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Does your swing change when you leave the range?

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I was testing out some new equipment the other day on Trackman when a member said, “Why don’t you swing like that on the course?” 

I asked him what he meant, and he said my tempo was different. To me, it felt no different and the ball seemed to fly the same as it always does on the course, but now I was second-guessing myself.

Is my swing different on the range? Am I less aggressive, and more in “guide mode” on the course? And is my tempo and speed different on more challenging holes than it is easier ones?

I wondered just how far off I was (if I was off), so I put myself to the test.

I hit a bunch of drives on the range until I felt I was in a groove and the ball was flying consistently. I determined that these were my “average drives” and I removed outliers — pulls that went a bit farther than normal, and shots I hit with too much spin. By throwing out the highs and the lows, I had created a chart (below) of my normal swing under the windless conditions that we have here in Southern California on a day when the temperature was around 80 degrees.

My “average” driving stats

Screen Shot 2015-02-13 at 4.06.44 PM

I then headed to the course with Trackman and hit drives on a few different holes with varying degrees of difficulty to capture any differences. 

First, I went to an OPEN hole, one without much danger off the tee (no out of bounds or hazards). After hitting multiple drives, I took three shots from the center of my dispersion pattern to show the “average” drive I hit on that hole.

My “average” driving stats on an open hole

Screen Shot 2015-02-13 at 4.08.48 PM

My hypothesis was that on an open driving hole, I would tend to swing faster since there’s nothing in my way visually. We see from the numbers that my hypothesis was correct.

  • My swing speed averaged 107.6 mph.
  • Average clubhead speed went up by 2.5 mph versus my “range swings.”
  • Not one of my earlier “range swings” was in the 107-mph range. In fact, the closest one was 0.4 mph slower.
  • My ball speed went up from 151.8 mph on the range to 154.1 mph on the course.
  • My course smash factor went down by 0.1. I’m assuming this was due to the higher clubhead speed. 
  • Since I pulled these shots a touch left of my target, you can see that the overall height went from 94.8 feet on the range to 76.6 feet on the course, a difference of 18.2 feet.

Due to these factors, you could guess that my distances also went up as well.

I understand the higher swing speeds and longer drives on the open hole, but what about a tougher, tighter driving hole where I am not as comfortable?

My “average” driving stats on a tighter hole

Screen Shot 2015-02-13 at 4.09.02 PM

It’s interesting to see that my first swing was much slower at 102.6 mph, showing me that I went into “guide mode” in order to find the fairway.

On subsequent swings, my swing speed went back to my “on-course” swing speed of 107 mph.

What I learned from my brief experiment is that my tempo tends to change from the range to the course. I’ve heard tour players talk about their “tournament” yardages for each club being a little longer — they might carry their 6 iron 190 yards on Trackman, but closer to 200 yards in a tournament when their adrenaline is pumping.

Why? My best guess is that on the range golfers tend to get into a rhythm. For me, since I’m not dependent on my driving distance on the range, I tend to swing slower. On the course, I switch gears and focus on distance, since I need more distance to compete with my peers that hit the ball farther.

It’s obvious that when a tighter hole comes up I slow down to try and get the ball into the fairway, but this is a BAD idea. If my tempo changes, it is easy to get out of sequence and whenever that happens, funky shots are inevitable. Therefore, it’s better to make sure you make an aggressive swing on the tight holes. Don’t try and “limp” it out there.

It’s important to prepare like you play, so when you’re on the range, put yourself into an on-course mentality. It will keep your sequencing consistent and do wonders for your timing and confidence. 

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Tom F. Stickney II, is a specialist in Biomechanics for Golf, Physiology, and 3d Motion Analysis. He has a degree in Exercise and Fitness and has been a Director of Instruction for almost 30 years at resorts and clubs such as- The Four Seasons Punta Mita, BIGHORN Golf Club, The Club at Cordillera, The Promontory Club, and the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. His past and present instructional awards include the following: Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, Golf Digest Top 50 International Instructor, Golf Tips Top 25 Instructor, Best in State (Florida, Colorado, and California,) Top 20 Teachers Under 40, Best Young Teachers and many more. Tom is a Trackman University Master/Partner, a distinction held by less than 25 people in the world. Tom is TPI Certified- Level 1, Golf Level 2, Level 2- Power, and Level 2- Fitness and believes that you cannot reach your maximum potential as a player with out some focus on your physiology. You can reach him at [email protected] and he welcomes any questions you may have.

16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Jeff

    Mar 12, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    In the best of conditions on course I have an excess of adrenaline, which would make me think I swing faster on course, but I truly have no idea. Thanks for posting this experiment, it makes it fun to read and learn with this kind of stuff.

  2. Jeffcb

    Feb 26, 2015 at 9:36 am

    Yup – I think for me one of the hardest things about the game is taking the relaxation from the range to the course. I get faster and probably longer since I know I have to hit it to a specific spot. Gets my sequence outta whack sometimes.

  3. Philip

    Feb 25, 2015 at 11:23 am

    Nope – I worked to get them the same by playing real practice rounds (hitting multiple balls for shots on the course I was struggling with that I was nailing on the range) when the course was empty until I had the same confidence on the golf course as on the range. Once I truly accepted hitting shots in both places was no different I gained a lot of confidence in myself and even lost my 1st tee jitters.

  4. other paul

    Feb 25, 2015 at 2:07 am

    I hit it like crap on the range and usually hit better shots on course. My friends call me weird for that. But it’s okay because I usually win.

    • Tim

      Feb 25, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Good premise for an article Tom, keep them coming

      My range game is often rubbish – I hit far worse shots than I do on the golf course, I often find the pressure involved with having trouble both left and right on a shot improves my swing because you have to be both smooth, and fully release – guiding it or slapping at it only increases the chances of a massive flair or an unmentionable.

      Much better to look like a 15 hdcp on the range and be a 5 hdcp than the other way round

      The course I am a member at has a lot of narrow driving holes with cambered fairways and trees that necessitates shaping it and getting past certain points to get a straight shot at greens. This means you have to just let it rip down these holes, no guiding it. It can be a nightmare when your not confident where the balls going but it prepares you for pressure golf.

  5. BustyMagoo

    Feb 24, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    It seems easy to get in a groove on the range. Flat stance, similar lies, and no impeding obstacles like OB or hazards to worry about. Just step up and rope. Obviously much different on the course where stance, lie, people watching, and everything else comes into play.

    I too find that once obstacles are in play, suddenly I become hyperfocused and sometimes that causes me to be too much ‘in my head’ as they say. I start thinking about my stance if it’s a non-flat lie, where to hit the ball, what the green contours are doing (on approach), what club to use, where do I want to land the ball, etc. So now I purposely take way less time standing over the ball on the course and just get up there and hit it. It’s way more fun to play loose and carefree like I hit on the range. And isn’t that the point of golf anyway? 🙂

  6. Double Mocha Man

    Feb 24, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    Take your range swing to the course. Do what I do. Drop 4 or 5 extra balls, hit them, get in the range groove. Then hit your real shot.

    Just kidding. All I know is if I’m hitting the ball great on the range I’ll have a tough day on the course. And vice versa.

  7. tom stickney

    Feb 24, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    kevin– funny how that happens…and sometimes it’s even the opposite

  8. tom stickney

    Feb 24, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    CD- agree

  9. tom stickney

    Feb 24, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    Double- I would agree with your thoughts if you shorten the club for sure

  10. Lowell Madanes

    Feb 24, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    Great right up. So true how we can be hitting it great on the range only to not on the course. I think a lot of it has to do with having a free swing with almost no real consequence other than if we do not hit it at the flag stick. Nothing in between like a certain corner of the pond you are trying to cross or the bunkers in the fairway you have to maneuver around. I guess that is why the feeling of playing doesnt really hit me until I have about 4 or 5 holes under my belt. Usually I have either survived those holes and are playing well or I have screwed up trying to steer through those holes and are trying to recover. Something to keep in mind for sure when on the range.

  11. Kevin Taglione

    Feb 24, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    I think reason is on the course I rarely go full blow at iron, I try to hit knock or work it.

    When I’m on the range with driver I’m trying to hit it straight versus on the course I swinging as hard as I can. If I wanna hit fairway I just hit a 3 wood.

    The longest Par 4 I will play in competition most likely be 460 and 3 wood will get me 200 yards out. And I can go full blow at 5 at that point or flight a 4

  12. Kevin Taglione

    Feb 24, 2015 at 1:27 pm

    On the range I always seem to hit my irons father than on course, and driver shorter than on course.

    • Kevin Taglione

      Feb 24, 2015 at 1:36 pm

      I think the reason is on the course I will try to take off some on my iron shots and hardly try to go full blow at an iron.

      Now with the driver I’m working on hitting it straight not long. But the course I’m gonna swing to distance, if I need to hit fairway I will just hit 3 wood

      Longest Par 4 I will probably play in competition is 460 so a 3 wood will get me a 200 yard shot and I can hit a full 5 or work a 4. I trust my iron game enough to do the following shot.

      If it was a 500 yard par 4 I may still hit 3 wood, hybrid cause most people are going to bogey the hole so hitting the fairway is more important than ripping a drive to 200 out in rough trying to hit 3 or really take alot off a hybrid.

  13. Double Mocha Man

    Feb 24, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Generally, the solution to driving on the tighter holes is to swing the same, use the same sequencing, use the same tempo. Just grip up an inch for more control.

    Mr. Stickney, perhaps a Trackman analysis of this theory/practice is in order. Is a tighter dispersion closer to the aim point the result? Is distance a bit shorter as a trade off?

  14. cdvilla

    Feb 24, 2015 at 12:20 pm

    The lack of consequence or reward on the range is certainly a factor. I feel like having a great “range swing” does give you a mental baseline for when times get tough on the course. I often times just tell myself to hit the “range 8-iron” (or whatever club you have in your hand) and that gets me back on track.

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Instruction

Clement: Stop ripping off your swing with this drill!

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Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?

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How a towel can fix your golf swing

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This is a classic drill that has been used for decades. However, the world of marketed training aids has grown so much during that time that this simple practice has been virtually forgotten. Because why teach people how to play golf using everyday items when you can create and sell a product that reinforces the same thing? Nevertheless, I am here to give you helpful advice without running to the nearest Edwin Watts or adding something to your Amazon cart.

For the “scoring clubs,” having a solid connection between the arms and body during the swing, especially through impact, is paramount to creating long-lasting consistency. And keeping that connection throughout the swing helps rotate the shoulders more to generate more power to help you hit it farther. So, how does this drill work, and what will your game benefit from it? Well, let’s get into it.

Setup

You can use this for basic chip shots up to complete swings. I use this with every club in my bag, up to a 9 or 8-iron. It’s natural to create incrementally more separation between the arms and body as you progress up the set. So doing this with a high iron or a wood is not recommended.

While you set up to hit a ball, simply tuck the towel underneath both armpits. The length of the towel will determine how tight it will be across your chest but don’t make it so loose that it gets in the way of your vision. After both sides are tucked, make some focused swings, keeping both arms firmly connected to the body during the backswing and follow through. (Note: It’s normal to lose connection on your lead arm during your finishing pose.) When you’re ready, put a ball in the way of those swings and get to work.

Get a Better Shoulder Turn

Many of us struggle to have proper shoulder rotation in our golf swing, especially during long layoffs. Making a swing that is all arms and no shoulders is a surefire way to have less control with wedges and less distance with full swings. Notice how I can get in a similar-looking position in both 60° wedge photos. However, one is weak and uncontrollable, while the other is strong and connected. One allows me to use my larger muscles to create my swing, and one doesn’t. The follow-through is another critical point where having a good connection, as well as solid shoulder rotation, is a must. This drill is great for those who tend to have a “chicken wing” form in their lead arm, which happens when it becomes separated from the body through impact.

In full swings, getting your shoulders to rotate in your golf swing is a great way to reinforce proper weight distribution. If your swing is all arms, it’s much harder to get your weight to naturally shift to the inside part of your trail foot in the backswing. Sure, you could make the mistake of “sliding” to get weight on your back foot, but that doesn’t fix the issue. You must turn into your trial leg to generate power. Additionally, look at the difference in separation between my hands and my head in the 8-iron examples. The green picture has more separation and has my hands lower. This will help me lessen my angle of attack and make it easier to hit the inside part of the golf ball, rather than the over-the-top move that the other picture produces.

Stay Better Connected in the Backswing

When you don’t keep everything in your upper body working as one, getting to a good spot at the top of your swing is very hard to do. It would take impeccable timing along with great hand-eye coordination to hit quality shots with any sort of regularity if the arms are working separately from the body.

Notice in the red pictures of both my 60-degree wedge and 8-iron how high my hands are and the fact you can clearly see my shoulder through the gap in my arms. That has happened because the right arm, just above my elbow, has become totally disconnected from my body. That separation causes me to lift my hands as well as lose some of the extension in my left arm. This has been corrected in the green pictures by using this drill to reinforce that connection. It will also make you focus on keeping the lead arm close to your body as well. Because the moment either one loses that relationship, the towel falls.

Conclusion

I have been diligent this year in finding a few drills that target some of the issues that plague my golf game; either by simply forgetting fundamental things or by coming to terms with the faults that have bitten me my whole career. I have found that having a few drills to fall back on to reinforce certain feelings helps me find my game a little easier, and the “towel drill” is most definitely one of them.

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Instruction

Clement: Why your practice swing never sucks

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You hear that one all the time; I wish I could put my practice swing on the ball! We explain the huge importance of what to focus on to allow the ball to be perfectly in the way of your practice swing. Enjoy!

 

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