Practice Putting Green VS. Driving Range

[seemoreputters]

How much do you practice and when you do practice where do you spend your time?  More driving range than putting green??  More putting green than driving range? 50/50.....

[StrokerAce]

I have 3 putting mats in my basement but the longest is 13 feet and the others are 6 and 8.

They're flat with no breaks so it's just straight shorter putts.

I'm not a member at a course and my local range doesn't really have a putting green so it's mostly irons.

Occasionally I'll go to a place farther away to get some putting practice in and split my time 50/50 with the range there.

I wish I could do it more since it's one of the weaker parts of my game.

[cnosil]

I practice short game and putting and don’t do much driving range.  probably a 90/10  ratio of short game and putting to range time.   Has been mostly short game stuff over the past couple of years but my putting is suffering so I have been getting back to about 50/50 short game/putting.  Practice shot game about 3-4 hours a week. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I practice short game the most because I can practice that at home. Putting would be second for the same reason. The driving ranges in general have crappy balls so it does not do much good other than see direction.  I prefer to play full practice rounds out on the course. Sometime play two balls and play worst ball. Real conditions help to hone in your skills more in my opinion.  If practicing at home either on a simulator or in the yard working on the short game, I would guess a few hours a week.   

[JerryB]

[Quigleyd]

I like going to the practice green and probably do that more than anything. As I can do it for free and it has a lower time commitment. I am not sure it is helping though. 

[vandyland]

As of right now I am re-tooling my swing (no.....really, this time I'm committed haha) so I hit balls either on a range or into my net most every day ranging anywhere from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours. I think I have missed one day out of the last 12 days and probably 4 days total out of the last month. As for putting and short game, that gets a lot less attention at the moment. I think I have had a dedicated practice around putting once in the last month and it probably lasted 15 minutes. But, my full swing is in total disarray so I may be the wrong person to ask and, frankly, if my short game lacks a little touch and my putting is a bit wonky....I can still enjoy my round. If I can't hit the center of the clubface consistently then I don't even really want to play golf. Just my two cents. Probably just random but this weekend when I played my putting was unbelievable. I didn't miss any putts inside 7 feet (which never happens) and had no 3 putts. 

When my golf swing is not undergoing major surgery, I think practicing 40-70 yd wedge shots is one of my favorite practice items. (1) because it is valuable and (2) there is a good, positive feedback loop from solid strike and landing on the green. I practice putting mostly on a metal yardstick and I tried to get really into practicing putting every day for a while a year ago and it never stuck. I have just never figured out a way to make practicing putting "fun". It feels the most like work out of all the areas of my game. 

[Christof]

4 hours ago, seemoreputters said:

How much do you practice and when you do practice where do you spend your time?  More driving range than putting green??  More putting green than driving range? 50/50.....

I think most on the driving range, there I practice my swing is the worst of all then pitching, chipping and putting is about the same maybe putting slightly better. On driving range for example I hit about 5 balls to the 50 metre from P and 48° and 54° 58°, about 10 balls to the 75 and the 100 metre with 9 and P and 48° and 54°, the remaining material and balls I use for hitting beyond 100 metre. for 1€ we get a 25-30 balls. Sometimes I also have free balls and hit a bit more. If I have a lot of time and sense I still go to chipping a 20balls strokes then still feel good I finish with putting a 15 putts do. Sometimes I only do chipping and putting. In a normal week I go 1 to 2 times practice and 1 to 2 times in the week I play on the course. Now when it is longer light I go on the course and sometimes play 5 to 9 holes, I find that much more interesting than the driving range or chipping and putting area, gets a lot more feel and skill more match situation imitation

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[JDHolmes]

One hour pre-round, 30-40 minutes at range, mostly short game half shots, several sand shots, 3-10 drivers, long irons.

20-30 minutes at putting green, most putting but usually a dozen or so chip and run shots.

Evenings, I'll go on the course and actually practice pitch/chip and run on several greens.

The above is minimally 4 days per week, more if playing additional days.

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[Jmikecpa]

Two buckets on the range and an hour on the putting green. Now my routine a few days a week before I head to my office. 

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, Jmikecpa said:

Two buckets on the range and an hour on the putting green. Now my routine a few days a week before I head to my office. 

Nice that your office is next to the golf course.   

[Jmikecpa]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

Nice that your office is next to the golf course.   

Course is quick five minute drive for me from the office. Closer if I am over on the backside of the track. 

[Christof]

14 hours ago, Jmikecpa said:

Two buckets on the range and an hour on the putting green. Now my routine a few days a week before I head to my office. 

 an hour on the putting green

[Jmikecpa]

6 hours ago, Christof said:

 an hour on the putting green

Throw in the AirPods, put on some 90’s country and roll putts. Main reason I went from average at putting to pretty darn good. Some nights I also roll putts at home on the mat. There is something to this practice thing I have been hearing all about. 

[Christof]

15 minutes ago, Jmikecpa said:

Throw in the AirPods, put on some 90’s country and roll putts. Main reason I went from average at putting to pretty darn good. Some nights I also roll putts at home on the mat. There is something to this practice thing I have been hearing all about. 

For me, it's not country, but more dance-house music-Hip Hop-latin. Also have 3-metre putter mat at home and mirror did improve putting. On the putting green, I spend maybe 15 to max 30min on a 15 to 20 putts, that's all I do and I always do the most difficult puts, up or down or slant or a mix.

[GolfSpy_APH]

On 4/25/2023 at 2:48 PM, seemoreputters said:

How much do you practice and when you do practice where do you spend your time?  More driving range than putting green??  More putting green than driving range? 50/50.....

100% driving range for me. Unless the course doesn't have one. 

I know I have said it before in some of your threads, but putting is a big strength of mine. I am annoyingly confident with putting and it isn't that I don't feel the need to practice, but more with the changeable conditions I often play in (rain, wind, sun and everything else) green speeds change throughout the round and I have to rely on feel and touch. I have found that letting my natural stroke and paying attention to playing partners putts is more useful then spending time on a practice green that is often not similar to the course. 

The range is where I need to make the most improvements and where I need to work on my game and therefore it is where I will spend 95% of my practice time. 

If I am to practice putting it will be at home with my puttout. 

[GolfSpy_BEN]

There are 3 driving ranges that I currently utilize.

Driving Range A is 5 minutes from my office and good for hitting a quick bucket, but no practice area for putting.

Driving Range B is on the drive to or from the office. It has a par 3 course but no practice area for putting.

Driving Range C is 10 minute from home and has a full practice facility, including chipping and putting greens. When I practice here, I mix in time working on the short game and putting. 

On days I play, if the course has a range, I like to hit 15-20 balls to loosen up. Followed by 10-15 minutes of rolling putts to get a feel for the speed. 

[cnosil]

3 hours ago, Jmikecpa said:

Throw in the AirPods, put on some 90’s country and roll putts. Main reason I went from average at putting to pretty darn good. Some nights I also roll putts at home on the mat. There is something to this practice thing I have been hearing all about. 

I could do without the country but I like the routine.   The great thing about RNK practice greens is that they have some slope so you can definitely work on green reading skills too.  

[DaveP043]

I practice on the driving range more than anything else, by a substantial margin.  The quality of my ball-striking is the biggest contributor (or detractor) to the scores I shoot.  I occasionally will practice putting, maybe a few distance-control drills or practice holing shorter (8feet or less) putts, but my putting stroke is the most consistent part of my game.  

[DiscipleofPenick]

Lord do I hate the driving range. I'll only go when something needs worked out. Once I start finding the center of the club face, and seeing the shot I want I lose interest really fast so I'll just stop. Also it doesn't help that ranges near me are up to $12 a bucket and I can play 9 for $15-$17 still on a weeknight. I'd rather practice the full shots out on the course when it's not crowded. hit multiple clubs off the tee, try different shot shapes into greens, drop balls at 100/75/50 and play them up, etc. I will get a warm up basket if the course has a nice range though.

I have a 4x10 Birdie Ball mat at home and there's a few executive courses by me that have small but nice practice greens. I will also visit those to chip and putt throughout the season. 

So the division is probably 80/20 towards short game. And the practice time is not nearly what it should be. But I'm doing enough to stick at my hcp, which is all I can ask for.

[SteveLo]

I really enjoy short game and getting some swings in on the range. As of late, I’m having a hard time staying engaged with putting with intention for more than 20 minutes.

I might need to look up some more drills other than the clock to keep it more “interesting”. I’m definitely missing way too many 3-4 foot putts


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[Christof]

23 hours ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

Lord do I hate the driving range. I'll only go when something needs worked out. Once I start finding the center of the club face, and seeing the shot I want I lose interest really fast so I'll just stop. Also it doesn't help that ranges near me are up to $12 a bucket and I can play 9 for $15-$17 still on a weeknight. I'd rather practice the full shots out on the course when it's not crowded. hit multiple clubs off the tee, try different shot shapes into greens, drop balls at 100/75/50 and play them up, etc. I will get a warm up basket if the course has a nice range though.

I have a 4x10 Birdie Ball mat at home and there's a few executive courses by me that have small but nice practice greens. I will also visit those to chip and putt throughout the season. 

So the division is probably 80/20 towards short game. And the practice time is not nearly what it should be. But I'm doing enough to stick at my hcp, which is all I can ask for.

$12 per bucket cost? how many balls do you get? those are TP5 or PROV1 range balls?

[Christof]

8 hours ago, SteveLo said:

I really enjoy short game and getting some swings in on the range. As of late, I’m having a hard time staying engaged with putting with intention for more than 20 minutes.

I might need to look up some more drills other than the clock to keep it more “interesting”. I’m definitely missing way too many 3-4 foot putts


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Can use a mirror and gate. Mirror is well and also if you have a putter mat at home with the Pressure Putt Trainer from
puttout.golf. the gate I don't use, just for putting the mirror against it.

[DiscipleofPenick]

14 minutes ago, Christof said:

$12 per bucket cost? how many balls do you get? those are TP5 or PROV1 range balls?

Lol I know. That was a medium bucket so about 75 balls. Most were Mizuno practice balls, with some Pinnacle and worn out real balls mixed in.

[Christof]

3 hours ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

Lol I know. That was a medium bucket so about 75 balls. Most were Mizuno practice balls, with some Pinnacle and worn out real balls mixed in.

Yes $12=10.94 euros for 75 balls is pretty expensive, probably you are paying the brand name of the balls they use there or the driving range. I pay 1€ for about 25-30balls are not branded balls. There are club in Belgium the more expensive pricier clubs the driving range balls are free. Goes registration money and membership fee 2x to..... of where I am a member.

[DiscipleofPenick]

9 minutes ago, Christof said:

Yes $12=10.94 euros for 75 balls is pretty expensive, probably you are paying the brand name of the balls they use there or the driving range. I pay 1€ for about 25-30balls are not branded balls. There are club in Belgium the more expensive pricier clubs the driving range balls are free. Goes registration money and membership fee 2x to..... of where I am a member.

Wow 1 Euro for a warm up bucket seems pretty good, that's at least $4 or $5 around here. When I've been lucky to have access to private clubs the range balls are always included. And they are at the better public courses, but those are the ones you're probably spending at least $65 on a weekend to play.

[Christof]

23 minutes ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

Wow 1 Euro for a warm up bucket seems pretty good, that's at least $4 or $5 around here. When I've been lucky to have access to private clubs the range balls are always included. And they are at the better public courses, but those are the ones you're probably spending at least $65 on a weekend to play.

Yes 1€ is still serious there are also places where you have to pay 2-3€ for 30 balls or get less, I think son ball machine is very profitable in some clubs. yes in Belgium we don't have private or public courts at least not that I know of. I don't know if it can be explained properly. I play at Witbos is the name of the club where I am a member, you pay registration and membership fees for the first year and only membership fees for the second year. At your home club you can use the course and practical part for free, if I want to play at another club we have to pay green fees both for the course and the practical part, I think Belgium hardly anyone does, it's quite expensive. Unless you come with a whole group of 20-40 people then you get the 10-20€ discount. If I stop now at Witbos stop and go to other club I have to pay registration and membership fees again at the new club. I stop at the end of 2023 and in 2024 I can't play golf, either paid a fee think 80€ you are sleeping member, if you haven't done that now and want to go back to golf in 2025 you pay back registration fee and membership fee. i think for my age the registration fee is 655€/person and membership fee 1050€ + Federation card 63€. we are a 13 holes club. I hope you understand a bit. have tried to be as brief as possible.

[MrBandit]

This is an easy one for me.. over the last 6-8 months, I have visited the range maybe 10 times. I could used some more range time, but I hit the driver and irons decent. nothing to write home about and my buddies out drive me all of the time. BUT.. i scored better because.....

I chipped and putt 3 times a week at the practice area. This has improve my short game and confidence 1000%.  I don't worry about missing a green because I have super confidence that I can give my self a chance at chipping or save par or save a bogey. 

There has to be a balance between the 2, but I still feel is should be 70% short game, 30% everything else.

IMO.

 

 

[lbudimlija]

I personally, hit the driving range on practice days when I don't play for about an hour, and the putt for close to an hour if I can. I've really seen significant growth in my putting recently by changing to y old putter which suits me better, oddly enough. But I'd say it should be close to 50/50 at least for me because I need constant reassurance of my strengths and weaknesses in these areas.