Warming up at The Range, 9 tips

Well it is another day at the Range.

Most people when they go to the golf range they just buy the bucket of range balls and then start hitting with their driver usually.  Everyone seems to like the long ball.  They like seeing it go beyond the border of the range.  Well, they would like to think so anyway. 

If you want to improve your game go to the range and practice with a purpose.

1.  What am I going to work on today.
2.  Plan a time frame of approximately 15 minute intervals working on different areas
3.  Before you start stretch.
4.  Warm up with the wedge group taking half swings loosening your muscles.
5.  Start working on what you planned and stick with it.
6.  If you start getting frustrated change what you are working on, take a break and come back to it later.
7.  Once you have completed your planned work out, cool down
8.  Hit the last few balls from the bucket with half swings of the wedge aiming at same distance target.
9.  Stretch again before leaving range.

When practicing at the range and not on the course you will become more consistent with your shot making and will be able to reduce your score.

I was listening to Gary Player during an interview and he told a story; He was practicing hitting sand shots at the practice green and three shots in a row went into the hole on the green.  A fellow golfer saw this and commented, wow, that was sure lucky.  Gary responded, yep, the more I practice the luckier I get.

Remember, enjoy the game and have fun.

Until next time take your frustrations out on the range and not the course.

Bye for now.....

Inspiration and Strategy tips on Practice

Well I left you yesterday with telling you I would write about who and why I was inspired to return to golf and follow my childhood dream.  I also told you I would give some tips on practice strategy.

Well first the inspiration.  I met a wonderful lady in 1997, whom I married in 1999 (this is for another story of how God brought us together).  After being married for 5 years we were waiting for my parents to come for a visit and out of the blue she asked me what are your dreams from your childhood, what did you ever want to achieve and become.  I thought wow, what a question.  I informed her that my dream was to become a professional golfer and to play in PGA tournaments.  I thought that question was just a conversation of her finding out what my dream was and not that it would be discussed again. A few days before my parents were to arrive she stated lets go look at golf courses and see what the cost is so you can possibly follow your dream.  Now she knew nothing about golf except that she thought golf was a divorce word.  We went to several courses and she told me golf is very expensive I don't know about this.  Then we ended up at a learning center and we did a tour.  As I was talking to one of the instructors, I looked over and she was pulling out her check book.  I went over and asked what you doing.  She replied, "I am signing us up for this learning center for a year."  She stated that if she didn't like the game she wouldn't continue being a member, but wanted me to have a chance to follow my dream.  That is who inspired me to start the dream again.  Wow, she didn't even like golf.  That is love.  And with someone that loves me this much I could do nothing but say, time to start the dream.  We worked together since and she has been behind me and always keeps inspiring me.  We will continue this story later in my blogging on what I did in training and how I worked at changing my swing and to have my game become good enough to play and compete as a professional and also be confident in teaching others.

Now to the tip I promised you at the beginning of this blog "Tips on Practice Strategy".

Many a times going to golf courses and ranges people including myself in the early days just want to go out and whack the ball.  They thought they will get all the practice they need on the golf course or driving range to work on what they learned from the magazines and books they read on how to do this and that.  Don't get me wrong there are great instructions in those books and magazines but reading and translating on how to get yourself to do it without having someone helping you to do it correctly is very hard to do.  My recommendation to any golfer is that if you are going to learn how to change any technique or learn how to do anything specific is to find a qualified Professional Instructor to help you.

Tips for the range:

1. Go to the range with a purpose, not just to whack a bunch of balls.
2.   Good place to work on swing technique. Not the golf course.
3.  Plan out your workout, ascertain specific drills that will help you on your game.
4.  If working on swing technique recommend using 5 or 7 iron not driver.
5.  Have fun at the Range.  Don't over task or stress yourself out.  Make games up.
6.  Spend more time on your shorter game and less time on booming the driver.  You only hit the driver maybe 14 times in a round. 

That is all for now.  I hope you all have a good time at the golf course and practice range.

Remember, Golf is all about enjoyment no matter what level you play at. 

Until next time.....

Continuing the Golf Dream Journey

I am back to continue my blog. 

After I departed yesterday I went and practiced for about three hours.   I spent most of my time on the short range working on my shots 100 yards in. Today, I spent two more hours on the short game, working on mostly pitches and chips.   I believe that working on the short game and putting is the most important part of practice.  Don't get me wrong, I think hitting balls at the range with your other irons, driver and woods is important also.  When you work on swing techniques and figuring out your distances for each club, not just whacking at a bucket of balls for no reason.  But most of your scoring in the game is done from 150 yards in.  That is where I believe you need the Most accuracy.

As I go along, I will explain my philosophy and want I think is important in the game strategy and practice strategy.

No a little more on how I got to where I am in my golf life.   I eventually played a year in high school on the golf team, played in the Military, and then back as a civilian took about 12 years off only playing about once or twice a year because of economic times and too busy working.   I passed on the dream thinking I will never achieve it because of what I heard over the years as a young adult and  that you have to have a lot of money or you are not talented enough.  I think the toughest part as I look back was believing the people that stated I am not good enough and that you are a fool for trying or going for that dream.  It is unachievable.  Well instead of believing in myself and what I believed God wanted me to do, I didn't excel and eventually lost the drive to play.  Hence the 12 years of not playing much at all except when my Dad was in visiting we would play.  The one thing I never lost is playing the game with my Dad.  It is something we shared together and we both enjoyed a lot.

  On my next entries I will share with you how I got back in the game, what my drive was and inspiration.  I will also, provide a few tips on practice strategy.

Until next time, keep swinging and remember fairways and greens.......