How Much Practice?

I was just wondering what people thought about the amount of practice against the amount of actual playing time.

The winter months are here now and even though I said I'd get down the driving range and try and improve my driving, I haven't been once.  But I've played golf on a regular basis!

I was thinking that during the winter months I should have about two practice/range sessions to every round of golf I play.

During the summer months then I should probably have one practice/range session for every two rounds I play.

We all know that we would rather play than practice, but by doing a bit more practice we might actually start to play better golf!

I'd like to hear what you do.

Russ

Since October last year I have been going to the range at least once per week (where possible), sometimes twice. Tend to go for a "Jumbo" basket each time which holds approx 180 balls.

Sadly I don't get to play anywhere near as much "real" golf as I would like.

This really shows when it comes to my short game - which is frankly awful at the moment. I really find chipping/pitching difficult off grass compared to range mats where I often wonder what the problem is?

I also have a crazy fear of bunkers .............there aren't any at the range

Chris

Well, Russ, I probably have been the laziest practicer ever to have played this game. Like you I prefer to play, and use my friendly games as tryouts for new shots.

I feel the only advantage I have is that I do know how to play this game, I do know what has gone wrong by the flight of the ball and therefore I do my own correction as I go round.

Providing I get off the tee reasonably well, then scoring to my handicap is not too much of a problem as my short iron play is pretty good and I am also pretty good around the green as well. I only ever hit a few putts before a round and that is only to get a feel for the pace. I just cannot stand there bent over loads of balls and attempting to get them in the hole, when at the end of the day they will count for nothing.

This does not mean that I am decrying those who love to practice, of which I have a few friends who do pretty religiously. If I were to see any improvement in their overall game because of this practice then perhaps I might change my mind, but I don't.

Practicing a poor swing is not going to improve anything, just a waste of time and energy.

I have found that the times I have been to a range that after hitting a few balls it becomes rather boring, as one gets into the groove and everything goes  where you want it.

There will be some that will say that this helps to provide muscle memory, but I am of the opinion that muscles do not have a memory, only the brain has the power to send signals to the muscles.

I know that if I can swing my wedge the way I want to then everything else follows suit, apart from my driver, which has a mind of its own.

I agree that the driving range is boring.

If I have had a lesson then I might spend the entire session trying to put into practice what I've been taught.

On the occasions I go with nothing more than keeping my swing going then I will play a few games whilst there.

One of the things I will do it to try and hit alternate draw and fades.  If this is going well then I'll try and hit a draw, straight and a fade.

The other game I like to play is imagine a course I like and then play it.  I pick out a marker on the range and imagine I'm playing each hole on a course.  Giving myself points for good shots and none for a bad shot, off the fairway or missing the green.

I find doing this helps to keep my driving range sessions fun.

Russ

I find that my drive is not long but for the most part reasonably straight, my main problem is my second shot mainly with a three wood that i tend to duff more than not, ( note to self must get lessons ). however at the driving range off a matt i have no bother it's only when i'm on grass that there's a problem. of coarse at my club we do have a grass practice range which i should use more but the boring part is having to then collect all of the balls iv'e hit.

Brian, like me you do not hit the ball very far, but it is silly to try and make up the distance with a club that you say you duff more often than not. As it is going to take you three to get to the greens, like me, may i suggest you lay up with an iron that does not let you down.

Probably sound advice John, trouble is i'm an optomist and i always think, i'll get it this time.

If I have 200 yds to go with trouble everywhere I just play two wedges, they give me confidence and no worse than a bogey.

You get out of practice what you want. I find that I have to practice at least once during the week during the winter (normally down the driving range) and then just play sat and sundays. Sometimes duing the week if time permits.

If you want to stay a casual golfer who's not too worried about the standard they play at then just play and enjoy it. If you are like me, then I want to attain the best handicap I possibly can and that does mean that you have to put the practice hours in.

During the summer I practice two or three times a week.

I find a 12 to 18 balls 15 minutes before teeing off really helps me to get loosened up.  I've noticed in all the comps I've played that the ones I've done well in I hit a few warmers down the range first.  My problem is I'm always arriving at the course ten minutes before tee off and not having enough time to warm up properly. 

John,

If I have 200 yds to go with trouble everywhere I just play two wedges, they give me confidence and no worse than a bogey.

Even though I can probably hit the ball a bit further than you (only just ) I also apply this thinking whenever there is trouble. I find that if I walk off with a bogey at worse it does wonders for my confidence (& score).

John.

I once hit 70 balls (full shots) before a big comp at my club, didn't play very well!

Now I hit about 10 shots in the net with my driver, then I hit about 20 full iron shots on the practice ground, then about 20 pitch/lob shots.

Then onto the putting green for a quick five minutes.

Russ

 Driving ranges are ok as a loosener but if we're honest it's not 'real' practice and you're hitting crap balls at a predetermined tee height.... I'd rather wash the car.... if you want to get some real practice in then you need to get to the practice pitch. I tend to concentrate on one or two clubs at a time but always have 50 balls driving and the same for my 9 iron (I tend to use my 9 iron anywhere from 5-120 yards depending on what's required so from putting strokes, chips to half shots) and give myself 3 hrs to do this.

 Yes I can hear you say why isn't he scratch?.  

Sorry, I should have given a better example (some people DO like washing cars) should have said t6aking the wife out, getting circumcised etc..

What I'm saying here is that during the colder months, if you have, say eight hours spare time.

You should play one round of golf and have two, two hour practice sessions.

During the summer it might be that you would just play the two rounds and not bother with the practice.

I know we would all rather have a round of golf than practice, but if most of us practiced a bit more then our handicaps might come down.

Over the last two days I've played two rounds and both rounds it was cold, the ground was frozen, and to be honest it was a lottery where your ball would end up.

Now I might have been better to not play golf and go and practice ready for when the course is in a better condition.

Russ

 Russ, re the current conditions: I can't see the point of playing when the ground's like this, a straight bounce is the exception and if you've got a bunker to negotiate then all you'll end up with is frustration, no matter how good the approach shot was.

 Similarly, practice, apart from driving, is pointless as you're not feeling the normal club-turf-ball so the only alternative is to get some putting done in the house!    

Keep up the good work, Stuart. Attack the pins in the Algarve and show them who is boss.

Out on the range or at the side of the bay?

how much practice?

every day from now til march 14th!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll have a quick warmer on the range on the 6th, pack and clean my clubs then have a days rest on the 7th then perhaps a few games the following week.  Fancy joining in Stuart?

Ba5~ard Hawkins!  And I was going to ask you if you fancied a knock on Friday 30th.

Thought you already had!

Yep.  Haven't booked it yet though.  Will do it tomorrow. 

Oh yes, Stuart, I'd forgotten all about that.  Suppose I'll have to take out my waterproofs and get some sun screen in.

La la la la la la, I can't hear you.........

 A man after my own heart.