Play a driving range round

alxmorgan

Hello all,

Don't know where I heard this (or if I dreamt it !!) but one way to help you practice while at the range is to play a round on it.

The idea is that you take a card for a golf course with you and play from the mat like you would each hole.
So if the first is a 37O yard par 4 then you hit a driver for example 200 yards. Now you're 170 from the green so you hit a long iron for example. So you go right you now have to pitch it on from x yards.
Obviously you can't chip and putt but you can play the other shots and get a feel for your ball striking, distance and direction.
I guess it would prevent you just standing up there and hitting 100 balls 1 after another with your driver.

Anyone ever tried this ?

thanks,

Sionnachster

I think I mentioned that on here before. I was shown how to do that at the Full Day Golf Clinic at Carton. The key to it was playing your home course, or a course you know well in your head. However, you must be honest and fair about it while doing it.

Basically, you have to chose a target as centre line i.e middle of fairway or green. Any deviation too far left or right may leave you in the rough or sand so honesty is required. If you sliced it 20 yards right of target where thick rough or OB lay then you have to mentally play your next shot from that area and if trees would be in your way in reality then chipping out exactly as you would has to happen. Unless you absolutely stick your approach to the target, again your honest discretion, 2 putts are assumed.

I've done it plenty of times since and I must say it works well for me as it does create focus on every shot. I then focus on a shot type that was poor and hit 30 balls after my 'round'...

John_C

I do it sometimes to put a little more pressure on my practice but I don't think it's anything like a real round.

It's main benefit for me is that I don't get into the habit of hitting the same club a few times in a row which can make practice easier than a real game.