Do you get to the course early before playing? Arriving early lets you warm up before the round. You can stretch a bit, putt at the golf practice green, and/or hit balls at the range. Going to the range is especially helpful if you do it correctly.
Unfortunately, many golfers don’t. They drop and hit, drop and hit. This doesn’t really prepare you for the round. You need a plan to get the most from hitting balls at the range before playing.
Five golf tips on hitting balls at the range:
- Lay two clubs down on the ground
- Execute your pre-shot routine for each shot
- Rehearse the swing you’ll actually take
- Pick out a target for every shot
- Keep track of what your ball is doing
Start by laying two clubs on the ground. Put one a foot or so outside the ball. Put the other on the inside near your toes. Both should be parallel to your target line. This set up lets you practice squaring up to the target line at address.
Next, execute your pre-shot routine for every shot. Do it just as you would when playing. Running through your routine focuses you on executing shots—not just hitting balls. Hitting shot after shot after shot wastes time and effort.
Also, make your golf practice swing your real swing. Don’t just go through the motions. Choose a target before swinging and align yourself properly.
One other thing is to watch your ball flight after each shot. This gives you an idea of what your ball is doing that day. Knowing your ball flight can help chop strokes off your score.
Have a plan for pre-round warm-ups, especially when hitting at the range. Following our golf tips when you’re at the range prepares you physically and mentally for the round ahead. More important, it builds confidence.
