How to practice on the driving range

To conclude this series of drills on how to practice randomly, we are going to finish on the driving range.

Now I bet you’re asking, how would one practice randomly on a driving range? Casey, you’ve given us games and drills to quantify our practice on the chipping and putting green, but how can we do the same while we are bashing balls?

One of my favorite forms of random practice while on the range is to pick your home golf course or a golf course you know intimately and actually play it while preparing on the range.

I’m not talking hit a driver then hit a wedge because you know the hole is 365 yards and that’s what it takes to get on in regulation and putt for birdie.

I’m talking tee up your ball, address it from behind, go through your entire pre-shot routine — you need to envision so deeply that a miss on that particular shot would be as consequential as a miss on the real golf course — then execute.

Do this, for 18 entire holes. When you miss a shot, envision exactly where you would be and what shot you would have to execute in order to recover to the pin you desire, or not desire — challenge yourself. — What’s the wind doing? — What’s the air temperature? — Humidity? — Ball flight? — Shot Shape? Any decent driving range will have a variety of targets at different yardages and I encourage you to use them to your advantage.

For example — if we’re trying to hit a 110-yard shot, align with the 100-yard marker and try to hit it just a bit long instead of lining at the 150 which would see the ball fall well short.

Most people tend to get lazy when practising this bout of random practice. They start out strong and play seven or eight holes properly, then lose focus.

Stay the course the best you can, because being in this intense state of practice is, after all, the ultimate purpose of the drill.

Start with nine holes the first time and work your way up to playing the full 18.

Try this visualizing and execution drill next time you’re on the driving range.

I guarantee it will work wonders for your game next time you get out on the course.

Facts are facts, that bucket of drivers and 7 irons is hurting you, not helping.