Play the Course on the Range
Play the Course on the Range
If you play the course on the range you have a greater chance of taking your driving range swing to the course. It’s a common complaint among golfers. “But I hit it so great on the range. Why can’t I do that on the course?” Sound familiar?
Swings on the range and play on the course are two very different things. On the course, you’re not repeating the same club, in the same spot, with a perfect lie. You typically play with people and there’s time between shots. These fundamental differences can mean your time on the range isn’t very well spent.
Next practice session, play the course on the range. With each shot, imagine you are playing the course by using the same clubs you would use for a hole.
Practice Proficiently
For example, if the first hole at your course is a long Par 4, tee off with your driver hitting it to a visualized fairway, then choose the appropriate club for your next swing into the green. Remember to hit the approach shot to an exact target green on the range. Did you hook it and land in the rough on your approach shot? Then, grab your wedge and execute the appropriate pitch. If your short game area is adjacent to the range, turn around and execute the pitch shot into the pitching green. It’s a benefit for you to practice by doing a tee shot, then a fairway shot, and then a 30 or 40 yard pitch.
Try hitting from different spots as well. Break away from what might be your favorite spot on the range and move around. Hit some from one end, a few more on the other, perhaps some middle of the way, then repeat. Find some uneven lies on the range if possible. This also helps with my final suggestion – waiting between shots.
Moving around the range will imitate the time between shots that play on the course brings. It probably won’t be as long, but it will at least break up the rhythm that hitting on the range affords.
Make the most of your range time and stop the monotony of mindlessly hitting golf balls. Challenge yourself, mix it up, and get better!