The CSGA Links Volume 5 Issue 2 June 2017 | Page 16
PSYCHOLOGY
The most common of these unquestioned skills can be seen at every driving range around the
world, rapid fire ball striking from the same location and lie. I’m all in favor of going to the
range to hit balls, but it has to be more purposeful than robotically raking one ball after another
onto a flat lie and firing away if we want to develop our skills as players. Hitting balls on the
driving range and playing golf on the course are two distinct skills, and we’d be foolish to think
otherwise. I’m not sure about you, but rapid fire ball striking from the same location and lie is a
skill I rarely ever use when I’m playing on the course. In fact, there’s only one circumstance when
the rules of golf allow you to replay a shot from the same location and lie and that’s when you’ve
incurred a penalty shot. However, there are numerous golfers who believe practicing in this way
will help them play better when they get to the course.
So, how could your time on the range be more useful? Consider the following exercise:
Next time you’re at the range, and after you’ve warmed up, rather than hitting one ball after
another with minimal time between shots, wait. Depending on the distance of the shot you
happen to be practicing (see chart for reference), take that designated amount between each
swing as if you hit a shot on the course and were walking to where it landed. For example, if you
were practicing hitting 175 yard shots, wait approximately 2 minutes before you make your next
swing. Hitting balls this way will make your practice time much more purposeful and authentic
to your experience on the course.
Yards Time to Walk
25 17 sec
50 33 sec
75 50 sec
100 1 min 7 sec
125 1 min 22 sec
150 1 min 40 sec
175 1 min 55 sec
200 2 min 12 sec
225 2 min 28 sec
250 2 min 44 sec
275 3 min 1 sec
300 3 min 17 sec
16 | CSGA Links // June, 2017
If you want an even more authentic experience,
practice “playing the course” on the driving
range. Say you know you’re playing a specific
course for your next competitive round, using
the score card, make a game plan outlining the
clubs you will be hitting off each tee, then “play
the course” on the range. Again, use the chart
above to determine the amount of time to wait
between shots. Granted this will take more time
and require focus and patience, which by the way
are important psychological skills for golfers, and
most importantly, you will begin to engrain the
actual skills you will need on the course.
@DrJoshBrant
[email protected]
www.csgalinks.org