How To Use The Driving Range To Improve Your Game

If you are thinking of visiting us for practice, the driving range is an obvious option. However, golfers often use the driving range without a clear intention or strategy. That is, you can't get as much as you can from a training session. Our own PGA pros have excellent coaching services available for your use to further your game.

1. Warm-up properly
   
   Before hitting the ball, stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, back, arms, and neck. It may seem a bit ridiculous, but stretching well before you start will improve the feel and performance from the start of your range session. This also helps prevent minor injuries.
   

2. Start short
   Start your range session with some short pitch shots; half swings with a sand wedge or pitching wedge. This will help build-up feel and strike, and allow you to find a nice tempo for your range sessions.
   

3. Hit to a target
   It may sound obvious, but I see many people in the driving range taking shots without a clear target. This gives little feedback on the success of the shot and allows bad habits to sneak into techniques and ideas. How many times do you shoot the pitch without aiming properly? Hopefully none! So use the driving range to reach your goals.
   

4. Master the basics
   For veteran golfers, I see many of you in the range of working on very technical things, it's great! I love to see people working hard to improve their skills. But very often you see you doing the complicated things really well but slide the simple things. Track grip, alignment, posture, and ball position. This makes the shot much more effective. Place some clubs to check the alignment and position of the ball and check the grip after every few hits.
   

5. Break up your practice
   Do not hit 100 balls on the same target with the same racket. Change the target or club at least every 10 balls. This will help you analyze this series of shots and remind you to reaffirm the basics throughout your workout. I like hitting batches of 5 balls. Count the number of successful hits and hit the target and try to beat that ratio in the next 5 sets.
   

6. Use Toptracer to track your progress
   Liverpool Golf Centre is the first in Liverpool to use Top Tracer Technology. This is a virtual golf tool that provides great insights into the game. The virtual golf feature allows you to change clubs and aim at a range. Each time you hit the ball, the distance and shooting style will be different, so it is the best way to practice effectively. It is recommended to use the "range map" and change the aim to hit the full range shot with a flag that is about the same distance as the shot hit by virtual golf, instead of hitting all shots in the same direction.
   

7. Go with a friend
   Having a partner who goes to the driving range with you can really improve your driving range experience. Challenge small competitions and try to help each other with basic skills and techniques.
   

8. Practice your pre-shot routine
   If you don't have one, it's best to start creating your pre-shot routine as soon as possible and practice at the shooting range. Discover great processes and rituals, from stepping into shots and stances to going to swings. When your pre-shot routine is consistent and well-practiced, you will be amazed at how comfortable you feel on the court.

Remember that practice makes you permanent. Therefore, making the same mistakes repeatedly during a range session can be counterproductive and you will not be in the best condition when you are on the course. You can achieve more success on the golf course by following the steps above to improve your game on the driving range.