What's the best way to take your game from the practice range to the golf course? It's a question I get asked a lot, most recently by Jan Gourlay. Many golfers like Jan think that they swing much better on the range than on the course. But, the course has a way of magnifying your mistakes because you're hitting the ball in a much tighter area and your margin of error becomes decreased significantly.
Good morning Surge. Here is one to get you thinking. I have successfully adapted your swing and it is marvelous! On the range that is! As soon as I cross the road to the first tee box, everything goes south and I start swinging like a 25 handicapper again! I understand the game of golf and the logistics of the swing, and I know after I swing what went wrong, but in the act I am pitiful! It really gets irritating, and I spend 4-6 hours a day on the range, so I am pretty pumped when I leave for the 1st tee box, but to no evail. Any suggestions!! "Frustrated in Flin Flon"!! Oh yah, I am a lefty!!
I think the biggest thing to remember when you're practicing on the driving range is that you have to be target oriented on every shot. If you don't have a target picked out for each shot you hit, you're just swinging the club and hitting balls. There has to be a more structured approach than just hitting ball after ball. Jan speaks of practice sessions that last 4-6 hours before teeing it up. That could be a little much because by the time you're headed to the first tee, you've lost that much more energy from such a long warm up. Focus more on each shot rather than the number of balls you hit.
Another issue could be alignment. The frustrating thing about alignment is that any mistake on the range becomes magnified on the course. So, if you have a tendency on the driving range to aim one way or another, there's no doubt that you will do the same thing on the course. Most likely, your misses will be even more pronounced on the course than they are on the range because the field of play is so much narrower.
Remember, pick out your targets on the range, take a practice swing before every shot, and make sure you are aligned correctly by using some sort of alignment aid. If you've got a tee time to play 18 holes, don't spend 4-6 hours on the range before hand. Practice for a couple hours, go play a round, then go back and hit the range for a wrap-up session before calling it a day. Good luck!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Home on the Range
Bang-on again Surge, no use going to the range if your'e not target orientated and 4-6 hours on the range, this guy must be a cyborg too, but I must take issue with you on the big "A". I religiously set up two clubs, one for the target line and one for ball position and still have an issue with
alignment, ie hitting left, so it's gotta be something else. Mind you
I had a greater problem with slicing, but that has all but gone thanks to PPGS.
On the course I can resolve the problem of hitting left, by aiming slightly to
the right, but I know this is only a band-aid solution, so hopefully the video's I sent Surge last week might give me some direction here.
NeilofOz
For my two pennie's worth Neil,
I was doing this until I religiously checked that my right or rear forearm was half the width of the lead or left forearm below it. My rotatation of the rear elbow so the crease looking up to the heavens was in effect pointing straight through the lead forearm parallel with the target line and above my toe line. It also aided me in the lift to the top of the BUS and now I can really chase the rock as I skip it up to the FUS and recoil. My accuracy in pitching and chipping has improved also [with every club in the bag on chipping from PW-Driver] DH
Forearm
Good point DH, will give it a go again this week, think I tried this some months back with no benefit, but have added a few additional adjustments
recently and it could be the missing link I'm looking for. I have a few long weekend comps coming up and I don't want to start any major changes until
after them as I'm starting to smoke my 3W, thanks for the reminder.
Forearm
Neil,
A wise decision. Go to the comps with the swing you have got and then experiment later. Good luck and keep on smoking that 3W.DH
Practice
Surge your alignment on this issue is dead on target! Sometimes it is the least tweak that is needed when we are not hitting the ball in the right direction. Alignment.......etc, etc. Practice swings to feel the swing and swing the feel are essential. A bad practice swing will nearly always lead to the same on the real shot.
I am spending more time practice swinging than playing.Other priorities are causing this. Having said that, my practice is definitely paying dividends. Even though I am not hitting full shots due to lack of a place to do it, I now swing the club much more confidently. The 'torture drill' I used to get me transferring from the rear to front foot was definitely needed. I have re-named it 'WTD' for Weight Transfer Drill or say the word WanTeD. I do it religiously prior to any practice or shots [did so on the course on my last outing and was amazed at the difference such a simple drill can achieve]. Torture it certainly was not. From the word go, I was swinging much better and confidence breeds confidence : - ) Now swinging in balance and whipping the club head through effortlessly.
Accuracy on the course improved with very, very few visits off the short green stuff into the trees.
Practice makea perfect, but Perfect practice is better. Thanks Surge for this reminder to practice with a target and a purpose in mind.
Small tweak
Made a slight change to my weight shift yesterday & was smoking it long & straight with the 3 wood today. Well past the other guys & their drivers at times. What I was doing wrong was, from being PLHR to the top of backswing, when sinking into the back leg, I was shifting my weight to the outside of my hip & outside of my foot. I am now keeping my weight on the inside of my hip & over the arch of the foot. Seems to make the bump more efficient
Small tweak
Nice one Russty,
My old army buddy did the same or similar not too long ago. He kept the PHLR weight in the BUS on the inside arch of his rear foot. I tried it, and it seemed OK, but after the new swing drill which is now being religiously used, there is no need. 3w for me. I carry 2 and play one against the other. The driver I took out the last time was much better. It needs more work before it will supplant my 3W and 5W. The longer clubs are all performing well, and the dilemma is which to leave out of the bag ; - ) hahaha! My wife said, who needs a driver? She has a point. Keep on smoking them long, straight and consistently.
Range to fairway
It may not seem logical but for the last few weeks I have gone to the range less and less and played better. Also for the last couple of years I have changed the way I practice. I set up for every practice shot as if I am on the golf course. I pick a different target nearly every swing. This means I reach for a different club frequently just as I would on the golf course. In other words I practice as if I am playing. I will often play an entire hole (minus the putt) from driver /fairway shot to wedge while visualizing an actual hole on the course.
I have gone with a new putting routine that is really paying off. I only take one ball to the practice green. How many balls do we play with? One. So it forces me to either make the first putt or then sink the second for a two putt. Sometimes the first goes in and sometimes the second may be a 4/5 foot tester Odd? Maybe because I never see any one practice their putting this way. Most take a sleeve of balls or at least 3. That's fine but we don't get to putt three balls at any one hole in the real game so I don't and it has improved my makes for sure. Just like my range philosophy my putting routine forces me to line up a fresh new putt each time while going through my entire process of judging the break, pace and set up before every putt. I never see the same putt twice on the golf course and rarely on the practice green using this one ball practice method.
My range game is my on course game.
Range to Fairway
Robert,
I take two balls to the practice green and two putters! Reason? My wife and I have a challenge we normally complete after playing. Paper, rock and scissors decides who calls the first hole. Then it is down to the nitty gritty. Winning a hole changes the caller of the next hole. A half keeps the first up the same. So we never know before putting which hole or distance will be the next to surmount. A little side wager for who does the chores when we get home is always a great incentive ; - )
Torrential downpours so far today : - ( DH
Alignment tweaks. NeilofAus
I have used various 'lines on the ground' to the point where my parallel left is now instinctive and rarely wrong. But results often wrong. Then a friend watching pointed out that the ball usually goes where the shoulders are aligned to, not necessarily the same as the feet!
I really didnt realise my shoulders were closed, encouraging an out to in stroke.
Now I check feet knees, hips and shoulders and dont hit unwanted draws and fades (or worse) anywhere near as often. I think upper body alignment is overlooked by many of us.
Shoulders
Feet, knees,hips shoulders and eyes, yes everything needs correct parallel left alignment. The shoulders are often a mis-aligned culprit indeed. Surge has talked about this several times before and in fact it is a big part of his teaching process when he works with students. It was the main thing he observed about my alignment when I attended the 2010 PPGS clinic in South Carolina. I had my shoulders too open at address but they can be closed as you said. Yes it is something we must always monitor.
A few months ago he coined the phrase Vertical alignment position (VAP) as a reminder as we check our alignment from feet to eyes that all are very important.
Here is one of those discussions you may want to watch:
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/vertical-alignment-position
Alignment tweaks. NeilofAus
On the course once set up I have started using the tip Surge gave us. Without changing your stance raise your lead arm horizontal with your shoulder, with forefinger pointing like a gun. It should point parallel left of the target. Then without a club, skip a rock in slow motion towards the same direction with the rear arm and pistol pointing finger, and it should if you are aligned correctly point at the target. I used it yesterday and found myself aimed very slightly closed shoulders. Changed that and smoked the 3W in hand.
Two more factors
Just thought I would contribute a thought the discussion on the difficulty of taking your driving range swing to the course.On the range, if we take successive swings with the same club, we have the opportunity to make small changes until we get the swing we want. Because of the short duration between swings, our short term memories can help us make these small changes. However, on the golf course, the time between swings is a lot longer, and we don't have the same luxury of depending on short term memory to execute the swing. The swing has to be in longer term memory, and it often isn't. This is one of the reasons that the advice to select different shots with different clubs is one of the practice methods that we here cited to help us take our driving range swings to the course. It is like remembering a phone number that you repeat several times, remembering it for a few minutes, but not being able to recall it the next day.
Range Rhythm
It has been called range rhythm. So true that we can get into a beautiful repetitious rhythm on the range hitting lovely shots one after the other. True you are that we don't have that luxury on the golf course. It is the same on the putting greens. We don't get 3 or more balls and 'do overs'. That is why I adapted the practice method I mentioned above to reflect the on course realities more closely. It has certainly improved my results on the golf course.
Getting real on the course
Where we play, the course isn't anything like the driving range. There are places where the fairway is flat and level, but there are an awful lot more places where it isn't. And that's not even talking about hitting from off the fairway. When I play on the course, I often know what I need to go and practice afterwards. If you practice after the game, your problems will be fresh in your mind.
A lot of driving ranges don't give you very good targets, so it's easy to lose focus. We were with some friends and ended a walk at a public course. They had tires on the range. Our friend suggested a game of trying to hit a certain tire and winning more points by hitting through the tire. It was a lot of fun and I realized how unfocused I was on the range.
Course to Range (Flipped)
I am the most horrific driving range player EVER!!!
It's probably a lucky thing that the two courses I play the most don't even have a range.
Most of the time if there is a range and I want to warm up a little before a round all I do is hit a few long irons because I almost never mess those up. Then if I am really striping them I (might) hit a few 3 woods.
Best way for me to completely ruin my round before it starts is to hit some short irons and especially wedges.
Same with putting. No way I'm putting balls at a hole unless I'm playing in a round EVER!!!
Practice on grass
Most people hit off of a mat and a rubber tee. This can lead to taking a bad swing and bouncing the club head into the ball. On the course you will take a big divot and if your'e lucky hit the ball. The ball will advance but it will not go as far as it was intended.
My solution is to find a practice facility that allows you to hit off grass If you hit behind the ball, the grass simulates the action you will experience when on the course. I use my tees at practice that I use when I play and I wear my golf shoes also. Practice like you play is my motto.
great motto
Nice thoughts Bones and I agree with you. Practicing on a mat does not simulate real turf interaction. While we are encouraged nip the ball and take a small divot if any, in reality we know that the occasional chunk may happen that is somewhat hidden by the mat. I have a net and mat and unfortunately no real grass at home to hit off of. While I hit some shots off the mat I hit many off of a short tee and save the full turf iron shots for a range with real grass or on the course during practice rounds. I agree that wearing golf shoes, using the usual tee and even wearing a glove if we normally do are all things that help us practice like we play. I use to always take my glove off before putting during play. Now I wear it at all times so when I do my "one ball" putting practice I wear a glove then too.
Additional ideas
Something else that I have done on occasion to improve the quality of my range time is to practice the nine ball flights. Hooking, slicing, high and low shots. Sometimes I will putt a stick vertically in the ground some 20 feet in front of me down range to have something visual to hit around and over. There are just so many ways we can make a game out of it in order to practice flighting the ball different ways. Challenging ourselves leaves less shots that will surprise us on the actual golf course. By setting up and giving target and shape thoughts to each ball makes a medium bucket of balls last longer than many players that bang through two large buckets machine gun style.
http://www.tutelman.com/golf/ballflight/ballflight.php
I'm a Rookie
Robert,
I will remember your practice methods after I nail down hitting it consistently straight. Actually I have the low flight, hook and slice down....just not on command.
KIVBD (Keeping It Vertical by Design)
KIVBD
Bones,
Trust me, I'm far from where I want to be with my game. I have been improving steadily since adapting this swing and following Surge. I don't always know where my ball is going but when I'm executing it is fun. Don Trahan along with his other coaches have provided a reliable road map and a steady source of good advice. We are glad to have you along with us. You'll find that there are about 20 of us that a regular contributors and then who knows how many that stop by less frequently to either ask a question or share some thoughts on golf and life. Feel free to speak up any time. Most new 'Surgites' often have the same challenges especially in the early 'rookie' stages so you will often get the answers you need here and a variety of suggestions for solutions.
Make sure you take advantage of the vast archive of daily blogs that have been recorded over the last 4 years. If you don't know (you likely do but....) the blog subject search is found at the top right hand side where you'll see the little magnify glass just below where it says log in/out.
Good golfing to you and perhaps you'll get rid of that slice some day soon.
Useful Range Practice Idea
Have found good success shallowing out my swing by practicing full shots out of a flat spot in a bunker. It really makes you focus on the right extension needed at impact and accelerating all the way through FUS to finish. I have shot my best scores after a half hour or so practicing this way.
Interesting
That's an interesting way to practice, though most of us probably don't have practice facilities with a bunker we can take full shots out of. One other good thing that is probably doing for you is helping you reduce lower body movement. You simply can't get wobbly with the lower body and make good contact in the sand like that.
You Are Right
You are absolutely correct about quieting lower body movement. Actually practice in street shoes in the bunker. I want to stay on top of the sand not dig down as you would for a normal green-side bunker shot.
I hadn't thought about it but am fortunate to have a bunker at my local driving range.
Taking Peak Performance From the Range to the Course
Choosing a target for line-up at the range is important but the swing has so many components to remember. A great solution that I found is to use GOLFSTR while I play 18 holes and build muscle memory. Straight leading arm in the back swing, wrist hinge and release though impact are all so easy when you have a reminder on your arm to keep you focused. Success using this brain trainer builds confidence with your new swing. Thanks for my new swing Surge.
Advertising
Since you are dead set on continuing to advertise your product on this site you should at least be more informed about "wrist hinge".
In the Surge swing "the best wrist action is no wrist action".
Range to playing
The name Flin Flon was mentioned and that is a town in northern Manitoba, Canada. Presently they still have two feet of snow on the ground in early April so the fellow will have to wait to try your suggestions.
The Big A.
i must say i find it astonishing that Surge has only ever seen one student with correct alignment !! , bearing that in mind although i think i am aligned correctly the chances are i am probably not.i wonder if he could tell us what are the most common faults he sees. i suspect that most people have only some elements correct, maybe the toes are ok but the shoulders are out or vice-versa. why is something that in theory appears to be so simple, in actual practice is so difficult? cheeers richard in the uk
Optical illusions and misunderstandings
To a large extent, there are two things that make proper alignment difficult. First, most people don't really understand what proper parallel left alignment is, and instead end up with their bodies aimed AT the target, rather than left of it. Because, in our visual field, parallel lines appear to converge over a distance, we try to aim our bodies at a point that is only a few feet to the side of the target. The problem is that if you take two parallel linear segments and look down each one, over a distance they will APPEAR to point at objects considerably further apart. So when you pick the line for your body and look down it, it should look like it's pointing at something many yards wide of your target.
The second problem is caused by the curvature of the eyes. When we step in beside the ball and take another look toward our target, the different position of the left and right eyes and the curvature of them will cause a visual bend, so our straight line will appear to point somewhere it isn't pointing.
Surge's Ultimate Alignment Video has techniques to help us with all of this. Check it out, especially since he's just announced his Master's Sale, with everything half off this week.
Optical Illusions
Excellent points, Robert.
I am quite prone to getting caught by optical illusions. Once I pick my target line and an intermediate spot within two feet of the ball on that line, I concentrate on the spot and do NOT look at the target again. Every time I take a second look at the target, I get horribly misaligned and the ball can go anywhere. I cannot mentally adjust to the thought of my feet being aligned 10-20 yards left of the target.
I concentrate on two line segments: (1) the line between the ball and my intermediate point; and (2) my toe line parallel to the target line. Both of those line segments are within my field of vision and I don't have to move my head when I set up. If I think I am off on my setup, I back up and do it all again. To pick the target line, I hold my club shaft vertical and lined up with the ball and the target. I then pick a spot (blade of grass or whatever) within two feet of the ball, in line with the edge of the shaft (Yes, I know a round object does not have an edge), using my dominant (left) eye. Keeping focused on that point, I walk into the ball, assume the Master Setup Position, get PLHR and swing away. When I do that the way I described, I hit almost perfect shots. When I lose focus, all bets are off.
I have the Ultimate Alignment Video and highly recommend it to everyone.
illusions
thanks robert and kevin. i had an idea it was down to some sort of optical illusion and as most people seem to be aimed right that would sort of confirm it. i have the UAV, i think i better have another look at it, btw i have been looking at Doug Tewells ' square to square ' method and am struggling to come up with any differences to the surge swing. not sure which came first.
thanks again richard in the uk
illusions II
Don Trahan's Peak Performance Golf Swing (PPGS) came first. Doug Tewell's "Square-to-Square" method is second.
doug and don
so they have arrived independantley at a virtually identical swing? i say identical but if there are any differences perhaps someone could point them out, Doug even stresses his swing is 'body friendly' i suppose its impossible to take a copyright out on a golfswing . lol
Square-to-Square
From what I have seen of Doug's method, he turns more, gets closer to parallel, and does not start preloaded heavy right. There is more movement in the backswing and more wrist movement.
Square to Square chronology
You are correct, although Dick Aultman wrote a book with the title in the early seventies. Didn't help my swing then as I was using a lot of the PPGS techniques and hitting the ball like a laser.
re taking the swing from practise to the course
Hi Don, just wanted to add a couple of things to the comments from you and others. The first thing I have found when going from the range to the course is the speed of the swing, after just re reading Jack Nicklaus's book, Golf my way. Jack makes a very good point that your back swing can be as slow as you want as long as it is fluid and has no pauses. This works in very well with the PPGS as all the power is generated on the down swing and this allows good control. Secondly, alignment is the key and after watching a video from you on this site and also buying the alignment dvd, I have been able to hit the ball much straighter. I set up with a mark in front of the ball, I then use my right hand with first finger pointed out to see if my club is set up properly. I then put my right hand back on and take my left hand and check to see with all my fingers pointed straight if I'm set up parrel left. This has worked really well and I can certainly recommend it to all the surgeites out there. Keep it rocking Don
re taking the swing from practise to the course
Hi Don, just wanted to add a couple of things to the comments from you and others. The first thing I have found when going from the range to the course is the speed of the swing, after just re reading Jack Nicklaus's book, Golf my way. Jack makes a very good point that your back swing can be as slow as you want as long as it is fluid and has no pauses. This works in very well with the PPGS as all the power is generated on the down swing and this allows good control. Secondly, alignment is the key and after watching a video from you on this site and also buying the alignment dvd, I have been able to hit the ball much straighter. I set up with a mark in front of the ball, I then use my right hand with first finger pointed out to see if my club is set up properly. I then put my right hand back on and take my left hand and check to see with all my fingers pointed straight if I'm set up parrel left. This has worked really well and I can certainly recommend it to all the surgeites out there. Keep it rocking Don