As the head golf instructor at Tell Me More Golf, I’ve received many questions from beginner golfers wondering how they should practice and learn the game. Most beginners start their golfing journey on the driving range, which is smart.
That’s why we’ve put together this article, where we will cover how a beginner should practice at the driving range for the best possible results.
Driving Tips for Beginners – Range Etiquette
Before we go into how you can practice most effectively at the range, you need to know basic range etiquette. Without knowing this, there’s a good chance that you’ll annoy, or possibly hurt, other golfers, which we definitely don’t want.
Talk in a Low Voice
When you’re at the driving range, keeping your voice down is crucial. Otherwise, you’ll probably disturb someone else who’s trying to practice. Many beginners go to the range with a more experienced friend, so it’s totally understandable that you want to talk to each other.
Nevertheless, you need to be mindful of others.
Yell Fore
This depends on the driving range, but at many ranges there can be a risk of hitting someone if you severely miss your shot. For example, if you slice your driver at some places, you might hit a practice area or something similar. Remember that no one gets mad at you for yelling fore, but they will get mad if you don’t.
Don’t Walk too Close to Other Golfers
At the range, you need to be considerate of others’ personal space. That’s you should avoid walking directly behind someone, especially if they’re about to take a swing. Golf is a game that requires a tremendous amount of consecration, and walking too close to people can definitely be disturbing.
Clean Up After Your Session
Once you’re done practicing, you always put away any trash and replace the bucket where you took it. This keeps the driving range neat and allows the next player to play without any frustration.
Be Mindful of Dress Codes
On most golf courses, and almost all the public ones, there aren’t any dress codes on the driving range. Here, denim is acceptable, and you can wear a t-shirt and sneakers. However, that’s not always the case, especially at high-end country clubs. On those, you might need to wear a collared shirt, khakis, and golf shoes.
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How to Practice at the Driving Range
Warm Up
Before you start hitting balls, it’s important to warm up properly. Spend some time stretching, doing some light exercises, or swinging a few practice swings to prepare your body for the practice session.
Start With Your Wedges
Begin your practice session with your wedges and work your way up to your driver.
Start by hitting short shots, then gradually move on to longer shots.
This is how most golfers do their range sessions, as it allows them to start with the easiest clubs and move on to the more challenging ones.
Starting with chipping and wedge shots can also improve your tempo, which does wonders for your golf swing.
Work on Your Technique
The driving range is a great place to work on your technique. Focus on one aspect of your swing at a time, such as your grip, stance, or posture. Take it slow and ensure you execute the correct technique before moving on to the next thing.
Use Alignment Aids
Use alignment aids, such as alignment sticks or targets, to help you aim correctly. This will help you develop good habits and improve your accuracy. Using alignment aids on the range will also help your on-course golf game, as you get used to how it’s supposed to feel to aim correctly.
Practice With a Purpose
If you want to improve, you should never just mindlessly hit balls, unless you’re only trying to have fun, of course. Set goals for yourself and practice specific shots or techniques that you want to improve on. This will help you measure your progress and stay motivated.
Take Breaks
Take regular breaks during your practice session to prevent fatigue and maintain focus. Use the time to stretch, hydrate, or review your progress. Most amateur golfers can’t hit dozens of balls without breaks, as the golf swing puts a lot of stress on one’s hands and body.
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Driving Range Routine for Beginners
In the earlier section, we explained the traditional driving range routine. Beginners can, and in many cases should, do the same, but there are some things that are extra important.
Focus on the Basics
Start with a proper grip and stance, as they’re essential elements that will help you establish a strong foundation for your swing. The grip is the way you hold the club, and it’s important to get it right from the start because it will impact your swing and shot outcome.
Many beginners struggle with a grip that’s too weak, resulting in misses to the right. A proper stance will also help you stay balanced throughout your swing, which is key for consistency and power.
Work on One Thing at a Time
When you’re just starting out, it can be overwhelming to try to perfect every part of your swing at once. That’s why working on one thing at a time is important, whether it’s your grip, clubface, or swing path.
Focusing on one element will allow you to hone in on the specific adjustments you need to make to improve your overall swing. Once you feel confident in that one area, move on to the next one.
Mix Things Up
It’s easy to fall into a state of mindless ball-hitting at the driving range, hitting the same club over and over again. However, this won’t help you develop the skills you need to play a real round of golf.
Instead, mix things up by using different clubs and practicing different shots. This will simulate the variety of shots you’ll encounter on the course and help you develop your skills in a more well-rounded way.
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Driving Range Drills for Beginners
To help you improve your golf swing the fastest, we suggest trying out these two drills during your next practice sessions.
Place Golf Balls Below and Over Your Ball
If you place one golf ball around 2.5 inches below the ball you’re supposed to hit, and one golf ball around 2.5 inches over, you’re forcing yourself to hit the center of your clubface. This will help you improve your iron shots immensely, and you can widen or tighten the gap depending on your skills.
Improve Path With a Headcover
Many amateur golfers, including beginners and intermediates, struggle with an inconsistent over-the-top golf swing. When you’re a beginner, this definitely doesn’t have to be the end of the world, but by placing a headcover outside the golf ball around 10 inches to the right, you can significantly improve your swing path and overall golf swing.
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Best Beginner Golf Club for Driving Range – What You Should Start With
If you’re a beginner just starting out, we recommend starting with hitting short wedge shots. A sand wedge or gap wedge is ideal for this, since the loft is very high, making the club forgiving. Wedges are generally the easiest clubs to hit, as well as short irons like a 9 iron.
It’s often smart to tee up the golf ball slightly at the beginning, as hitting down into the mat or grass can feel very unnatural. However, it’s important to stop doing this relatively early, as you have to learn to strike your irons well.
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TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a beginner go to the driving range?
How often you should go to the range as a beginner depends on how fast you want to improve and what your overall schedule looks like. Generally speaking, more practice means more improvement, and hence you should go as often as possible.
However, it’s also very important to do training with a purpose, as you otherwise risk wasting time without improving. For example, we recommend doing purposeful drills that target specific issues, instead of just mindlessly hitting golf balls.
Where should a beginner start golf?
We suggest that most beginners start playing golf by going to the driving range. Here, you can practice many different shots and improve your swing. A great way to learn golf more quickly is to start off with a pro giving you lessons, as that gives you a solid foundation to work on.
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