How do you practice?

[Liberty Ball Markers]

Does anyone else like to practice on the course instead of on the range?

 

I really don't enjoy the range at all...

 

I practice alone, or sometimes with a friend, by playing a full round, but only hitting fades on every shot, only hitting draws, playing a whole round keeping the ball low, etc. We may always lay up, we may never lay up, etc.

 

I also bought a new 3-wood recently, and played a few rounds w/o a driver to get used to the new 3-wood.

 

I just feel like it means more to actually have a target in sight than to hit into the great wide open. It also helps me find new ways to play certain holes from time to time.

 

 

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[Kenny B]

Sounds like me!!  I am not a range rat.  Since I retired last year, I will play rounds with my buddies at the club or when my wife gets off work and always on weekends.  During the week, I will head out on the course to certain locations and play shots that I know I will be playing again some day.  I do spend quite a bit of time at our practice area putting, chipping and pitching, but I prefer to be out on the course.  Lots more options out there.

[BIG STU]

Sounds like me!!  I am not a range rat.  Since I retired last year, I will play rounds with my buddies at the club or when my wife gets off work and always on weekends.  During the week, I will head out on the course to certain locations and play shots that I know I will be playing again some day.  I do spend quite a bit of time at our practice area putting, chipping and pitching, but I prefer to be out on the course.  Lots more options out there.

Well said Kenny which is par for the course for you.   I do the exact same thing you do. I never was a range rat  per say. I hate belting balls. The only time I really belt balls on the range is when I am dialing in a club or a set of clubs what ever the case may be. Yep belting a lot of balls on the range can be bad for us older guy's wore out bodies

[IcemanYVR]

I used to be a range rat, now I go just for drills once a week to try a ingrain a feeling or become familiar with a new club.

 

80% of my practice is on the putting or short game area working on feel and touch or putting stroke. This is what saves me the most strokes.

 

I'm not a member anywhere at the moment otherwise I'd be out on the course practicing, dealing in yardages or just coming up with fun stuff to practice.

[PlaidJacket]

I'm not much of a range guy either. Sadly, I just didn't practice all that much this year and my game/scores,hcp. reflect it.

But... I do prefer practicing out on the course. Used to do that a lot. Like Kenny mentioned I'd go out on various holes and practice some of the typical shots I face when game day arrives. I'll also test out some shots from trouble areas too. I'd spend some time around the greens working on various up and downs, etc. Putting. I'd use the range mostly for a warm-up.

My course loops back to the club house on the first 4 holes. Those holes being a par 5, 4, 3, 4. It's a good workout where a decent variety of shots can be encountered. 

[PMookie]

I don't have a membership anywhere that would allow me to just walk in and play a few holes, throw balls down and mess around, etc. As a result, my practice is done at the range... I need to get my butt off of the range more often and just go chip and putt. With my GIR being less than 50%, I could make huge strides in scoring if I just practiced my short game more often.

 

 

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[Liberty Ball Markers]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't do the range thing...

 

Maybe I'm lucky - my membership gives me unlimited access including cart to about 20 area courses for $99/month.

 

Some of those are 9 hole par 3 courses that are great for short game that you don't even need a tee time. My 'home course' is about 2 minutes from home, full 18 hole country club, but I only need a tee time on weekends. Seems silly to pay for a bucket of balls when I can play the course for nothing!

 

 

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[PlaidJacket]

that sounds like the greatest deal of all time!

[SethO]

I have found a place where I can get range time under lights and also access to a practice green where I can chip and putt. I put on noise cancelling headphones and just enjoy life.

[CLTGOLF13]

99/month for unlimited play? What golf heaven is this?!?!

 

 

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[jbil8802]

I love the range. Maybe it's because my buddy owns one. Granted I haven't practiced near what I did last year. Some days though there's just nothing better than going out to the range and hitting balls for a few hours listening to some music to get your mind off things.

[DaveP043]

I think both types of practice are important.  If you're actively trying to change something in your swing, you need to be able to ignore the results of the shot while you ingrain the new physical movements, and that's only possible on the range.  If you're trying to change something, you need repetitions, and you don't get enough repetitions on the course to ingrain new mechanics.  Unless you're playing alone (and consequently not posting your score for handicap), you're not allowed to use alignment aides on the course.  There are lots of reasons that time on the range is valuable.  

On the other hand, there usually aren't uneven lies or obstacles on the range, so the only place you can really experience these kinds of shots is on the course.  And of course, playing golf, even with a practice mentality, is more fun than working on the range.

My personal approach, I play Saturday and Sunday, using the range only for a warm-up.  Maybe I'll hit a few chips, and putt for 5 minutes.  Tuesday evening 9-hole men's league, with a warm-up.  Friday evening is my practice time.  I get a beer to take to the range, and work on alignment, tempo, one or two simple key movements.  When the beer is gone, usually around 40 or 45 minutes later, I'm done practicing.  That's about the extent of my attention span, and practice without concentration is simply exercise, not productive practice.

[JAGolfore]

I try to have 2 bud lights and hit some putt before I play.