No Range

[revkev]

I have a 1226 tee time and I just got an email from my club saying that the course is open but the range is closed. (We had a tropical storm that dropped 10 plus inches in a day earlier in the week and locally heavy thunderstorms the past couple of days)

 

I grew up in a place/era when warming up for a round on the range was something the pros did. Even though the club that I caddied at had a range it was only used for practice, not a pre round warm up.

 

What do you do when there is no range or you arrive at the course only to discover that the range is closed? I actually do occasionally practice this in range sessions by making my first shot a full driver followed by the club that would be my next shot on the course that I normally play.

 

How about you?

[chemclub]

1) Optional mulligan off the first tee is always a standard rule in my playing group (we often play so early there is no time for the range).

 

2) I also have an orange whip that I use to loosen up at home (with mixed results)

 

3) Warm up on the chipping green since your short game saves just as many strokes (if not more) than accurate driving, and at least lets you 'feel' the ball and impact.

 

4) All else fails, play later in the day so your body is more loose and warmed up.

 

Probably no great substitute since you (and I) are mentally conditioned to need a range warm up. If one of the guys in my group doesn't get a warm up he basically writes off his whole front nine and refuses to just swing 3/4 and try to at least make a game of it. He is mentally done before he starts.

[Joey East Coast]

Always have to stretch, at the very least. If there's no range option, I will place a tee in the grass at variable lengths and take some practice swings, making sure to clip the tee in the process. 

[808nation]

I do stretches before the round starts and that gets me warned up enough for the day. I also have one of those weights that you put on your irons which really stretches you out plus it gives me few extra yards on the first drive.

 

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[Kanoito]

For casual rounds, I tee up so early in the morning that I don't have enough sunlight to hit balls on the range.

I practice after my round, actually...

So basically, I just wing it... I do stretch and swing 2-3 wedges together though... to loosen up...

 

For tourneys I smack 20-30 balls before the round. If the range was closed, I probably would hit into a net in my garden and then drive to the club warmed up.

[Jmikecpa]

Does not bother me much, but would prefer to hit balls before I play since I am getting old.  Hard to slam the trunk and stripe a driver on one or a 2 iron at my home course.

[Kenny B]

If you remember Rev, I don't warm up much on the range anyway.  I only have so many swings in this old body, and if I hit a bunch of balls on the range, then my score usually suffers on 16, 17, and 18.  Over the years I have found that my practice time before a round is best spent on the practice green, chipping and putting.  I just make a normal swing on #1 and it has worked out fine for me.  Of course I stretch... before during and after the round.

[PlaidJacket]

I like to do like Rev and hit the range for about 30 minutes before a round. But there have been a few times when it's closed for some reason. When that happens I spend my time stretching and hydrating and putting. The good news is that the Range is Closed for everyone! Nobody gets an advantage. Ha.

[Kor.A.Door]

I only do a range session for warm up when I have a match, and I only hit 10-12 balls, just enough to loosen my back a little, it's usually, 4-5 wedges. 2 warm up half swings then 2-3 full swings, then 4-5 seven irons full, then 3-4 three wood full shots, my first shot from 1 tee is usually 3 wood followed by a wedge. If there is no range it does t bother me because outside of he above for a match I never use the range for warmup before the round. I only chip and putt.

[hckymeyer]

I usually just hit the bar for a cocktail.  Then do a little stretching and warm up swing on the first tee.  Nice thing about my course is the first hole is a par 5 that is usually not reachable in 2.  So a mediocre drive is just fine, same with the 2nd shot.  You will still be inside 150 and most likely inside 100 for your approach.

 

I would guess 70% of my rounds are without any range warm up.  Not for lack of wanting, but with 2 small children it seems like it always takes longer to leave the house then I planned on and I'm heading straight to the first tee.

[alfriday101]

I have a set routine I do on the range to warm up before a round.  It involves mostly hitting half and 3/4 shots.  I hit a total of around 30 balls. (I then go to the practice green for some chipping and putting warm up.)

 

When I traveled in Scotland, a number of the courses didn't have a range.  I went to a flat area near the practice green and went through my normal routine, but without hitting any balls, or hitting imaginary balls.  It got me ready about the same as if I had actually hit balls.  

[Seef824]

The course I play league at does not have a range at all.  What I have found works best for me is to leave work a little early and go to the closest range.  I get a small bucket and start warming up with my SKLZ Gold Flex (Orange Whip).  That gets me loose, then I hit 5 balls with 5 different clubs.  5 shots with a wedge, 5 with an 8/9 iron, 5 with a 5/6 iron, 5 with my 5W, then 5 with my driver.  Whatever balls I have left I practice chipping to different targets on the range.  Then I head to the course and get a few chips around the practice green and a few putts.  Then I am good to go and start chatting with other guys.

On the weekends when I play first thing in the morning and I dont have time for the range I just swing my SKLZ Gold Flex in my driveway before heading to the course.  I have really appreciated the SKLZ trainer because it helps loosen you up and also helps build some strength to add distance.

[EthanSterlingPrice]

I would start with mid range pitches around the chipping green because that's the closest to a full swing and once I have my contact down I would move on to putting. You could also step to the side and do some full swings without a ball if you wanted to get the feel tuned in.

 

 

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[mcavoy]

Breakfast ball.

[BigtazzGolf]

When playing at a course without a range. I try to do all my stretching before I leave the house and then just chip and putt at the course. Hoping to find a groove in the first few holes that'll carry me thru 18. Plus, no range for you also means no range for opponents.

 

Tazz

[sp0rtsfan86]

I have a 1226 tee time and I just got an email from my club saying that the course is open but the range is closed. (We had a tropical storm that dropped 10 plus inches in a day earlier in the week and locally heavy thunderstorms the past couple of days)

 

I grew up in a place/era when warming up for a round on the range was something the pros did. Even though the club that I caddied at had a range it was only used for practice, not a pre round warm up.

 

What do you do when there is no range or you arrive at the course only to discover that the range is closed? I actually do occasionally practice this in range sessions by making my first shot a full driver followed by the club that would be my next shot on the course that I normally play.

 

How about you?

I may be the only one but I rarely if ever warm up before a round outside of taking a few hacks with the orange whip trainer or the swing weight on my golf club. A good bit of it is simple money. I don't want to drop another 5 bucks to hit balls for 20 minutes. Just get me on the course and going. If it's a tournament I'll be there an hour early on the range but not before a normal round. Not to hijack this thread but what if your only other option is those cheap plastic mats on the range? I just try to focus on making solid contact and distance be damned.

[revkev]

Good point on the mats. With my back they can be killers. BTW I shot 76 without the warm up. Hit a few chips and putts, stretched really well and went. Number 1 at our course is a killer. I just played it like a par give and still has a good look at par. 2 and 3 are fairly benign so I was at full strength by 4 score card intact and ready to roll.

 

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[fozcycle]

My club does not have a "range".......but we do have some hitting cages.....I would use them to warm up, but I am busy registering the players for our Saturday game....so the only thing I can do is stretch before I tee off. Then on the first tee, I don't go full bore!

[Kkaw1988]

50% of the courses around me don't have ranges. Plenty of stretching starting when I wake up till I tee off. Putting chipping and just some swings usually get me loose enough. I have a back that sometimes just never gets warm so those rounds get the once it is warm then I pay attention to my score!

 

 

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[Kenny B]

50% of the courses around me don't have ranges. Plenty of stretching starting when I wake up till I tee off. Putting chipping and just some swings usually get me loose enough. I have a back that sometimes just never gets warm so those rounds get the once it is warm then I pay attention to my score!

 

 

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Where do you live that half the courses don't have ranges?  Every course I can think of within 100 miles around me, even the par 3 courses, have ranges or at least a hitting area.  

[Eseay32]

I grew up never getting to hit range balls before playing and it was fine bc I was young. Started playing high school matches, still no range balls because we had to get started at like 4pm. Got to college and had to learn how to warm up before a round and what the range is actually for! Lol and now unless it's a tourney I still don't hit balls before a round. I silly par the first bc I'm stiff and then when I loosen up the bogeys show up!! Haha

 

 

Knoxville, TN. 6HDCP, TM R11S driver. G25 3 wood, burner Rescue. Ping I irons, Rac 52,56,60 & 2ball odyssey putter

[AH1980MN]

Swing two woods with headcovers on, off the side of the first tee box - (this is important) both ways. Helps get you loose going back (more important) and through.

[revkev]

Where do you live that half the courses don't have ranges? Every course I can think of within 100 miles around me, even the par 3 courses, have ranges or at least a hitting area.

I'm going to guess that he lives in the Northeast. Growing up none of the public courses that I played had a range. The one that I played most frequently often had a two hour wait with no range.

 

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[MattF]

Range, we don't need no stinkin' range.

[Mr_Theoo]

Range, we don't need no stinkin' range.

You don't that's for sure lol. I think you've hit 7 balls in the 3 times we've played together lol

[MattF]

You don't that's for sure lol. I think you've hit 7 balls in the 3 times we've played together lol

 

I probably do need it, but I don't want to waste any good shots!

[StrokerAce]

bumping this as the season begins...

I live in the NE where ranges aren't the norm as land is quite valuable.

I have an orange whip and use that to stretch out. Usually find a putting green and sometimes there's also a "NO CHIPPING" sign next to the green; if not I at least hit some chips so I can find the center of the face.

Seems like every time I can't warm up it takes me 2-3 holes to get in a rhythm.

[GolfSpy MPR]

I'm pretty sure I have another thread around here somewhere on this same topic. Nearest range for me is about an hour away. I am hearing rumors at my home course, though, that they might clear some of the land they own and put in a range. If so, I'll definitely track my Arccos numbers for "rounds with range warmup" and "rounds going car to first tee."

[StrokerAce]

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

I'm pretty sure I have another thread around here somewhere on this same topic. Nearest range for me is about an hour away. I am hearing rumors at my home course, though, that they might clear some of the land they own and put in a range. If so, I'll definitely track my Arccos numbers for "rounds with range warmup" and "rounds going car to first tee."

Looked like you and Kirke were hitting balls on a range somewhere last week. 

[GolfSpy MPR]

10 minutes ago, StrokerAce said:

Looked like you and Kirke were hitting balls on a range somewhere last week. 

That was the one an hour away