Range routine - suggestions please

Hi,
I just got back from the range and despite enjoying what I was seeing/doing for 95% of the time, I sit here disappointed because it all started going wrong at the end.
When not having a lesson (obviously) my routine tends to follow a similar pattern.
I warm up for a good 5-10 mins... stretching and swinging two clubs.
I then hit around 10-20 balls with my feet together, half swing to get the feel of a good connection.
Next, I grab a wedge or 9-iron and blast a few on my full swing - picking out targets on the range after I am fully warmed up.
After about 20 'full' shots, I then start moving up through the clubs - with 10 shots feet together first before full swings.
The trouble is this. After around 120-130 balls I hit a duff shot - slice, hook or shank and then BANG! I have lost it. Once that happens, I cannot hit a ball well again.
Is this just down to fatigue?
Today was really frustrating as I was swinging so well - 9-iron a crisp, straight 140-150 yards.... 7-iron as long as 180...
Now, should I call it a day once my swing goes awol or sit down and have a rest?
How many balls should I be hitting? Should I take regular breaks?

Any advice is very welcome as you guys have helped me out before.
Cheers.

hi
think we have all been there and start to hit bad shots and try and change things to fix it and that makes it worce.
i find i use to start to swing faster the more balls i hit and it got like i was starting to line up before other ball stoped rolling.
i slowed right down and went through my start up like look behind ball at the line, then set up and swing at only 90% never at 100%. i found i hit lot less bad shots and it was hard not to just stay and same spot and pull a ball over and hit it, much harder to walk away after every shot but i did find it helped and i dont hit all the really bad shots i use too.
its down to control, not just control of the swing but of you setting up to each shot as if its your first shot on the course.
i also never hit more than 5 shots the same. if i hit 5 good high fades with the driver i move to another shot, like a draw or try and hit it lower, if i hit 5 good ones i move to another club and do the same.
bill

Hello:

Great question. We all like to practice but in this crazy game it does not always make perfect.

As you describe your range routine it really sounds excellent but you did not mention regular breaks as part of the session. 120 balls is a good amount and depending on temperature and how well rested (or not) you are, fatigue could very well be an issue. I would recommend a short (five minute) break every twenty minutes. After that ugly shot you describe, it might be time for one of those breaks. Obviously if you are hitting many quality shots prior to the bad egg it must be something mental or fatigue that is causing the inconsistency afterwards.

I always set up clubs on the gound for alignment purposes during every practice session and I literally go through my pre-shot routine on every shot I hit at the range. I hit every shot to a specific target. This slows me down and forces me to practice my pre-shot routine. I try to never hit more than 80 balls total for full swing practice at one time. I also never hit the same club more than twice consecutively and usually just once. I always end my session by simulating a few holes I am familiar with using boundaries of the range such as markers to replicate the fairway, green etc in my mind. Some may say that this overall practice method is too rigid or no fun but I really feel that is gives me a good focus and helps me practice a variety of things including mental concentration that will help me on the course.

Good replies above.
Will take heed of your advice and hopefully vary things up a bit and take a few more breaks to keep the session a happy one.
Thanks

Hi John,

We all make mistakes at the range we are suppose too, after all we usually go there to try something different, when we do this we forget to hit the ball or work on a target etc.................don't worry how else can you learn, if your new move doesn't feel different then your not doing it.

If you go to the range for a swing and nothing else then you must play to targets every swing and be commited, play a round at your favorite course, i.e driver, 9 iron to the first and so on.

After any training session I hit the last twenty balls with a empty head, just hum a tune or just concentrate on nothing, you might be suprised you can hit a golf ball without thinking about it at all.


Hope this helps

Ian.

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

Hi John,

Yes, I have been there many times. You have a competition the next day and go to the range to hone up your skills, all starts well but after a time something clicks in and you can hit nothing, your confidence is rock bottom!!! You play your game the next day and hit the ball fine?

I think one of the problems with range practice is you hit many balls with the same club, if you hit say 10 pitching shots then pick up a 5 iron your muscle memory is locked and you can make some poor swings. Also it is easy to gradually bit by bit start to introduce a flaw like an out to in swing, it happens gradually so you don't see it creep up.

My advice is: don't hit more than 50 balls in an hour, take lots of practice swings and rests. Think about how it is going and what you want to achieve. Watch others, it is the easiest way to understand what to do and what not to do.

Always pick a target and use a pre-shot routine, don't ever blast ball after ball. Try simulating a normal hole pattern: Driver, 5 wood, pitching wedge etc.

Something I was once told that still rings true with me: Only perfect practice makes perfect.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Hi Iam 49 years old I play off 3 hcp now. When I go to the range I warm up same way as you do. I hit about 30 balls but do take my time about it i dont fire like machinegun pace yourself at the range dont be in hurry to fire balls without a purpose.

Hi John,

I think you are in the trap that so many of us have fallen into at sometime. We rush to the range and all we want to do is hit after hit. To me I would think you are certainly hitting too many balls. Ask yourself what you are trying to achieve at the range. Is it distance?, is it a swing tempo?, or what?. My first bit of advice would be to cut downn the balls and concentrate on getting a routine going. Spend as much time with 50 as you would with 130. My routine would be to hit the balls as if I am playing at my club. First a driver. Then visualise your approach shot from the fairway and select an iron. Obviously I would warm up before I get into this routine by hitting a few wedges and 9 iron. The end result here should give you a better all round performance on the course and hopefully maintain a repetitive swing

Cheers,
Robert

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"Play to your ability, not your expectation"

Thanks again for all your replies...
I just returned from the range and feel it was a better session than normal, but turned a little sour at the end (again).
I took notice of the advice given above - particularly those who suggested playing imaginary holes in my head.
I warmed up then hit a driver, a five/six/seven iron, an approach shot or a chip/pitch. It worked really well (was taking two practice swings before each shot).
The range has buckets of either 50, 100 or 150 balls... and I took 100.
When I reached 70, I took a break for about 10 minutes... However, I was pretty rubbish when I went back to hit the last 30 balls.
The most annoying part (really, really annoying) is that I wasn't even hitting the balls slightly badly - I was awful (like I had never played before)
I must add that a group of very noisy people moved into the three bays next to me when I was taking abreak and it did seem to effect my rhythm (well that's my excuse).
So, in future... I may opt to just go for a 50-ball bucket and avoid noisy bays.

Glad to hear you had some improvement. I know when it goes wrong for me I have developed an out to in swing and am swinging too much with my arms. I think you are correct to keep it to 50.