THIS topic for me had and has been one of the most controversial topics in the game of golf. You hit your shots well on the range and, most often, not on the golf course. What makes that happen?
There are numerous factors involved, and it really seems endless. To acquire a better understanding of this, we need to establish as many distinctions as possible.
On the driving range, whether per-bucket or on a per-hour basis, you automatically engage in swinging through the ball one after the other. Some have a certain routine and some don’t. Some are attempting to correct errors, some are there for the exercise, and some are there to practice and think to become better and achieve their best.
Practice on the driving range is always a plus. It gives you a boost of confidence; golf muscles become strong and builds endurance; makes you burn those unwanted calories; and it makes you practice so many other things. The sad part is, it will not really make your scores better on the golf course. Not, unless you know what’s exactly happening not only in your mind, but also outside.
When playing on the golf course, the environment totally changes. It is wide open and it makes you want to hit harder, or makes you want to get closer to the flag and, mind you, it is very subconscious. You would see wide and narrow fairways, trees, bunkers, water, thick grass or rough areas and out-of-bounds (white stakes). The fun part is, you can only do your shots one at a time within a certain time frame, then you need to walk or ride the golf car, players watching you when you make your shots for about four-and-a-half hours of play. Instinctively, you will do each shot the best you can so that you’d score better. Are these the same things happening on the range?
Just to make a basic comparison, please refer to our notes below. Mind you, it can be more.
Notes on the driving range:
- There are plenty of golf balls to hit and the tendency to be more carefree.
- It gives you time to warm up.
- There are no hazards.
- There are big yardage signs that put limit on each sign.
- You always assume the same flat lie with each shot.
- No player waiting for you to finish your shot.
- You can take your time during practice.
- You practice about an hour or maybe a bit more.
- You get to select any club at any time.
- You don’t have a caddie to interact with, whether positive or negative.
- There is no scoring, which takes out the mental stress.
- There are less psychological factors involved and mostly technical/mechanical.
Notes on the golf course:
- You only have one ball to play with, one shot at a time and tend to be more careful (at the back of your head, you don’t really want to lose another ball and add more strokes).
- Most likely you have not warmed up enough.
- There are plenty of hazards like out-of-bounds, water, rough areas, bunkers, trees.
- There are no yardage signs visible that make you think farther.
- Slopes are always different, thus, your shots will always be different but may be similar (uphill, downhill, sidehill).
- Players waiting for you, especially on the first shot of each hole.
- The flight needs to keep up with a certain pace of play.
- You will play about four-and-a-half hours.
- You may force yourself to use the driver first shot of each hole.
- You have a caddie to get to know and learn to trust during play.
- Scoring is required for the record.
- There are more mental and psychological factors involved.
When comparing notes, you will notice that what you do and see on the range is different on the course. They are almost exact opposites! So now you wonder why you don’t play well on the golf course….
You basically have two different mind-sets that you need to associate with. Eventually, one mind-set is so much better. You need to believe that you alone are responsible in moving the club properly through the ball. Number 12, under the sub-heading “Notes on the golf course,” is the most crucial. It actually needs a little bit more of study, if you really want to play well and enjoy the game.
What you need to do on the range and on the course:
- Establish the same mind-set.
- When you play once a week on the course, go to the range at least once a week also. (1:1 ratio is recommended.)
- The mechanics of the body motion is the same on the range and on the course (always assume a flat lie).
- What you think about and do must be the same all the time.
- You must formulate your body motion or swing sequences, so that you know what you are doing all the time.
- You need to adapt to a mental preshot routine that you are comfortable with.
- This routine must be practiced for each shot, on the range and on the course.
- The routine must also be formulated and can be adjusted accordingly.
- You need to create and imagine playing each shot, on each hole, on the golf course you normally play in (or plan to play in), when practicing on the driving range. If you have been in an indoor golf, the imagery is very similar.
- Use your imagination in picturing the hole, including all the details like the fairways, the wind, trees, water hazards, greens, etc.
- Create each shot with all these pictures.
- Use your emotions positively.
- Visualize everything before it actually happens. It can be learned with enough knowledge, belief and patience to achieve your goals.
- Visualize and trust your formula and believe that your body moves just like the way you visualized it. When the body starts moving the club backward and forward rotationally with accordance to good tempo and balance, chances are, the club gets back to where it’s suppose to swing through, without any amount of control applied to the club. Do this in your mind whether on the range or on the course.
- Enjoy all the processes! Feel great all the time. Believe that the next shot will always be better. If it doesn’t turn out the way you expected it, simply deal with the next shot. Follow your formula again and again, and trust it!
Buddy de Joya—0919-403-4981/0922-383-0805/0917-545-1157
buddydejoya@gmail.com/golf_buddy1@yahoo.com