Mat Driving Range and Practice in General

I know it's obviously a disadvantage and the only grass range in town is very soddy and about a 20 minute drive, thus not as convenient to get to and with gas the way it is, quite hefty on a 19 year old's pocket. The 6$ / bucket is also quite a driving range deterrent and thus we have the reason why my playing vs. practicing ratio is about 5:1. Now, due to other commitments (other summer sports) and a four-month golf season to begin with I started this season as a 12 HDCP in May. Already at this point I've reached my low of a 7 and just recently shot a 74 with not much practice and alot of playing. I'm curious as to whether or not practicing without a coach and just doing interpretations of drills you see on the internet (i.e. GregJWillis site) on a mat driving range is really all that beneficial and if not should I really try and get to the grass range a couple times a week?

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Hi M,

This is a good point, from a single figure h/capper, as you get lower the need for intense practice becomes less the canges you make become less and smaller, imagine a begginer he/she would need the range far more than you or I, because swing thoughts need to be engrained.

I find when I am playing well I only practice my short game and try to play as much as possible, it's only when things start to fall apart that I go back to the range.

So don't waste your gas or money when you are playing well, chip and putt at home........................make hay why the sun shines.


Ian.

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Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

Thanks Ian, that's a good look.

I'm taking a week off of playing for most of this week, I went out for 9 holes tonight and went 40 with a bogey-double start, and alot of missed birdie chances, but I was striking the ball alright. I know to score well I need to work on my scoring wedges from 120 and in, and I'm going to do that for a couple hours/week for the remainder of the week, but other than that not so much, thanks for the advice.

H&S