Can't take my game from the course to the range...

I know, first world problem, but I am a winter time 4 and a summer time 2 and you would swear I couldn't break 90 if you saw me on the range most days. Does anyone else have a similar issue where their range sessions are just so bad that they don't feel like it is worth being out there? And more importantly, has anyone gotten over the infliction and how did you do it?

Not sure, but maybe its the amount of energy you put in a swing out on the course vs on the range. Maybe on the range you are trying to KILL it and on the course you are more conservative, or vice versa

I've been that way forever. I've played for over 30 years but on the range I look like I just took the game up. That's why I play a lot of rounds by myself and use them to work on my game. Much more productive.

One of many reasons I don't go the range :D

Im the complete opposite, I can look scratch on the range but I’m currently playing as a 6 handicap. I think on the course I try to give just a little bit extra while on the range I’m relaxed and focusing on tempo and contact.

> @diablocrusher said:

> Im the complete opposite, I can look scratch on the range but I’m currently playing as a 6 handicap. I think on the course I try to give just a little bit extra while on the range I’m relaxed and focusing on tempo and contact.

I agree, on the range I am relaxed and in control. On the course everything just looks different . Even seeing ball flight of another player makes me say “wow” I had no idea the ball flight looked like that from this angle.

And all the other little intricacies that take you out of your comfort zone. Players behind you, waiting to hit a shot, trying to keep pace of play. People talking in your backswing and your brain switches to reception mode instead of action mode.

Would rhythm be the common denominator between all of us here? Course and Range.

Range and course are two different environments. If you can't compartmentalize (which i had problems with), you could have trouble at either.

I made time weekday mornings and found an empty golf course, basically making it a driving range. I'd take 20+ shots from a tee or from spots in the fairway. Eventually i could transfer range adjustments to the fairway that way.

> @IamMarkMac said:

> Range and course are two different environments. If you can't compartmentalize (which i had problems with), you could have trouble at either.

> I made time weekday mornings and found an empty golf course, basically making it a driving range. I'd take 20+ shots from a tee or from spots in the fairway. Eventually i could transfer range adjustments to the fairway that way.

What do you think you were doing wrong , that 20 shots helped you fix it?

> @BB28403 said:

> > @IamMarkMac said:

> > Range and course are two different environments. If you can't compartmentalize (which i had problems with), you could have trouble at either.

> > I made time weekday mornings and found an empty golf course, basically making it a driving range. I'd take 20+ shots from a tee or from spots in the fairway. Eventually i could transfer range adjustments to the fairway that way.

>

> What do you think you were doing wrong , that 20 shots helped you fix it?

The muscles just didn’t follow when I only practiced on the range. Perhaps I was too conscious of the pin, maybe there was too much pressure when you think you’ve only got one shot. But I believe I was overthinking on the course. Turning the course into another practice site, where I didn’t follow the strict form and pace of a golf game helped me a lot.

> @IamMarkMac said:

> > @BB28403 said:

> > > @IamMarkMac said:

> > > Range and course are two different environments. If you can't compartmentalize (which i had problems with), you could have trouble at either.

> > > I made time weekday mornings and found an empty golf course, basically making it a driving range. I'd take 20+ shots from a tee or from spots in the fairway. Eventually i could transfer range adjustments to the fairway that way.

> >

> > What do you think you were doing wrong , that 20 shots helped you fix it?

> The muscles just didn’t follow when I only practiced on the range. Perhaps I was too conscious of the pin, maybe there was too much pressure when you think you’ve only got one shot. But I believe I was overthinking on the course. Turning the course into another practice site, where I didn’t follow the strict form and pace of a golf game helped me a lot.

>

Nice! Great advice.

> @broomsticker said:

> I know, first world problem, but I am a winter time 4 and a summer time 2 and you would swear I couldn't break 90 if you saw me on the range most days. Does anyone else have a similar issue where their range sessions are just so bad that they don't feel like it is worth being out there? And more importantly, has anyone gotten over the infliction and how did you do it?

Simple solution: practice greenside play and putting only. As a 2, you don't need to re-tool or change your swing, so why even work on it?

> @broomsticker said:

> I know, first world problem, but I am a winter time 4 and a summer time 2 and you would swear I couldn't break 90 if you saw me on the range most days. Does anyone else have a similar issue where their range sessions are just so bad that they don't feel like it is worth being out there? And more importantly, has anyone gotten over the infliction and how did you do it?

I used to be that way and some days I still am. I think I got better at the range by not hitting as many shots. Rarely does a practice session go more than a small bucket. I will start with a few drivers to get the swing speed up to normal and then go to a few wedges to work on smooth transition and contact. Then a couple of others. If I hit a few good in a row, I likely will stop. If it starts out bad, I usually will either walk away for quite a bit (putt or sit down) and then start again, or go away. No point in practicing bad swings. I have changed my swing recently (3 yrs ago) and usually focus on a few key positions and has helped me not be a moron on the practice tee.

Pre-round, if I am pressed for time, it is a few drivers only as I want to get the muscles going and hit it on the face. Last thing I want to do is pull out a mid-iron on the range and clank a few. I want positive thoughts (assuming I could make the driver go forward ;) ).

I fall into the same category as the OP describes. I'm a scratch golfer than can look like a solid 10-12 handicap on the range. I used to think long range sessions were a good thing. Then, a few years ago I started playing more and using the range less and my handicap dropped from a 2 to a 0. I spent more time playing golf and less time on the golf swing.

As @sergizmo mentioned above, I focused my practice time on my short game instead of full-swing range time. It helped tremendously. The short game can take a lot of pressure off the rest of your game and free your mind from the worry of hitting a bad shot.