How much practice time does everyone put in?

[guitarman]

I decided I would play less rounds this year as playing alot of rounds did nothing for my development last year. So I've been putting alot of time in at a practice facility and driving range. For the past couple of weeks I've been practicing about 3 hours a day about 4 days a week. I feel its really helped me. Along with great instruction from Nick my ball striking has become very consistent.
Just wondering how much everyone else practices and if they think maybe I'm overdoing it. 12 hours a week of practice and 2 or 3 rounds a week my body is really starting to feel it.

[nearace]

I decided I would play less rounds this year as playing alot of rounds did nothing for my development last year. So I've been putting alot of time in at a practice facility and driving range. For the past couple of weeks I've been practicing about 3 hours a day about 4 days a week. I feel its really helped me. Along with great instruction from Nick my ball striking has become very consistent.
Just wondering how much everyone else practices and if they think maybe I'm overdoing it. 12 hours a week of practice and 2 or 3 rounds a week my body is really starting to feel it.thats a lot of time put to great use,wish i had that much free time i generally just pitch and put in my yard,but the honey do list is large for the summer so just getting away for golf is all i can expect for now.

[JJgolfer]

i put in about 30 min before the round, and how ever long it takes to fix whats wrong after the round, usually just a few tweaks,

[el tigre]

I go to the range about 3-4 times a week, and play once or twice a week.

[thekathrynorchard]

When I was a decent golfer :p I'd spend 1 hour on the range and 2-3 hours on or around the green practicing my short game at least 5 days a week. Now I stink and never practice.

[D_Whoa]

Last year, I went to the range a couple times a week, and played a couple times a week. I took lessons as well, which helped some but it never completely sank in. Basically, my scores were stuck in the 105-110 range.

I started this season almost two months ago, understanding what my teacher taught me last summer, but not really being able to apply it and as a result my scores were still in the same range. My shots, while not terribly errant, just did not feel like great golf shots, and they never really have. I went to a range about two weeks ago and someone there was observing my weak, low draws. I was not hitting well that day, so his comments to me to open the face a bit more and keep the toe up at the parallel position really annoyed me. He actually took out a Medicus 5-iron to show me what I was doing wrong. After a few swings, I can honestly say, everything that my teacher tried to show me finally clicked!

I played the next day at Nobleton Lakes and had a great round, playing much better than usual (almost broke 100), making sure to focus on the swing that didn't break the hinge the night before. Best of all, my shots had a nice trajectory and went the right distance. I ran out and bought a Medicus that afternoon, and have had it now for two weeks, practicing every night for about half an hour at the "pro" setting. It is working like an absolute charm. I played twice last weekend and broke 100 both times, shooting my all time low (95) in the process. I'm hitting my 3-iron absolutely solid, and my driver is now carrying 230 yards straight/slight fade with no extra physical exertion, whereas before with the same amount of elbow grease, I'd get 200 yard draws. I can't wait until I start grooving some extra shoulder rotation into the swing.

So, it's a long winded answer to your question, but the pithy version is that range time and practice rounds are great, but the key is to make sure the proper swing fundamentals are being grooved. Please forgive me if you're a low handicapper - my story is really for those that are on the cusp of improving, and need some good practice aids. The Medicus has really helped me diagnose my problems, and I really feel like I'm on the way to breaking 90 this summer. I wish I wasn't so skeptical about the Medicus last summer - I would have been on the road to good golf a lot sooner!

[ysong00]

I decided I would play less rounds this year as playing alot of rounds did nothing for my development last year. So I've been putting alot of time in at a practice facility and driving range. For the past couple of weeks I've been practicing about 3 hours a day about 4 days a week. I feel its really helped me. Along with great instruction from Nick my ball striking has become very consistent.
Just wondering how much everyone else practices and if they think maybe I'm overdoing it. 12 hours a week of practice and 2 or 3 rounds a week my body is really starting to feel it.

WOW! 12 hours a week is awesome! I get in 2 baskets 4-5 times a week.. plus 1-2 rounds. And my wallet is feeling it more than my body, thats for sure :eek: Wish I was back in school so i could cash in on some scarborough fam early bird deals hehe

[Desi2007]

Well that is excellent to spend more time practicing than playing. I think its time well spent. I usually play 2-3 per week and like to go about 2 hours early to practice...everything from pitching/putting to driving range...whichever is more in-need.

[Grass Roots Tour]

I cant afford to play so having a range membership (and no job) means I practice every day.

Now having said that, I dont beat 600 balls a day. It takes me 2 hours to hit 150 balls.

IMHO, practice doesnt make perfect in this game. Practice makes permanent. Once again, less is more. I'm trying my best to have effective practice time that will actually IMPROVE my swing.

This is NOT an easy task.

[swingpure]

I get a couple of hours in on Monday and Tuesday's, 30 minutes on Wednesdays about an hour and a half on Thursdays, and about an hour on Saturdays and Sundays. I also get nine holes in on Wednesday and Friday, 18 in on Saturday and Sunday and usually get in a few holes on Thursday.

I do work on all aspects of my game. To be honest, for the amount of work I put in, I should be better than a low eighties player. I think I need to work more on the 6 inches between my ears.:)

[The Troll]

Now having said that, I dont beat 600 balls a day. It takes me 2 hours to hit 150 balls.

IMHO, practice doesnt make perfect in this game. Practice makes permanent. Once again, less is more. I'm trying my best to have effective practice time that will actually IMPROVE my swing.

This is NOT an easy task.

Smart stuff all.

I said I would practice more this year....little did I know how bad my course and range game would be at the start of the year.

Completely revamped my swing 100% just last week and it has really been coming along.

My practice has been to chip/pitch for 10 minutes followed by hitting roughly 10 full swing shots complete with a practice station and full pre-shot routine. Then chip/pitch then 10 more full swing shots and on and on....

[justinn]

So far two practice sessions, compared to around 6 rounds of golf.

[Big Shooter]

hate the range, does a subscription to Golf Digest count?! ;) :$

[Spottswoode]

I go to the range about 2 or 3 times a week and play about 2 rounds a week. Also, I pass Tam O'shanter on the way home from work everyday, so if I'm not in a rush to get home I'll often stop in there and practice on their putting and chipping area. (You can use the practice facility without having a tee-time booked)

[guitarman]

WOW! 12 hours a week is awesome! I get in 2 baskets 4-5 times a week.. plus 1-2 rounds. And my wallet is feeling it more than my body, thats for sure :eek: Wish I was back in school so i could cash in on some scarborough fam early bird deals hehe

My wallet is releived. I swung the clubs almost everyday last year playing rounds. This year I am swinging the clubs just as much but the range is much cheaper than playing. I guess I should have gotten a range membership so it would have been even cheaper.

I cant afford to play so having a range membership (and no job) means I practice every day.

Now having said that, I dont beat 600 balls a day. It takes me 2 hours to hit 150 balls.

IMHO, practice doesnt make perfect in this game. Practice makes permanent. Once again, less is more. I'm trying my best to have effective practice time that will actually IMPROVE my swing.

This is NOT an easy task.

Hopefully you get working soon. I would go crazy if all I did was practice and didn't get to apply some of my work to the course as well.
It takes me about 75 to 90 minutes to hit a large basket (90 - 100 balls) and then I practice chipping and putting for about 90 minutes as well as hitting out of the sand. I also work on techniques to improve my swing. My practice time with the guidance of my instructor has completely changed what I was able to do from last year. Without my lessons I'd still be mired in frustration. The practice helps to cement the concepts.

[Grass Roots Tour]

It takes me about 75 to 90 minutes to hit a large basket (90 - 100 balls) and then I practice chipping and putting for about 90 minutes as well as hitting out of the sand. I also work on techniques to improve my swing. My practice time with the guidance of my instructor has completely changed what I was able to do from last year. Without my lessons I'd still be mired in frustration. The practice helps to cement the concepts.


Sounds to me like you're doing all the right things, Terry. You'll be single digit in no time.

[goshawk]

When healthy enough to go, I spend most of my time at the range, but only hit about 60 full swings per session. Most of my time is spent on the chipping green and putting green. Right now, I'd settle for just being able to drive TO the range (can you spell Sciatic nerve?).
Being an instructor, I spend a lot of time watching others in their practice sessions. I've seen guys cmoe to the range with a full bag of clubs and only hit the driver, taking about 30 minutes to go through 96 balls. That's productive? I'm thinking not. Occasionally when I go to the range just for practice, I'll only take 2 clubs that I'm going to work on.

[guitarman]

When healthy enough to go, I spend most of my time at the range, but only hit about 60 full swings per session. Most of my time is spent on the chipping green and putting green. Right now, I'd settle for just being able to drive TO the range (can you spell Sciatic nerve?).
Being an instructor, I spend a lot of time watching others in their practice sessions. I've seen guys cmoe to the range with a full bag of clubs and only hit the driver, taking about 30 minutes to go through 96 balls. That's productive? I'm thinking not. Occasionally when I go to the range just for practice, I'll only take 2 clubs that I'm going to work on.

At the present time my focus is on irons so I have been hitting 90% of the bucket with my irons. I just go through every iron one at a time. I hit 2 balls from the ground and one teed up just a bit. I take my time between each shot and evaluate what I did. I have three things I am currently focusing on. My stance, my grip and my balance. I have a bad tendency to fall back on my back leg. Thanks to Nick lending me 90 minutes of his time, the other day to straighten some of these issues out, I am now hitting the ball very straight and consistently. At the point I'm at it almost doesn't really matter what club I use as I'm working on important fundementals that apply to any club. So I bring the whole bag to give some variety.

[The Troll]

I've seen guys come to the range with a full bag of clubs and only hit the driver, taking about 30 minutes to go through 96 balls.

On average I hit one driver and three 3-woods per 100 balls. Most of my shots during practice are 5-8 irons.

(Goose, hope the back gets better soon!)

[dekker]

I don't hit full shots any more and stop practise 2 days before I play and only hit a dozen or so just before I tee off.I used to wear myself out and it just doesn't work for me to practise that much.
I used to practise almost as much as played,but I've backed off considerably and only look to maintain my groove.Now I hit a few full swings with a 7i,4i and driver working on finishing the swing.The rest of the time I practise chips with the lower irons.
If your out there too long it can work against you in my opinion.

[hogannut]

I only get to play on weekends, but I practice 2-3 times per week. I will generally hit balls twice a week and putt and chip once a week. Now when I go to the range and hit balls I always go to the practice green for 15-20 minutes of chipping and bunker play as well. I try to keep an equal ratio of time between hitting balls and putting, chipping and short game.

[goshawk]

On average I hit one driver and three 3-woods per 100 balls. Most of my shots during practice are 5-8 irons.

(Goose, hope the back gets better soon!)

Thanks Troll. At least now I have an idea what's causing the problem. Bone spurs on L4 and L5.

There are times when it's necessary to work on the woods as well. When I went to Houston on Feb, I went to a range near my brotner's home and only took my 5wood and two drivers. I spent 3 hours working on those 3 clubs. I needed to work on hitting draws and fades with both clubs.
All I'm trying to say is this: when you to the range, you should have a plan of what you want to work on. Otherwise, it's just a workout. And don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having a working with your clubs. But you're really decieving yourself if you say you were practicing by going through 100 balls in 25 minutes. And I've seen people at the range doing just that.

[MizunoBoy]

My wallet is releived. I swung the clubs almost everyday last year playing rounds. This year I am swinging the clubs just as much but the range is much cheaper than playing. I guess I should have gotten a range membership so it would have been even cheaper.



Hopefully you get working soon. I would go crazy if all I did was practice and didn't get to apply some of my work to the course as well.
It takes me about 75 to 90 minutes to hit a large basket (90 - 100 balls) and then I practice chipping and putting for about 90 minutes as well as hitting out of the sand. I also work on techniques to improve my swing. My practice time with the guidance of my instructor has completely changed what I was able to do from last year. Without my lessons I'd still be mired in frustration. The practice helps to cement the concepts.


I find practising your full routine and making sur eto take dead aim when you practice means mor ethen the actual number of balls or hours. I started doing this in March and my cap dropped to 1 from 5. I had been a scratch years before but I played at a private club in the city and was inbetween jobs at the time like Grassroots. LOL

Will also envision my shot and me swinging and keep the internal dialogue positive. If you are already a solid striker then I believe this will do more for your scores and shot making then anything else.

[tjhayko]

Not enough!!!

Too busy with work and family stuff, so I've only been able to practice twice this year. :( :(