Bringing the Range to the Course

One of the most asked questions I get as a golf professional is “why can I hit it so well on the range yet when I get to the course it all falls apart?” My answer; it’s one of the great mysteries of the golfing world! I say that with some humor because there are certainly ways to bridge that gap which I will share with you in this article. However, should you take a survey of 50 different professionals my guess is you will get a variety of theories regarding this much debated topic.

Let’s get right to it! What is the reason for success on the range and then the lack-there-of on the course? In a word….Pressure! Let us examine further. You go to the range, get your bucket of balls, find your spot and off you go! You progress through a variety of clubs in your bag and at some point maybe you hit your stride and string together maybe 8, 9, even 10 good shots in a row and you’re feeling good about your swing and your practice then you start asking yourself why this same success doesn’t duplicate itself on the links.

The range, although the BEST place to work on your game provides little stress or pressure on your swing. Stress or pressure meaning a tight tree lined fairway or a 200 yd body of water that has to be carried or a green surrounded by 6 bunkers. When those objects are staring you in the face you swing feels the pressure that it doesn’t feel on the range. And when the swing feels pressure it changes, and not for the better unfortunately.

So unless you favorite practice facility installs water, trees and lots of sand, how do we overcome this lack of obstacles? Use the most powerful tool in our bag, your mind. To truly carry over your success from the range to the course you need to create a practice routine that in many ways replicates being on the course.

For example, visualize a fairway in your mind, pick two objects on the range (maybe two target flags that are spaced apart 25 to 35 yards) and that now becomes your fairway. Hit 10 drives trying to keep the ball within that “imaginary” fairway. One of my favorite ways to bridge the gap is through alignment. When practicing, change your targets often. Hit 10 balls at one flag then change your target and hit another 10 balls. This process should continue throughout your practice session. Too many times a golfer gets to the range and spends the entire session hitting to one target. Again, just like on the course your target is ever changing and so to should your target always be changing on the range.

Another area I see golfers neglect all too often is the development of a pre-shot routine. Use the range to develop a pre-shot routine and then execute it while you practice. Very rarely do I see amateur golfers execute any type of routine (from start to finish) during their practice time on the range. If you were to ask a tour pro how they maintain consistency in pressure situations a majority of them would tell you “by sticking to their routine.” By going through a routine and sticking to it greatly helps with rhythm and tempo (which is ultimately what breaks down between range and course).

So if you’re looking for a way to get your game to the next level, you might want to start with revamping how you conduct your practice sessions. Anything you can create on the range that can in some way simulate what happens on the course will go a long way in the development and improvement of your game.

                                                     Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Winds of Change

Having been around the game of golf all my life which includes the last 20 years (give or take a year or 2) as a professional, a lot of things have changed over in that time; some good and some not so good. And like any stretch of time in ones life that was enjoyable, we often miss those days and look back with fond memories. But if you're a golfer whose taken the game up in the last 10 years, you might not even realize that clubs were once made of metal…yes metal…. let alone wood. Wood was way back in the day although the name “woods” has kind of stuck when referring to our driver and fairway clubs, however in many circles they’re starting to be referred to as “metals” so maybe “woods” is slowly on its way out (no pun intended). For the newer golfers reading this article, there was once a time when hybrids didn’t make up half  your set of clubs…that’s because hybrids didn’t exist. But like all things, change is inevitable and we can either roll with it or get left behind.

And I will admit change can be good….sometimes, but I do still like to muse over the days when you had a plethora of golf equipment to choose from; when going to pick out your next set of sticks was an event; at least for me it was; it was better than Christmas! Many of the club manufacturers I grew up with are either exclusively produced overseas or are no longer in existence. Many of which were extremely well built, high end stuff. To me, this is a piece of golf’s history I truly wish had never changed. Again, for most, you won’t recognize the names on the following list if you’re a golf newcomer, and by newcomer I mean new in the last 10 - 15  years. Sure the 5 or so big name manufacturers we get bombarded with were around back in the day, but they just didn’t dominate like today. There were too many other choices, good quality choices.

I thought it would be fun to take you on a trip back in time to do some shopping for your next set of clubs. You go to your local club or golf course, oh ya, I didn’t mention? That’s where a majority of golfers bought their stuff, especially if you were any kind of golfer at all. Buying your clubs at a retailer, um….no. Maybe a few select locally owned off course shops but that’s about it.

Let’s take a look at the brands you would be pondering over in your quest for the perfect set:

• Yamaha: Awesome clubs! They were ahead of their time. One of their best sets was the “Secret” which had a shallow cavity with a carbon fiber insert within the cavity with a gunmetalish finish. Yamaha now exclusively manufactured overseas.

• Head: Yes the tennis and ski company. Another great set of clubs. High quality visually appealing higher end clubs. One of memorable sets the “Head Pro.” Currently: No longer manufactured to the best of my knowledge.

• Prince: Once again best known for their tennis, these clubs were hot sellers. Grips made out of the same material as their tennis rackets, shock absorbers in the shafts and known for having an over sized sweet spot on both woods and irons. Currently: No longer manufacturing to the best of my knowledge.

•   Cubic Balance: Another quality product. As I remember, many of the better players played this brand. Most of their clubs were forged and they were also known for having a groove less driver. Just a smooth face! Currently: No longer manufactured to the best of my knowledge.

•  Daiwa: You might know them for their fishing gear but they once made very nice golf clubs. Some were even on the higher end at a cost of 8 to 9 hundred for a 3-pw set. Currently: Daiwa now manufactures under the name “On|Off”. More prominent oversees but I believe they are available in the US as well.

•  Founders Club: Another club manufacturer that appealed to the better players. Their most notable  line was the “Fresh Metal” line and had a solid loyal following. Currently: Still manufacturing but I believe they are much scaled back.

•  Zevo: You might know this brand if you are a frequent shopper in any Golfsmith as they are the companies low end house brand. But what you might not know is Zevo was once a well respected brand that was not uncommon on the PGA Tour. Currently: Part of the Golfsmith brand.

Oh how things have changed! And this is just a sampling of what was once available and it wasn’t that long ago relatively speaking. Early to mid 90’s in most cases. But, as in life, all good things must come to an end and who knows what we’ll be swinging in another 15 years or so. But it’s always nice to take a trip down memory lane in golf, or life in general and share with others what it was like “back in the day”. I think the next time I go out to play 18 I’ll break out the Yamaha’s or maybe the Head’s; I’m a sucker for golf nostalgia!

                                             Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy