I hear it all the time ..I can’t take my range game to the course. Well, maybe you have some swing flaws that depend on a great deal of timing to strike the golf ball consistently. It may be on one shot and off the next. When you are hitting a pile of balls on the range you have no pressure and can simply grab another ball from the pile and rip it out there. Eventually you will find a groove and you think the answer has been discovered. Only when you play do you discover it was a temporary and band-aid’ish fix. Here is a way to simulate pressure and prepare you for playing the golf course.

I always practice in a manner which gives a barometer of how well I am swinging the golf club. First, practice long irons and you can truly see how well your swing is performing. After you do this, play a couple of holes on the driving range. This will really test your technique. I suggest (after a brief warm up ) hit a driver, going completely through your pre-shot routine. Wait a couple of minutes just as you would do if you were on the course. Next take the club you would hit to the green on this imaginary hole you are playing. You get the idea. Don’t just sit there and pound 7 iron after 7 iron. Switch clubs frequently, helping you learn to move with ease through all the clubs in your golf bag while maintaining your technique.

I know you will find this drill challenging. It will sure test your patience and ability to hit the shot now, not one out of five. Try it and I know you will find a definitive conclusion regarding the state of your ball striking.

Rick Woodson