Make your practice count

Key tips to optimise your time on the driving range and improve your results

HAVING worked at a driving range for years, Englishman Stuart Dowsett says it’s clear that few people use the facilities effectively.

For many, range work involves reaching straight for the driver and trying to hit it as far as possible before they get bored.

In contrast, Tour pros start with a few gentle wedges then work through the bag before finishing off with the driver – preventing injury and building confidence in the process.

With this in mind, the pro shares a few tips on how to improve your practice at the driving range.

1. Quality over quantity

Work smart, not hard. Only perfect practice makes perfect, so don’t get sucked in by the notion that hitting a vast number of balls will help you. Most psychologists will tell you that when you’ve achieved your goal, you’ve finished your practice. I’ve rarely seen any benefit in hitting more than 60 balls per session.

2. Two types of practice

The first is warm-up practice, which you should always do before you play. Here you are simply working up through the bag, focusing on rhythm and watching your ball flight to see what you have to work with that day. The second is remedial, where you’re working on your technique. Do this during the week or after a round. This is when you can be more analytical and break the swing down. If you do this before play you’ll become too technical and tighten up.

3. Practice with a target

Whichever practice you’re using, always hit to a target. It’s important you keep this external aspect to your range work. If you’re too engrossed in technique, you become so internalised that you forget the name of the game. But if you’re doing remedial practice, accept your focus is split, so cut yourself a little slack with the results.

4. Two-to-one drill

When working on your swing (remedial practice), hit 10 balls where your focus is completely on the move, and then five where you’re freewheeling and focusing purely on ball flight and simulating tournament play. This pattern allows you to release those engrossing technical thoughts and relate technical practice to the game itself.

5. Practice with consequence

On the third of shots where you’re simulating tournament play and during warm-up practice, set yourself targets with penalties for missing out. For example, use yardage markers to create a “fairway”, and set out to hit it four out of five times. Set a simple consequence for failing to replicate on-course pressure.