Not practicing at all, playing more getting way better

[Paddy_2_Iron]

I stopped hitting at the local range I go to, the grass is beat to hell and it just sucks.  So instead I started playing the local par 3 and my game has improved a lot.  I rarely if every practice my swing, only focusing on tempo.  I'm nothing more than an 80's golfer but it seems to get me in position to play the best golf I can.  

 

When I go to the range I seem to pick up bad habits, lose confidence and get sore.  

 

Also bought some new irons increased the swing weight from D1 to D3.  Total game changer, actually organically take divots now.  D1 is LIGHT!

Edited June 7, 2021 by Paddy_2_Iron

[Wormkiller]

So what happens when you need to use driver on proper courses?

[Ghostwedge]

" organically take divots now " lol 

If 80's work for you, be the best 80's shooter around. I've been a 4-6 cap for years now. I don't care to practice putting so I'll never be scratch and that's all right with me. When I quit beating balls for hours and started playing ALOT is when the cap dropped.

[rp4golf]

While I've always been a big advocate of par-3 courses, having grown up learning to play the game on one and knowing the benefits it can give to one's short game - which I'd guess would definitely benefit anyone, especially an 80s or 90s shooter. And while I've never been a proponent of pounding balls on the range, unless you're a tour pro practicing with a purpose, along with the fact that unseasoned amateurs can do more harm than good ingraining bad habits ... I'm wondering how you practice longer shots?

[Paddy_2_Iron]

I'll hit the driving range with strictly my driver, that's why they call it the driving range.  I'll pick up a small bucket and rock drives trying to keep it between two barriers to ensure accuracy, working almost exclusively on tempo.  I'm not a good golfer by any means but if there is one exceptional part of my game i t's my rhythm and tempo, it never fails I get complements from anywhere from aspiring pros to former D1 players.  "Never lose that tempo and Rhythm Patrick".  

 

I literally get it all the time so that's what I continue to reinforce it really helps me make good ball contact.  

[Paddy_2_Iron]

On 6/8/2021 at 12:27 AM, Ghostwedge said:

" organically take divots now " lol 

If 80's work for you, be the best 80's shooter around. I've been a 4-6 cap for years now. I don't care to practice putting so I'll never be scratch and that's all right with me. When I quit beating balls for hours and started playing ALOT is when the cap dropped.

 

From the whites 6100 at Sawgrass for instance I'll work out 6 - 8 pars every round.  That's not bad to be honest I play with some college guys who tee it from the black or blues but they don't mind my game.  In fact I get a lot of compliments on my tempo.  We sometimes get tee's up with some clowns who can barely get off the tee.  You may be a 6 - 8 but I can tell you 6 - 8 pars usually blows away most randoms that show up at the Valley or Stadium course.  

[bortass]

There is some merit to this since but like everything isn't one size fits all. For me playing more improved my game because I started to have to hit shots with different clubs and lies every single time I swung.  I was also playing golf and not just hitting balls on the range. It sounds like for you it helps because you just swing the club and get out of your own way.

 

End of the day is finding what works for you and having fun since the vast majority of us are not getting paid to swing a club.

[stryper]

On 6/7/2021 at 11:12 PM, Wormkiller said:

So what happens when you need to use driver on proper courses?

A par 3 course isn’t “proper”? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[SNIPERBBB]

10 minutes ago, stryper said:

A par 3 course isn’t “proper”? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Can't submit scores for handicap purposes on a par 3 course generally unless the holes avg out to 166+ yards

[dvq9654]

I'm a big believer that playing golf is necessary to be a better golfer. You can't practice every shot you're going to hit on the range / practice facility, and playing good golf involves strategy, consistency, etc., which are often challenging to recreate on a range.

 

That said, you'll hit a ceiling only playing on the course. Even the smallest change is challenging to implement on the course, let alone a wholesale change that may be required to go from shooting in the 80s to 70s. If you're ok with where you are and have more fun playing, more power to you, but if you actually want to improve some combination of range + course is going to be necessary, in my opinion. 

[juststeve]

Driving rage is for improving your swing, you improve your scoring ability by playing the coarse.  Neither  should be neglected.

 

Steve

[Santiago Golf]

Playing a par 3 course and playing one ball and putting everything out is great practice

 

Its honestly better iron practice than hitting balls at the range

[bonvivantva]

My local range also has a 9 hole par 3.  I have a simulator now so I don't go out there as often, but I used to go a few times a week.  Some days if I had time and nobody was on the first couple holes, I'd play instead of go to the range.  Never once regretted that.

 

I used to have a really bad OTT swing that would probably have never been fixed without some range time, but if I'm being honest, it took lessons and a ton of work to address, so I wasn't going to fix it on my own anyway.  Playing par 3s as often as possible and tuning up the longer clubs at the range is probably an ideal way to stay sharp.

[phizzy30]

Hey, whatever works for you.  I like playing more than practicing so you can find me out on a course more often than not.  I will go to the range if I really need to work on my swing though.  As for swing weight for your irons, I play mine at D3 as well and have been for a long time now.  D5 is fine for all my other clubs, but I like something more in the middle.  My cousin plays D1 and loves it. 

Edited June 11, 2021 by phizzy30

[aenemated]

My game is in much better shape when I spend more time actually playing and less time on the range. My scores definitely went up last year thanks to it being so impossible to get decent tee times in LA and I was lucky to play a couple times a month - so spent way too much time at the range.

 

At my peak during those halcyon days of 2019, I was playing 2 or 3 times a week.

 

After the Vegas move and joining the club, things are getting back to my "normal" finally. Can go bang out 9 by myself in no time after work then a full 18 on Saturday and/or Sunday with ease!

[Buzzkill]

I play every day, no range time for me!

[phil75070]

When I was working from home many years ago, I was less than 10 minutes from the club I belonged to and was a range rat, hitting / practicing at lunchtime and after work. Since retiring in 2009, I think I can count the number of times I've gone to the range just on my two hands. I seldom even hit the range to warm up before a round but that is mostly because the range isn't set up before our first off tee time. I'm still able to maintain a mid single digit index.

[nitram]

You'll become a better "golfer" by playing golf simply because there is more to playing golf than ball striking. Unless you are working on something specific spend more time on the course and learn the best way for you to get the ball in the hole.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

On 6/7/2021 at 2:51 PM, Paddy_2_Iron said:

I stopped hitting at the local range I go to, the grass is beat to hell and it just sucks.  So instead I started playing the local par 3 and my game has improved a lot.  I rarely if every practice my swing, only focusing on tempo.  I'm nothing more than an 80's golfer but it seems to get me in position to play the best golf I can.  

 

When I go to the range I seem to pick up bad habits, lose confidence and get sore.  

 

Also bought some new irons increased the swing weight from D1 to D3.  Total game changer, actually organically take divots now.  D1 is LIGHT!

Seems like a decent way to play without the long waits associated with playing on a “proper” length 18 hole course?

You mentioned hitting driver at the range as well? Consider hitting your woods, hybrids and long irons as well? 

 

Might have to try this myself given all the restricted tee times around me?
 

On 6/11/2021 at 7:05 AM, Santiago Golf said:

Playing a par 3 course and playing one ball and putting everything out is great practice

 

Its honestly better iron practice than hitting balls at the range

Agree, par 3 tend to have smaller and tighter greens to boot.

 

Shorter playing times, and better than a simulation.

[Paddy_2_Iron]

On 6/13/2021 at 1:04 PM, Lincoln_Arcadia said:

Seems like a decent way to play without the long waits associated with playing on a “proper” length 18 hole course?

You mentioned hitting driver at the range as well? Consider hitting your woods, hybrids and long irons as well? 

 

Might have to try this myself given all the restricted tee times around me?
 

Agree, par 3 tend to have smaller and tighter greens to boot.

 

Shorter playing times, and better than a simulation.

 

My set is driver, 5 wood, 6 iron ~165 yards and then down through SW.  I sometimes hit my 5 wood off the tee at the range but to be honest some of the par 3s are ~165 so it sets up perfect for me 6 and 7 iron, no need to practice those at the range I will hit 4 - 5 balls from the tee if no one is behind me.  In fact I only hit my 5 wood on tight par 4's and long par 3's never off the fairway, I usually hit my 6 - 8 iron on second par 5 shots to set up for a good approach.  

 

 

[Paddy_2_Iron]

On 6/11/2021 at 3:57 PM, Buzzkill said:

I play every day, no range time for me!

That's the spirit!  Like Rory said, you want to get better play more.  

[Buzzkill]

32 minutes ago, Paddy_2_Iron said:

That's the spirit!  Like Rory said, you want to get better play more.  

👍