee up and hit a driver. Then I go back to the 2 iron and work my way back. When I get back down to the SW, I do the same thing but I fade the ball all the way through the same routine with all the clubs. When I go to sit down and drink some water, it is not unusual to have 4-5 people sitting behind me watching me hit balls and asking me if I played in college or if I'm a scratch player. I do put on a show at the range. I have had near perfect practice sessions (2-4 bad swings out of that same 80 ball bucket).
I feel it is a good practice routine. Occasionally, I will "play" the course on the range with the scorecard. I am trying to find a way to click my mind into "course" mode on the range so I can call on it when I am actually playing. Maybe practicing uneven lies is a good suggestion. I have done that in the past where I hit off of 2 mats stacked on top of one another. Feet on first mat, ball on the second mat or ball on first mat, feet on the second. I haven't done that for awhile, that is a good suggestion.
welshdentist
New
What sort of scores do you shoot?
best score ever = 72
best round in last 6 months = 76
worst round in last 6 months = 87
average score last 6 months = 81 to 84
I do play from the "tips" so these scores are legit
I am hit or miss off the tee with the driver. I fight a hook with the driver. I have recently worked on a flat left wrist and a more neutral grip and I seem to be working it out. I'll hit my driver an avg of 270-ish yards (250 yards carry), 290 or so when I really get into it. My irons are pretty good, from 185 and in I will usually be on the green or close. I lose strokes with lost balls (2 per round maybe when I'm not driving it well) and when I hit the wrong club. Have you ever been standing on the 150 yard marker and your GPS is telling you it is 165 yards? Which one do you believe and which club do you hit? I only really get upset on the golf course when I hit a shot exactly the way I want to with the club that I want to and it is short or long because of a poor yardage. I will have maybe one 3 putt per round which is usually set up by a poor iron shot or a poor chip.
My irons are solid, carry distances consistant. Best part of my game.
My short game (80 yards and in) is good. Saves me a ton of strokes.
My putting is ok. I'll 2 putt most of the time with a 1 putt here and a 3 putt there.
My driving can be erratic. Have been working it out, though. If I'm really struggling, I'll drive with my 2 iron and just have to be that much better with my irons.
best round in last 6 months = 76
worst round in last 6 months = 87
average score last 6 months = 81 to 84
I do play from the "tips" so these scores are legit
I am hit or miss off the tee with the driver. I fight a hook with the driver. I have recently worked on a flat left wrist and a more neutral grip and I seem to be working it out. I'll hit my driver an avg of 270-ish yards (250 yards carry), 290 or so when I really get into it. My irons are pretty good, from 185 and in I will usually be on the green or close. I lose strokes with lost balls (2 per round maybe when I'm not driving it well) and when I hit the wrong club. Have you ever been standing on the 150 yard marker and your GPS is telling you it is 165 yards? Which one do you believe and which club do you hit? I only really get upset on the golf course when I hit a shot exactly the way I want to with the club that I want to and it is short or long because of a poor yardage. I will have maybe one 3 putt per round which is usually set up by a poor iron shot or a poor chip.
My irons are solid, carry distances consistant. Best part of my game.
My short game (80 yards and in) is good. Saves me a ton of strokes.
My putting is ok. I'll 2 putt most of the time with a 1 putt here and a 3 putt there.
My driving can be erratic. Have been working it out, though. If I'm really struggling, I'll drive with my 2 iron and just have to be that much better with my irons.
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Believe it or not, you may have to "tinker" at the range to fine tune your game. I remember watching Vijay Singh at Torrey Pines and he hit balls for over 2 hours. He is one of the top 5 players in the world and he is a "range rat".
"See the ball; hit the ball". It seems really simple when you read it. Now that I know golf is simple, I'll go win the US Open. It sounds like you already have. It is "simple", after all. Have you ever shot a 54? Can I get your autograph?
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Chris Sturgess
New member
Self mastery is just a tinkerer himself and is basically talking to himself there. So I guess in addition to being a tinkerer and a "self masterer" he is also a self mutterer.
Burner
New
I guess any game is easy if you are not trying to compete or improve. I think "mutterer" is a perfect word.
Easy guys. Self-mastery is also the guy who obsessed over Lorena Ochoa, publicly, for the better part of the summer. I think he intends for just about anything he says to be taken with a grain or two of salt.
simusphere
New
Use the range to work on one or two of your known weaknesses. In your case that would be the driver. I used to wast time at the range hitting shots I knew I could hit and then try to impress the other rats too. Tip, try finding a time at the range when no others are around. I would change the routine your using to:
Use only 20-30 balls
Warm up (however you like)
Hit your driver
roll the dice, if it's a low number - hit a pull or hook into the left woods)
If its 3 draw into the imaginary fairway
If its a 4 fade into the fairway
If its a 5 or 6, I think you get the picture.
Space the drives out so you are not wacking one after the other. This keeps you from locking in on a rhythm (just like on the course). You hit your irons well on the course, so why practice that at all on the range?
Unless of course you are like Annaka and can just hit it straight all the time and have no need for bending the ball. I'm just kidding about the hook and slice thing. But by all means practice on your weaknesses untill your confidence is high. If you are nailing all your drives on the range and not on the course then you could be tensing up while on the course unconciously. That could be caused by worrying about what you playing partners are thinking instead of instead of truley being in your pre-shot routine. Who know's. You may need to visualize being at the range while on the tee box (complete with range ratts whispering how good you are). If on the other hand you are nailing your drives while playing the course alone then we are getting into the all important mental side of the game.
The only thing that would make driving range practice better would be if we cue up any sort of angle on any golf course in the world before each shot. You know, like Star Treks hollodeck. Wait a minute, our economy is on the brink of extinction, like that's going to happen. For the time being we'll just have to use our imagination.
Last Tip: The urge is tremendously strong to yank at or near the top of the swing, especially with the driver. Make it part of your pre-shot routine to visualize waiting on pouring on the juice till the club gets to the slot positon.
Use only 20-30 balls
Warm up (however you like)
Hit your driver
roll the dice, if it's a low number - hit a pull or hook into the left woods)
If its 3 draw into the imaginary fairway
If its a 4 fade into the fairway
If its a 5 or 6, I think you get the picture.
Space the drives out so you are not wacking one after the other. This keeps you from locking in on a rhythm (just like on the course). You hit your irons well on the course, so why practice that at all on the range?
Unless of course you are like Annaka and can just hit it straight all the time and have no need for bending the ball. I'm just kidding about the hook and slice thing.
But by all means practice on your weaknesses untill your confidence is high. If you are nailing all your drives on the range and not on the course then you could be tensing up while on the course unconciously. That could be caused by worrying about what you playing partners are thinking instead of instead of truley being in your pre-shot routine. Who know's. You may need to visualize being at the range while on the tee box (complete with range ratts whispering how good you are). If on the other hand you are nailing your drives while playing the course alone then we are getting into the all important mental side of the game.The only thing that would make driving range practice better would be if we cue up any sort of angle on any golf course in the world before each shot. You know, like Star Treks hollodeck. Wait a minute, our economy is on the brink of extinction, like that's going to happen. For the time being we'll just have to use our imagination.
Last Tip: The urge is tremendously strong to yank at or near the top of the swing, especially with the driver. Make it part of your pre-shot routine to visualize waiting on pouring on the juice till the club gets to the slot positon.
I really don't worry about what my playing partners are thinking because I am usually the best player in the group. Visualizing being at the range may be a good suggestion. I am pretty good at my pre shot routine as far as picturing the shot, committing to it, and going through the whole routine - I may have to cue up an image of a perfect drive on the range when I am picturing the shot I am trying to hit - I am going to work on uneven lies, also - I stack two mats on top of each other and pull the mat back a bit - put the ball on the bottom mat while you're standing on the top mat and you have a fade lie - stand on the bottom mat with the ball on the top mat and you have a draw lie - it does make you focus more and it's a very "game like" practice session
I like this. Gets you focused on hitting shots. I'll have to try that once I get back out there.
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