No practice - Anyone else?

[Under2hours]

I consider myself very lucky to be a member of a club and we have the first tee off Saturday/Sunday (usually another game or two a week sometimes alone and hit multiple balls then). I seldom if ever practice. Five months off November-March and not going to a range. Every now and then a golf store and maybe a simulator to check out some new equipment.

 

So maybe I should hit a practice putt or two (and will if a new course), but I see no need to even hit some into the net prior to a round.

 

Our course has a great practice facility and have hit the range once during a demo day in 2.5 years.

 

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

[MtlJeff]

I have a 2 month old baby so I haven't practiced short game all season and have probably been to the range < 5 times

[Bonneville85308]

In the last 1,000 rounds I've played, I've probably only used the range 10 times total beforehand. A few practice swings while waiting around the first tee is enough for me.

[LeoLeo99]

Are we talking about practice?

 

Are we talking about practice or warming up?

[jester]

I have debated going to this approach. Seems like the days when I get to the course just before my tee time, I play better than if I spend 30 minutes at the range.

[Under2hours]

Are we talking about practice?

 

Are we talking about practice or warming up?

 

To quote Alan Iverson "Who needs practice"...... But he did warm up. I do neither (putting on the green at a new course notwithstanding)..... :taunt:

[duffer987]

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

If you're going to complain about handicaps, whinge about the scores you shoot, and claim that you really really want to break 80 this year: then yes.

[Buzzkill]

I consider myself very lucky to be a member of a club and we have the first tee off Saturday/Sunday (usually another game or two a week sometimes alone and hit multiple balls then). I seldom if ever practice. Five months off November-March and not going to a range. Every now and then a golf store and maybe a simulator to check out some new equipment.

 

So maybe I should hit a practice putt or two (and will if a new course), but I see no need to even hit some into the net prior to a round.

 

Our course has a great practice facility and have hit the range once during a demo day in 2.5 years.

 

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

No range rat here, hate hitting/practice balls. I play my 9 holes daily and if conditions permit, I'll hit practice shots out there.

[Matchplay10033]

under2, do we play together !??? My main golfing buddy is the same way and is scratch. He joined a private club two years before me and his game improved dramatically. He was playing 4 money matches a week and then spending the other two days playing as many shots on the course as possible after work! He never goes to the range and works it all out on the course .

[Under2hours]

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

If you're going to complain about handicaps, whinge about the scores you shoot, and claim that you really really want to break 80 this year: then yes.

You really do miss the point of many of my posts. Complaining about other people's HC's (or whatever I do) has nothing to do with me practicing...... Wanting to break 80 is on my own terms and is not happening due to my lack of practice (more so to do with skill), but bad putting and loose shots/concentration. Today I played great, but putted terrible and 2-3 loose shots.

[chinaski]

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

If you're going to complain about handicaps, whinge about the scores you shoot, and claim that you really really want to break 80 this year: then yes.

You really do miss the point of many of my posts. Complaining about other people's HC's (or whatever I do) has nothing to do with me practicing...... Wanting to break 80 is on my own terms and is not happening due to my lack of practice (more so to do with skill), but bad putting and loose shots/concentration. Today I played great, but putted terrible and 2-3 loose shots.

Concentration and good putting takes practice.

[stryper]

Whatever makes the game fun for you. :dntknw:

[LeoLeo99]

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

If you're going to complain about handicaps, whinge about the scores you shoot, and claim that you really really want to break 80 this year: then yes.

You really do miss the point of many of my posts. Complaining about other people's HC's (or whatever I do) has nothing to do with me practicing...... Wanting to break 80 is on my own terms and is not happening due to my lack of practice (more so to do with skill), but bad putting and loose shots/concentration. Today I played great, but putted terrible and 2-3 loose shots.

 

If you're like me, even when you break 80, you'll still be giving away a few loose shots. In other words, the times I go low, it's due to striking the ball well. Not due to dropping 20' putts.

[JR11]

I consider myself very lucky to be a member of a club and we have the first tee off Saturday/Sunday (usually another game or two a week sometimes alone and hit multiple balls then). I seldom if ever practice. Five months off November-March and not going to a range. Every now and then a golf store and maybe a simulator to check out some new equipment.

 

So maybe I should hit a practice putt or two (and will if a new course), but I see no need to even hit some into the net prior to a round.

 

Our course has a great practice facility and have hit the range once during a demo day in 2.5 years.

 

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

Is playing alone and hitting multiple balls not considered practice?

[Under2hours]

I consider myself very lucky to be a member of a club and we have the first tee off Saturday/Sunday (usually another game or two a week sometimes alone and hit multiple balls then). I seldom if ever practice. Five months off November-March and not going to a range. Every now and then a golf store and maybe a simulator to check out some new equipment.

 

So maybe I should hit a practice putt or two (and will if a new course), but I see no need to even hit some into the net prior to a round.

 

Our course has a great practice facility and have hit the range once during a demo day in 2.5 years.

 

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

Is playing alone and hitting multiple balls not considered practice?

 

No that's playing a round of golf...... Really???

 

Practice is the driving range, practice area & putting green.......

 

Again missing the point and trying to be cute........

[JR11]

I consider myself very lucky to be a member of a club and we have the first tee off Saturday/Sunday (usually another game or two a week sometimes alone and hit multiple balls then). I seldom if ever practice. Five months off November-March and not going to a range. Every now and then a golf store and maybe a simulator to check out some new equipment.

 

So maybe I should hit a practice putt or two (and will if a new course), but I see no need to even hit some into the net prior to a round.

 

Our course has a great practice facility and have hit the range once during a demo day in 2.5 years.

 

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

Is playing alone and hitting multiple balls not considered practice?

 

No that's playing a round of golf...... Really???

 

Practice is the driving range, practice area & putting green.......

 

Again missing the point and trying to be cute........

 

No not trying to be cute - there is such thing as on course practice or practice rounds. If you are playing with/against someone then sure it is a round of golf, but if you are playing alone and hitting multiple balls then that definitely can be considered practice. What is the purpose of those rounds if not to improve (obviously they are very enjoyable as well).

 

My point by analogy - if a musician plays a piece of music in their own home with no one listening are they performing or practicing? Surely the same goes for a golfer who is playing alone, hitting multiple balls and not submitting a card?

[IcemanYVR]

I'm probably the opposite, I don't have much time to play, max 2-3 times a month but I do make time once a week to hit our practice facility. We have a 80 yard chipping area with practice bunkers so a couple of hours there once a week really lets me maintain my feel and rhythm. My swing isn't going to change so I'd much rather just work on my short game. The big thing is I enjoy it. Seldom anyone else out there as well.

[Loki]

I practice 2-3 times a week and also warmup before playing to loosen up. When I don't warmup, I don't play well.

[Neverfadeaway86]

i play once a week as long as weather is decent and rarely have time to go to the range, I really need to get in some putting work but just don't have the time usually

[FourTops]

I consider myself very lucky to be a member of a club and we have the first tee off Saturday/Sunday (usually another game or two a week sometimes alone and hit multiple balls then). I seldom if ever practice. Five months off November-March and not going to a range. Every now and then a golf store and maybe a simulator to check out some new equipment.

 

So maybe I should hit a practice putt or two (and will if a new course), but I see no need to even hit some into the net prior to a round.

 

Our course has a great practice facility and have hit the range once during a demo day in 2.5 years.

 

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

Is playing alone and hitting multiple balls not considered practice?

 

No that's playing a round of golf...... Really???

 

Practice is the driving range, practice area & putting green.......

 

Again missing the point and trying to be cute........

 

No not trying to be cute - there is such thing as on course practice or practice rounds. If you are playing with/against someone then sure it is a round of golf, but if you are playing alone and hitting multiple balls then that definitely can be considered practice. What is the purpose of those rounds if not to improve (obviously they are very enjoyable as well).

 

My point by analogy - if a musician plays a piece of music in their own home with no one listening are they performing or practicing? Surely the same goes for a golfer who is playing alone, hitting multiple balls and not submitting a card?

 

I can walk on an 18 inch wide board laying on the ground all day long...but put the board 30 stories high between two buildings and that's a game changer.

[jaw1978]

The range is soooo boring!! I want to be measured - scoring makes it fun. But that explains my shotty short game and wild driver.

 

I couldn’t ever get into the range. It feels like I groove problems pre-round rather than loosen up. My mind starts trying to fix it before I hit the first tee. So I just tee it and fire. No warming up or practicing.

[lazyjk]

I would rather go play instead of hitting the range any day. I do like practicing my short game though so I'll hit up the short game area occasionally.

 

I play well enough that rounds are overall more enjoyable than frustrating and that's really all I need. I don't need to be single digit to enjoy golf more than I already do. I'm definitely a type-b person though and so what works for me probably isn't enough for a type-a or someone who is determined to get their hdcp to a goal number.

[naval2006]

At my club most people who play several times a week never practice. I think it's a common pattern with these players.

[trilerian]

I play and practice several times a week. It all depends on how many holes I want to get in, or if I am playing with someone else. Most of the time I get out of work and head to the course where I hit my shag bag on the 180 yrd practice hole. Sometimes I don't leave the practice hole, I pick up the balls and hit em again. Sometimes I hit half the bag then walk 18. Sometimes I hit then play 9. Regardless I am generally out hitting from 5:30 to 9. Weekends can get fun, with a couple of hours working on swing, then walking 18.

[wmblake2000]

This just struck me as a really interesting question — now I love to practice but I am also working on mechanics and changing them.

 

But if I was content and more in a maintenance mode - my swing on the course is not the same as on the range and it also changes thru a round. So there is in my mind a limit to what practice does especially if you are in swing maintenance mode. Playing a lot seems to me is how to improve scores with the same swing - strategy, feel on the course, etc.

[jmkenn0]

I actually like to practice, and if my course were closer to my house, then yes, I would practice more. But between work and home requirements, I'm going to spend most of my time actually playing because that's what is most enjoyable.

 

I did get a birdie ball putting mat for my garage, my basement carpet is pretty decent to chip in, and there are lots of good drills that don't require a full swing or hitting a ball - so basically I'm simulating conditions to practice very short game, as well as drilling swing thoughts, which I guess you could call practice?

 

Also most of my rounds I'm trying to focus on either bringing some tweak to the course, or "battle testing" something I've been working on, so its usually practice to me as well. I've been working on a new chip approach for a few months, and just bought Monte's "Drive for Dough" so bringing some of those tweaks to the course as well while I play.

[w6racing]

I belong to a golf club and 95% of the time its straight from the car to #1 tee.

(or number 5 if 1 is busy)

[Z1ggy16]

Rarely practice. Enjoy playing a lot more and beating balls off a mat is somewhat pointless. If anything... I practice putting more often than I hit buckets.

[Jasonic]

Am I alone and stupid to be that way?

 

If you're going to complain about handicaps, whinge about the scores you shoot, and claim that you really really want to break 80 this year: then yes.

 

This.

 

It’s like the one thread where the guy complained he wasn’t getting better and then said he doesn’t want to take lessons or get in better shape. Wel then you’re not going to improve lol

[Davewn]

If I'm playing at least once a week I feel no need to practice- whatsoever. What am I going to figure out hitting crappy ball after crappy ball off a perfectly level lie? I have a bad back and neck- there's only so many bullets left in that spine. Why waste them hitting yellow striped Pinnacles surrounded by awful swings? I walk with a push cart when I play- walking 5+ miles a day on non-golf days has me playing the best golf of my life because I'm not worn out the last few holes.