How to Practice on the Driving Range

 

Going to the driving range is one of the best ways to practice your game. However, you don't want to go to the driving range, take out your driver and start bombing away. You should work on honing your swing and also work on developing your skills with different clubs.


Instructions

Step 1

Start off with your 5-iron. A middle iron is a good club to start off with because it is not hard to swing, nor does it require too much tough. Place the ball on the golf matt and pick out a spot about 150 yards away. There will either be a flag there to mark the distance or a practice green. See how many times you can hit your spot out of 10 shots. You are trying to build a repeatable swing.

Step 2
Put your 5-iron back and start hitting with your 3-iron. A 3-iron is a good club to use on a fairway shot of 175 yards or more. It requires a full hip turn, but the golfer does not need to try to swing harder or faster. Work on your pacing when swinging with the 3-iron. Pick out a spot about 190 to 200 yards away and see how close you can get to it with 10 swings.

Step3
Pick your driver up now that you have used your 3- and 5-irons. You are loose enough to swing your driver. Realize that if you try to swing as hard as you can you will not be able to keep the ball straight. Concentrate on a smooth, even swing and realize the club will do the work for you. Your goal is to keep the ball as straight as possible. Hit 10 balls  

Step 4 

Take one of your short irons out of the bag and work on your pitch shot. Your 9-iron or pitching wedge are the best clubs to use when pitching to the green. Most driving ranges have a green to aim at about 70 yards from where you are hitting. Your club will do the work, but remember to break your wrists upon impact to make the ball fly high in the air. See how many times you hit the green in 10 shots.


Step 5 
Take a club that you normally do not use in a round of golf and give it a try on the driving range. You may not use a 3-wood very often so you probably don't fee very confident with it. Swing it 15 to 20 times when you are on the range to see if you can get comfortable with it, and use it in a competitive round.

Tips & Warnings

Alternate your clubs when you are at the driving range. Take 10 swings with each club and then change clubs. 

Do not go bombing away. The idea is not to see how far you can hit it. You want to build a consistent and controlled swing. 

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My Best Tips For Driving It Great

October 2013

In the series Jack Nicklaus wrote for Golf Digest in the 1970s, he made the point that he was a target driver. He explained then that he tried to hit the ball to a specific part of the fairway, rather than just in the fairway. That tactic still holds today, but Jack's legacy in the game is more as a power player. No one in his prime was more dominant off the tee. As Nicklaus points out, being a great driver is all about having sound fundamentals, playing to your strengths and making smart decisions. Here we look at Jack's driving tips from that classic series and hear what he thinks today.

AIMING

PLAY OFF TROUBLE

I rarely try to hit the ball dead straight with the driver. Having determined exactly where I want the ball to finish, I'll play down the left or right side of the fairway, fading or drawing the ball toward my target. I give myself the entire width of the fairway to play with. If the best spot for the approach is close to a left-side fairway bunker, I make that spot my target, then ensure against hitting into the bunker by fading the ball.

TODAY

I like what I wrote back then. I'm constantly reminded of this idea in my course-design work. The 18th hole at Muirfield Village is an example. There's a creek on the left

side and bunkers right, so you need to ask yourself, Is it worse to be in the creek (adding a penalty stroke) or in the bunkers? The smart play is to aim just to the right of the creek and fade it into the fairway with a full and free swing. If you overcook it, about the worst thing that can happen is you'll be in the sand but still have a chance to advance the ball, even hit the green.

STRATEGY

PICK YOUR SPOTS

The better a golf course is designed, the braver and more skillful you must be to drive the ball to the ideal position. Take the 13th at Pebble Beach (above), which couples a huge left-side fairway bunker with a right-to-left sloping green. The golfer who chickens out and drives it right will find it almost impossible to stop the ball on the green.

                                                  TODAY

They've lengthened that hole, but where the players drive it today is about where we used to. Now that we're back to V-grooves in irons, it's important to hit into that green from the left side. So the premise
of a well-designed hole remains the same: You can take an aggressive line off the tee and get rewarded, or you can take a conservative line and face a tougher approach shot.

LAYING UP

STAY AGGRESSIVE

When you decide that the percentage shot is hitting less than a full driver, the best strategy is to make a full swing with a 3-wood or long iron (above), not an easy one with a driver. Letting up with a driver almost always leads to quitting on the shot or attempting to steer the ball into position and the results are equally poor
                                                 

This principle is true for almost all lay-up shots, not just tee shots. My motto is: Pick a conservative target, then make an aggressive swing to it. You'll make a complete backswing and a freer release through the ball, and that will result in better contact and a straighter shot. You can get in trouble when you don't complete your swing or you hold off your follow-through.

TROUBLE

AVOID ANXIETY

Your natural fear of out-of-bounds areas will lessen considerably if you make a habit of teeing up as close as possible to the trouble area, then curving the shot away from it. For example, if there's a threatening O.B. area to the left, tee up on the left side off the tee box, aim down the left edge of the fairway, and try to fade the shot back to the center (above). Conversely, if there's O.B. down the right side of the hole, tee up as close to the right tee marker as you feel comfortable and play a draw.

TODAY

Because I had difficulty for most of my career drawing the ball, and a draw could get away from me, I often took a different strategy when the trouble was on the right. I typically went with 3-wood off the tee instead of the driver. At Augusta, for example, I usually hit my 3-wood on the dogleg-left holes—especially Nos. 10, 13 and 14—even though there was little trouble on the right. I told my kids from Day 1, "If you're not totally confident you can hit the driver in the fairway, put it back and use your 3-wood. If you're not confident with that, play a 5-wood or even an iron. Keep working down the bag to where you're comfortable with the club and you still can play the hole."

HEADWIND

CHECK TEE HEIGHT

Don't make the mistake of following that old but erroneous golf tenet: "Tee the ball low when driving into the wind." The lower you tee the ball, the more likely you'll be to hit down on it, which creates additional backspin. The more the ball spins, the higher it flies, which makes it more susceptible to being blown off line.

TODAY

When I wrote that tip back in the early '70s, the concept was valid because of the equipment. We played high-spinning balata balls and shallower-face persimmon drivers, like in the illustration at left. If you hit down on a balata ball with one of those old wooden drivers, it would balloon into the wind and you'd lose control. Today, with lower-spinning balls and deep-face drivers, you can tee the ball lower and hit a lower shot. That's great when conditions are firm and fast, which many modern courses are today, and you want to take advantage of the roll.

CROSSWIND

RESPECT THE WIND

There are two schools of thought among tour golfers about how to handle crosswinds. Some prefer a draw into a left-to-right wind and a fade into a right-to-left wind. Others like to go with the wind. My tactics in a crosswind vary depending on its strength and the state of my game, but generally I use the wind rather than try to fight it.

TODAY
Because my go-to shot was a fade, I usually rode a left-to-right wind, aiming down the left side. The hardest shot for me was a hook into a left-to-right wind. Quite often I would hit a 3-wood and let the loft take the ball into the air and drop it down. Sometimes I'd shut the face on the driver, play the ball back and basically trap it. But that was rare. I used that technique only when there was trouble on the left and no carry to worry about, because I'd hit it low and very straight. 

WET WEATHER

DON'T GET QUICK

Rhythm and tempo take on extra importance when you're being bullied by the elements. With rain running down your neck, you risk hurrying your setup and swing. In those circumstances, I make a conscious effort to get properly settled over the ball, then to swing as smoothly and fully as possible. Two of my keys are: "Make a deliberate takeaway" and "Complete the backswing."

TODAY

Boy, that's a great one. Everybody has a few keys they think about. Mine were to not rush, get a good start, and make sure all the elements of my swing had time to happen. I used those all the time, no matter the conditions. But I didn't mind wet weather. You should have the same outlook as Tom Watson, who relishes it. I always felt like there would be Group 1, who wants to stay home; Group 2, who wants to play but is in a bad mood; and Group 3, who has Watson's attitude. I tried to be in Group 3.

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Exercises to Help Golfers Improve Their Driving Distance

Natalie Gulbis uses a balance ball as part of her exercise program. 

by Mike Southern, Demand Media

Physical fitness vans are common sights at professional golf tournaments, and many pros have their own personal fitness trainers. Weekend golfers have also gotten into the act, as local gyms and fitness centers have been quick to provide specialized programs. But you can improve your golf fitness – specifically your driving distance – by merely adding a few simple types of exercises to your daily routine.

Calisthenics

Don't underestimate the value of simple exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, dips (all upper body exercises) and squats. These body weight exercises have been a staple of martial arts and military programs for hundreds of years. Most of them require no special equipment, you can exercise every part of your body using them, and you can easily adapt them to your strength level by changing your position. For example, you can do half-squats rather than full squats, or do push-ups on your knees rather than your toes. The "Atlas push-up," made popular by Charles Atlas, involves putting your hands on two chairs rather than on the floor. The higher your upper body is above your feet, the easier the push-up will be.

 

Core and Balance Work

A golf swing is a rotary motion, and you need a strong torso to make that turn with power and yet avoid injury. Pilates and yoga are two very popular types of core work, but you might be surprised how simple a core workout can be. An inflatable balance ball is a piece of exercise equipment that's easy to move around, and you can use it to work out while watching TV. Many people even use balance balls to replace office chairs, allowing them to improve their balance while they work. You can also get a core workout with a simple movement called a "plank." Get on the floor in push-up position, but lower yourself onto your elbows and simply hold your body straight for a while. Planks can also be done on each side (balanced on one elbow and the side of your feet) or with your face and belly pointed to the sky (balanced on your elbows and heels).

Flexibility Work

Yoga is a well-known exercise system to improve flexibility, but stretching is something you can do during spare moments each day. It can be as simple as standing next to a wall, with your chest, hips and feet perpendicular to the wall. Without moving your feet, turn your upper body so your chest faces the wall. Put both hands on the wall, relax your torso muscles, then hold this position for a few seconds before changing position to stretch the other side.

 

Weight Work

Weight work is also useful, but you don't need an entire gym. Just one dumbbell can help you work your triceps, the muscles on the back of your upper arms. These muscles are vital to driving distance because they straighten your arms during your backswing, bringing your hands down into the hitting area. Just lie on your back with both arms extended straight up, holding the weight. Without moving your upper arms, bend your elbows so the weight is lowered toward your forehead, and then straighten them to your start position. Be careful holding weights over your head; don't lift more than you can handle.

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Newtown Golf Practice Rang Latest News

Good News for all you "big hitters" The driving range at Newtown has recently been lengthened to facilitate all of Waterford's "big hitters". The driving range can now be booked for company Christmas days out. It is also the perfect place to practice your swing using your new Christmas golf clubs, so come and enjoy our newly improved facilities! Great range of Golf acessories and vouchers available from the shop at the driving range. At only €3, come vist the driving range for a great Day Out!!

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Golf Goliath Mark Bylsma Banned From Every Driving Range in Sydney Because of his Booming Drive

"There you go," he says. "One bounce."

With two golf shots, Mark Bylsma has summed up why he is banned from every driving range in Sydney.

There’s not a range long enough to allow Bylsma to rip-and-grip a full-blooded driver, let alone unleash one of the custom-made Thor hammers that helped him become a six-time Australian long driving champion.

Health and safety concerns are different when someone who hit a golf ball 420 metres walks in.

"Yeah, I have been asked to leave a few driving ranges," Bylsma grins.

"I am more than welcome here at Thornleigh, as long as I hit five iron. If I started hitting drivers over the fence onto Pennant Hills Rd, there might be some dramas."

Bylsma has to wait until after dark to use Moore Park range, so he doesn’t hit golfers past their fence. He put a few balls over the hill and onto the Eastern Distributor once, so these days many of the 500 balls he hits a week are iron shots to practise rhythm.

When Bylsma gets down to business in Las Vegas next week, however, there’ll be no holding back.

The 39-year-old big man will be one of four Australian representatives at the $250,000 World Long Driving Championships, where 192 of the globe’s biggest hitters will gather to do measure their manhood.

It’s golf, but only just. Long driving is to golf what bazookas are to archery. Power, aggression and club-speeds of up to 250km/h rule, and after psyching up with music, contestants often roar after they hit a boomer.

"The Swedes are mad, they even scream at the ball before they hit it," Bylsma says.

Australian long driving boss Wayne Stewart adds: "It’s like rock-and-roll wrestling. It’s the opposite of golf as far as etiquette goes."

Professional golfers avoid the long-drivers as much as possible, but only because they’re embarrassed off the tee by them.

 

The driving distance average of the PGA Tour in 2013 is 262 metres. The longest, Luke List, averages 274 metres, and Tiger Woods six metres less. In 1985, Greg Norman averaged 253 metres off the tee.

To put that context, go back to the Bylsma five-iron. Long drivers have to hit 340 metres just to get a start. The world record on grass, downwind, is 430 metres – more than four football fields. Bylsma holds the official Australian record of 401m (the 420m wasn’t registered) and believes he can go longer.

Bylsma, a Kings Langley resident who works at the Mean Fiddler, is not a fan of subtlety. He uses every ounce of his mammoth size, bolstered by a heavy weights program, to grievously assault the ball.

"I would rather use a sledgehammer to hit something than a tack-hammer. So hard and fast is the way I go at a golf ball," he says.

"Ability will take you so far, swing will take you so far. But at the end of the day, grunt will take the furthest. I am six-six, there are guys over there who are six-ten."

 

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Driving Range, Restaurants Teed Up for Northwest Oklahoma City

      By: Brianna Bailey Modified: August 9, 2013 at 4:00 pm

 

     Oklahoma City's Planning Commission approves plans for 61-stall golf driving range that would include two restaurants and alcohol sales. A yet-to-be named group of local investors has plans to build an upscale golf driving range with at least two restaurants in northwest Oklahoma City near the John Kilpatrick Turnpike.

The Oklahoma City Planning Commission on Thursday approved plans for the 61-stall golf driving range that would include two restaurants that would also serve mixed drinks. Called Skybox, the development would include a 61,618-square-foot, two-story building on a 24-acre golf driving range that would include leasable space for meetings, banquets and other events. The developer, which is using shell company Origin LLC to pursue its application with the city, declined an interview with The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City attorney Dennis Box, who represented Origin at the Planning Commission, would say only that Origin was “a group of local investors.”

 

   The venue would be built on a piece of vacant land on Highland Park Boulevard just off the John Kilpatrick Turnpike that is owned by Oklahoma City real estate investor Tom Blanton, according to property records.The investment group wants to purchase the land to develop the driving range, Box said.

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