Poll: Driving Range Warmup Before Playing a Round?

[Bitonomics]

I try to hit ~20 balls before each round. That plus stretching out the back before heading out to the course has shaved a couple strokes off per round. Especially in the first few holes. 

[Middler]

Maybe I should reconsider the driving range before I play. Was 6 over thru #5 today, 2 under for #6 thru #18 --- stupid game.

[Muckinfiddle]

I almost always hit half a bucket which is roughly 40 balls, however I first stop and hit balls that are left at the chipping and pitching area to establish a good tempo and distance control for a positive mindset on the course although it sometimes backfires. We have an awesome practice area. Then go to the full swing area and hit a wedge, short iron and long iron. Then a few fairway woods and maybe a handful of driver shots. I have been practicing putting at home before I go if I am coming from the house. I could pitch balls at 30 - 60 yards for hours down there and have. 

[ballhawk]

I only have so many good shots and I sure don't want to waste them on the range......

[Bluesman57]

I definitely used to hit at at least a small bucket before every round, but rarely do so anymore.  With my old man hip, knee and back issues, I'm afraid that I'll use up too many of my allotted pain-free swings for that day, so I hoard them like a miser.   I do putt religiously before rounds.

[Muckinfiddle]

As I have said I usually hit before a round but sometimes doing this can have adverse affects on my swing thoughts when I play a course that doesn't have a range. Relying on a warm up to play a decent round and not being able to warm up can leave me doubting my readiness for a round, often taking me a few holes to get a good tempo. Possibly it is better to keep practice as practice and warm up just with my orange whip.... Not sure I will try it though...

[StrokerAce]

Stole this from instagram but I really like the idea behind it.

Get a good variety without too much focus on one thing.

 

 

[Siamese Moose]

48 minutes ago, StrokerAce said:

Stole this from instagram but I really like the idea behind it.

Get a good variety without too much focus on one thing.

 

 

Wow, that's a full round. By the time I'm finished with that I'm warmed up, fatigued out, cooled down, and ready for the bar!

[StrokerAce]

3 minutes ago, Siamese Moose said:

Wow, that's a full round. By the time I'm finished with that I'm warmed up, fatigued out, cooled down, and ready for the bar!

Yeah - it's 71 balls. That's a lot - too much really.

But I think the point for me is that out of those 71 balls, 4 of them were driver and 3 wood. 
41 of them were 8i, 56 and 60 degree wedge. 

I might hit a few more drivers but that concentration on the short game is key to scoring.

[Dweed]

The three courses I frequent the most do not have range facilities. If they did I prefer to hit no more than 30 balls. 15 for wedges the other 15 on clubs I had issues with the last time I played. No more than 5 each and only to see if I was making consistent contact.

[ColeM]

Just a small bucket (20-30) using: P,9,7,5,Driver. Just enough to get loose and shake the edge off before the first tee-box. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

I have been trying to get into a better practice routine prior, but I keep booking early morning rounds and the range is closed until after I tee off

[davewr58]

I never use the driving range. If I had a pro watching and helping me for a lesson, I would. But I think most amateurs go out there and use the same imperfect swing they have on the course and gain very little or anything from it (except to loosen up). And if this is their main purpose, that's fine. To loosen up before I play, I just go through a series of stretching exercises to loosen my back (I'm old) and shoulders and I'm ready to go. It's much faster (and cheaper) than using the range. But, whatever works for you is generally what you do.

[Matt711]

As many have said already, it's more to get things warmed up and get the body moving. Full rotation in the backswing, make sure my swing thoughts are good for the day. After that I am able to play my best golf.

[Stevenhp]

I don’t always because it’s depends upon the course and the  tee time. Sometimes I play early in the morning so I stretch at home and at the course I will chip and putt.

[cradams10]

Often I don't have time to hit balls, but I answered yes because I like to hit 15-20 just to loosen up when I do have the time.

[Guest Archie Shipp]

As I’ve aged, now 49, I rarely hit the range at all. I’m a 9 handicap, average about 235 off the tee box and hit over 75% of my fairways. I don’t worry too much about that part of my game as it is what it is at this point in my life.  I do, however, chip and putt when I’m at an Away course, because I want to know how fast the greens are and what the green-side rough is like. When I’m at Home, I just stretch a little as I reach the 1st tee. 

[MWLEFTY]

My scores if I hit before I play are so much lower than if I go out after a few putts and practice swings. My best rounds last year I didn’t intend to play at all. I hit the range then the short game areas and was like “dude, you need to go and play” because I was hitting everything so nicely. I have an understanding wife! 
 

Sometimes I know I’m hitting it garbage and no amount of warm up will fix it. If anything it’ll kill my confidence a little. I just take out what I’ve got and work on it between rounds.  

[Woody83]

I don't warm-up on the range very often before a round.  I do some stretches, swing two clubs, chip and putt.

[kevin brandon]

8 to 10 balls just to loosen up then I putt for ten minutes or so, the range is for practice when you are working on something in your game. I watch people on the range and most spend most of the time with a driver in their hand when they only hit it 12 times or so on the course. Players need to be practicing with the 8,9 and wedge a little more!

 

[DiscipleofPenick]

I am neither of the options. The majority of courses around me do not have a range, so I really can't warm up most of the time. Though, when I do play a course with a range I plan on arriving early enough to hit about 15-20 balls without being rushed. 

I hate the driving range for practice. I'm there until I figure out what I'm working on, or finding the center of the club face, and then I mentally check out and want to leave.

[KMacMA81]

I always chip and putt to get feel down for the day.  Treat balls on range not as a practice but a warm up.  Few wedges get loose and tempo down.  Do few half iron shots to get feel and transition into full irons.  Really just want to get loose and comfortable not beat balls trying to find or fix something.

[J-Sizzle]

For golf league tournaments I'll hit a small bucket but my regular rounds with golf buddies I go out cold.  Always, hit the practice putting green before though.... 

[BadAsp]

I hate not being able to hit some balls before a round. Need to be able to make some good clean contact and make sure the draw is working.

[Griz]

It really depends on how I am feeling for the day and how much time before the No1 Tee Box is ready.  I have found it does not make a difference in my game either way.  If I do warm up its a small bucket I might get half way through it.  Only take 3 clubs with me (Wedge, 7I, and 3wood).  Start off with half wedge shots to work on getting muscles loosened up although I stretch before.  Then is full wedge, full iron and full 3wood shots about 5 each.  Follow this by hitting one of each club as if playing a par 4 on the course a few round of that.  After that I have got to get to the putting green.  If no warm up then it putting green and practice air swings before the round.

[Mark Ruble]

Stretch with a weighted stick and then hit about 21 balls total with sw, pw, 7i, 22*, 18*, 15* and driver. Then putt for 10 minutes. This usually will help me get my blood flowing.

[EugeGall]

Chipping and lots of putting before a round. Ok sometimes a small bucket. Don’t really use the range much anymore as have home sim setup 

[MadHatter]

I don't normally go to the range before a round, but I will do some chipping and putting to get an idea on the speed of the greens. As for warming up, I'll stretch and then I take my PW and my 9i and hold them together while I swing like 5/6 times. The added weight makes my practice swings very deliberate and controlled. Reminds me to not try and crush the ball and keep my tempo.

[Bcoulterart]

I usually don’t take the time but always play better when I do. 

[CaptStang]

I hit the range with a plan-not to warm up. I carry stretch bands in my bag and ALWAYS do my stretches before a round...I also use an orange whipt to loosen up. And if time, I will chip and putt a bit....I live in MI so getting the muscles awakened before a chilly tee time is critical.