What to Practice....

OK,
I have 2 days a week that I have a chance to go to the driving range. So far I have came up with sort of a "Practice round" for each of those days. I would so input on what ya'll think about how I have each "Practice round" setup like.

Mon: (1 hour)
10 mins Warm up (Half swing a SW)
10 mins 5 iron
10 mins Driver
20 mins Work on any problem area of swing or ball contact
10 mins putting

Thus: (1 hour)
10 mins chipping (SW)
10 mins Bump and run (8 iron)
10 mins Sand play
30 mins putting drills

Do ya'll think anything has to be change or twik in the way I have each practice setup? I would love some comments.

When I practice. I only look at my watch twice...when the session starts and when it is half over. I come in to the session knowing what my main work will be...putting, short game, wedges, mid irons, long irons, or 3w/driver.

For the work on the range:
I start a warm-up of the 9i. Just hitting easy until I get oiled...maybe 5-10 shots... depending on the night before. No picking any target, just swinging. Then move to simple drills with the club I am going to work on. After those ideas are reinforced, I then break the session in half from that point. The first is a mechanical analysis of the swing. Getting my camera out if needed, or going through the positions I want to concentrate on. Then break. Get a drink, smoke, whatever relaxes you (I don't smoke btw), look around and start to imagine the beginning of a round/or tournament. Get that feeling of anticipation setup. Then start to play a game. Picture the first hole. Get the boundaries of the trees, water, traps...etc in the range. Go through your pre-shot, and hit a driver. Evaluate it. Figure out what you would have had to play next. 6i is the next shot. You can't putt, so be nice and figure 2 putts for a good shot, 3 if you missed the target green, and 1 if you nailed the flag or target. Continue to the next hole.

This is the most important part about the practice. It keeps your head out the mechanics and thinking/training/reinforcing your game in a playing state, which is where you want to be on the golf course. When you get to the course next time you will have this practice to fall back on. When you play next time, get the smallest bucket they have, share one with your partner, and warm up with your 9i (or your warm-up club). Hit a few shots with all the clubs...maybe 2 or 3. That's all you want. Don't work on any mechanics. Only getting loose and keeping the head clear in a positive state. "I feel great today.... this is going to be fun." Stuff like that.

If your session is the short game:
Take 10 balls and play every kind of shot you can think of...there are a lot. After the session is half over, break. Then take 5 balls and play a game. 1 shot to each flag position. You have to be within 4-5 feet, or whatever distance you accept (everyone’s different). Keep score with 2 points for inside the range, 3 outside and 1 if you hole it. Then move to another position. You will be playing different type of shots, so change the club accordingly. Go through the pre-shot, and be serious. Keep score. If you can have a partner there, it works great. You both warm up separately, and then in the last half, you compete.

Putting is exactly the same way.
Take 10 balls, and putt to 1 hole. Work on the mechanics of the stroke, and getting a feel to start. Then go into drills. There are a lot of them. The ones I like are the rail drill, ladder drill, all points, and the 1 hand. But you make up your own list. Then after the session is half over, play the game. Use 1 ball and play to each flag from any position. Keep score. This gets much more fun with another person there.

Keeping score is a good way to evaluate your progress and see what needs the most work. But if you play enough, you will know what you want to concentrate on next time.

I go to the driving range, with 1 club. It may be my driver or it may be a 6 iron. I hit a few balls not aiming at anything. once warmed up and ready to practice, I will just aim straigth up the middle of the range for about 40 balls working on my contact and swing plane. When I have about 20 balls left, I'll start aiming at certain points around the range.


For chipping and putting practice, I do this on the course when playing. After I have finished a hole I'll drop a few balls around the green and chip on and putt them in if I don't have anyone following me.

Great drill thanks Greg. TheRighty practice off grass tees whenever you can. I'm the person driving ranges hate as a bucket of 80 balls can last me 3 hours when I practice my short game as well, and practice like your playing follow your golf course pre shot routine on the driving range as well.

Thanks guys! I am taken in a little of everyone ideas to try to come up with my own drill and the range. I know it will take me a few trips to find my grove, but golf equals time anyway. Once again thanks for ya'll help and please, anyone else have any ideas?

Great stuff Greg, I never thought about taking the driving range as if I'm taking a golf course. Great concept and I can't wait to try it out next week!

Thanks, Greg. Kudos to both You and Gord for all your outstanding contributions to this forum.


-Clay