How to Get the Most Out of Your Range Sessions

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So come on, let’s play golf and enjoy the beautiful courses Australia has to offer!

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Range Sessions

Ask any good player and they’ll tell you: what you do on the range matters just as much as what you do on the course. But too often, range sessions turn into a bucket-emptying exercise without purpose. If you want to improve your game, it’s time to stop just hitting balls and start practising with intention.

This guide will show you how to get the most out of your practice time, combining pre-shot routines, visualisation, and real on-course scenarios to help you play better when it counts.

Why Purposeful Practice Beats Just Hitting Balls

The key to a productive range session is quality over quantity. Hitting 100 balls without a plan won’t do nearly as much for your game as hitting 30 with purpose.

The Downfall of Mindless Practice:

No structure leads to reinforcing bad habits.
You lose focus quickly, leading to rushed swings.
There’s no transfer to on-course performance.

Practising with clear intent helps you build confidence, consistency, and mental sharpness.

1. Always Start with a Warm-Up, Not Full Swings

Jumping straight into driver swings cold can hurt your body and your rhythm.

Smart Warm-Up Routine:

Start with short pitch shots or half-swing wedges.
Focus on tempo, balance, and solid contact.
Gradually work up to longer irons and eventually driver.

This progression helps ease your body into the session and grooves good habits from the start.

2. Practice with Your Pre-Shot Routine

What you do on the range should mirror what you do on the course. That starts with your pre-shot routine.

Why It Matters:

Builds consistency under pressure.
Trains your mind to focus before every shot.
Keeps you from falling into rapid-fire range swings.

How to Do It:

Stand behind the ball.
Take a deep breath.
Visualise your shot.
Step in and commit.

Use your routine on every swing, especially when switching clubs.

3. Visualise On-Course Scenarios

Don’t just hit balls to nowhere. Imagine you’re on the course.

Try This:

Picture the first hole at your home course.
Hit the shot you would hit from the tee.
Then “play” your approach shot based on how it would have landed.

Doing this creates mental reps that translate to real-game decision-making.

Pro Tip: Pick targets on the range that simulate fairways or greens.

4. Block vs. Random Practice

Use a mix of practice types to develop both technique and adaptability.

Block Practice:

Repeating one shot or club over and over.
Great for working on mechanics or a swing change.

Random Practice:

Switching clubs and targets after every swing.
Better for simulating course conditions and staying mentally engaged.

Example Routine:

10 minutes of block practice with a 7-iron.
20 minutes of random play, alternating between driver, wedge, hybrid, etc.

5. Don’t Forget to Practice Your Short Game

The range isn’t just for full swings. If there’s a short game area, use it.

Focus Areas:

Chipping and pitching from different lies.
Bunker shots if available.
Putting drills that challenge speed and line.

Your short game is where you save the most strokes, practice it with the same attention you give your driver.

6. Keep Score and Add Pressure

Introducing a little pressure helps simulate real play.

Pressure Games:

Give yourself a target zone and only count shots that land in it.
Hit five balls in a row with one club and see how many you strike cleanly.
Challenge yourself with “up and down” drills from 30 yards.

Tracking performance adds purpose and keeps you engaged.

7. Breathe and Reset Between Shots

Practising how you manage nerves, pressure, and tempo is just as important as mechanics.

Simple Tips:

Take a breath before every shot, just like you would on the course.
Step away from the ball between swings.
Reflect on each shot briefly, then move on.

This mental reset mirrors on-course rhythms and builds emotional control.

8. End With Confidence Builders

Finish your session on a high note. Don’t just hit balls until you feel tired or frustrated.

How to Finish:

Go back to a club you’re confident with.
Hit 3-5 well-struck shots in a row.
Visualise a great final shot to end your session strong.

Ending with positivity builds trust and makes practice more enjoyable.

Final Thoughts: Make Every Shot Count

The range is where you train your mind and body to perform on the course. But it only works if you practice with intention.

Next time you head to the range, remember:

Warm up properly.
Use your pre-shot routine.
Visualise every shot.
Focus on quality, not just quantity.

With a smarter approach to your practice, you’ll build more than a swing, you’ll build confidence, control, and lasting improvement in your game.

Golf is a game of skill, strategy, and precision. For players of different abilities, competing fairly can be a challenge without a standardized system. That’s where the golf handicap comes in, ensuring a level playing field for all golfers, from beginners to professionals. In this guide, we’ll dive into why having a handicap is beneficial and answer essential questions like what should my handicap be, how long does it take to get a handicap, and more.

What is a Golf Handicap?

A golf handicap is a numerical measure that represents a golfer’s potential skill level. It helps players of different abilities compete fairly, by adjusting the number of strokes a golfer is allowed to take. In essence, the lower the handicap, the better the player.

For example, if Golfer A has a handicap of 5 and Golfer B has a handicap of 15, Golfer B will receive additional strokes to even out the competition, making it fair for both players.

Encourages Goal-Setting and Personal Challenges

For many golfers, lowering their handicap is a key goal. This system encourages players to focus on improving specific areas of their game and set personal goals. As you see your handicap drop, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that drives you to keep practising and improving your skills.

Facilitates Tournament Participation

Many tournaments require participants to have an official handicap. Without one, you might miss out on a wide range of opportunities to compete in organised events at local clubs, amateur competitions, or even larger tournaments. Having a handicap ensures you’re eligible for these events and that you can compete fairly.

Supports Strategic Course Management

Knowing your handicap also allows you to make smarter decisions on the course. Players with higher handicaps might focus on playing conservatively, while lower handicap golfers can take more risks. By integrating your handicap into your strategy, you’ll improve your overall performance and learn to manage the course more effectively.

What Should My Handicap Be?

One of the most common questions new golfers ask is, what should my handicap be? For beginners, it’s typical to start with a high handicap, such as 20-36 for men or 20-40 for women. As you gain experience and improve, your handicap will decrease.

For an average golfer, handicaps usually range between 10-20. Experienced players often have handicaps under 10, and professionals typically play with a handicap close to zero or even in the “plus” range. The goal is to keep improving your game and lowering your handicap over time.

What Are Professional’s Handicaps?

How Long Does It Take to Get a Handicap?

A common query from new players is, how long does it take to get a handicap? Getting an official handicap typically requires submitting scores from 3 to 5 rounds of golf. These scores are used to calculate your handicap based on your performance and the difficulty of the courses you’ve played.

Once you’ve established a handicap, it will be updated as you play more rounds and submit additional scores. It’s essential to keep tracking your scores regularly to maintain an accurate handicap.

At The Golf Collective to establish a handicap, you’ll need to complete 54 holes. You can achieve this by playing three 18-hole rounds, six 9-hole rounds, or a combination of both. Ensure your scores are verified by a playing partner and submitted according to our straightforward guidelines. Be sure to keep your scorecard for each round.

How The Golf Collective Can Benefit You

You can submit all of the rounds you play, not just at your ‘home course’. You can play at any course recognized for handicapping, and your scores will still be valid. Our system allows you to enjoy golf wherever you choose while ensuring your handicap stays accurate and up to date.

Unlike clubs that rely on manual scorecards, our mobile scoring system offers a convenient, paperless solution for submitting your scores. This allows for quicker handicap updates and provides a more streamlined, modern golfing experience.

At The Golf Collective, you can enjoy a social round anytime, anywhere, and still have it count toward your handicap. Our flexible system lets you play on your schedule while keeping your handicap accurate and up to date.