Range vs Course Iron Performance

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By Scott Golightly

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  • 7 Replies
  1. Scott Golightly

    Scott Golightly

    Hi there,

    I have a set of 695 CB irons that I strike very well on the course, but very poorly on the range. Granted, I have returned to golf after 8 years and am at an 18-ish handicap (working back to single-digits of old), but on course I am able to shape and strike shots exactly as I intend to, with very rare mis-hits. I'll have maybe 1 or 2 shots on course that don't go as intended, but when I'm on the range every third or fourth strike is either very fat or a strong left to right slice. I'm wondering if there are factors beyond lie characteristics (quality of turf substrate, embedded weeds, etc...) that might create this phenomenon?

  2. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    My guess is shot routine. On the range, most have a tendency to just continue swinging without regard to the care you would normally do on setup on course.
  3. Joe D

    Joe D
    Minooka, IL

    Don O said:

    My guess is shot routine. On the range, most have a tendency to just continue swinging without regard to the care you would normally do on setup on course.

    I agree with Don,shot routine,also not focussing on the shot you are trying to execute .
    You go to the range and your view is wide open,no hazards or rough,no tree lines.
    So it's easy to not stay focus on your shot routine,and alignment,and next thing you know you hit errant shots.
    I know I done it and so has everybody else.
    Good Luck.
  4. Darron K

    Darron K
    Fate, TX

    Don O said:

    My guess is shot routine. On the range, most have a tendency to just continue swinging without regard to the care you would normally do on setup on course.

    I have to agree with Don. Also focus because there is "no pressure" to perform. When I go to the range, I practice with a purpose. I also don't worry about how far the ball goes because I know the balls generally aren't going to fly as far, I worry about swing mechanics and tempo.
  5. Mark F

    Mark F

    G,

    One thing that I can think of is the type of ball that your range uses. The range that I frequent has told me that they use a one piece ball that is designed to not fly too far so as to go out the end of the range. They told me that their ball is about 10% shorter than a "good" ball that players use on the course. So if the design is different for distance, perhaps the geometry for spin, lift, stability etc. is also different which might explain some of your issues. Just a thought.

    Mark F.
  6. Dave N

    Dave N
    Dade City, FL

    It's better to hit the ball better on the course then on the range. The golf gods are looking down on you.
  7. Gary D

    Gary D
    Cranston, RI

    One word, focus. On the course you prepare to hit the shot. On the range you just wack away at the balls and if you hit a bad one you just hit another one. Try taking your time and playing each shot on the range as if it was a shot on the course. Pick a target, setup, execute the shot like it was a regular round of golf. Try avoiding hitting the same club over and over. Switch it up. Play a round of golf in your head, switching from on club to the next based on what your mental round of golf tells you would be the next shot. Its all about focus.
  8. Gary L

    Gary L

    My younger brother has this problem when warming up before he plays.hits well on range,cannot take it to the course. I tell him to visualize a fairway between a marker and the fence,pick a spot in front of the ball and hit away. His tendency is to decelerate his downswing and steer to ball with all his shots.maybe playing the first 2 holes on the range would help him in his thought process.

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