My range practice has almost becomes more about warmup strategy than anything else…
…because what I’m practising is the basics of contact, direction and distance. For a warmup I’ll work up the clubs (usually just odd/even irons to save time and balls) to driver. For practice, I might concentrate just on irons, or more towards hybrids and maybe fairway wood.
Range practice/warmup
Whatever clubs I’m hitting, the plan and routine is pretty much this:
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Process is important. Stand behind the ball and set your intention. Decide. Where are you aiming? What are you expecting from the shot? Visualise this.
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Stand to the side of the ball, take a practice swing.
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Check where you’re aiming, commit to the decision. Setup to take the shot, fingers on club handle, balanced body ready to move.
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Action. Take the shot.
This practice helps me find the basic rhythm of my golf for the day, what’s probable and possible for my swing. How I’m able to move depends on a lot of things (how well I slept, when I last did weights, etc).
Practice swings
Whether I’m warming up or for a practice session I’ve found that it’s worth taking some left handed swings with each club first (and anytime I’m feeling stuck or stiff). This loosens up my arms and shoulders.
My practice swing can be a “step through”. Set up to a spot, then move the left foot alongside the right, backswing, step left foot forward as the first part of the downswing. I’ve found this helps develop my timing and rhythm for any given day. I even use it out on course when I feel like I’m losing my sense of how I’m swinging.
PAD analysis
I’ve not been remembering to do this, but it’s probably just as helpful for warmups as for practice sessions, since analysing the process, accuracy and distance (PAD) for each shot in the moment is always a good way to stay positive and work out what to do next.
Not so playful?
I’m aware that this practice is currently less about play and more about… consistency (albeit adapted to the day). Maybe I’ll eventually develop the plan so I’m more ambitious in the range of shots I visualise during practice. Currently, that feels like too much to ask.
