Off Topic Driving Range

I've started going to the driving range at National Avenue.

My best drive 165 yards with a 4 iron.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips.

My target is 200 yards by Christmas.

 

If youre hitting it 200 yards with compressed balls at the driving range with a 4 iron... kudos...

BTW those ****ing nets they've put up spoil it now...

 

I've just taken up golf again and seem to spend a lot of my time at national ATM!

Best tip I can give you is take a couple of lessons and prepare to get addicted haha

 

Horrible aren't they! But the other option was raise the nets around the outside and it was financially a nightmare

 

If you intend taking up the game, remember that the driving range is totally different to actually playing on the course proper. The old maxim, it's a different game when you have a card in your hand is oh so true. Use the range to hone your swing but results when you play often disappoint.

 

Best tip ... practice off grass and not mats, you get away with an awful lot of golf mats

 

Agree with Howden, have a lesson or two, they'll identify your strengths & weaknesses and adjust you accordingly.

Remember it's not all about distance. As a beginner if you can hit a couple of 150 + yard shots down the middle, you'll be there or thereabouts on most par 4 holes.

 

Does it matter how far you 'drive' with a 4 iron? Aren't drives with drivers?
The real test is on a course. Consistent 170 yds in the middle of the fairway would probably get you round in 85-90?

 

I’ve been having lessons, it’s such a hard game to master

 

Imagine Terry's face on the golf ball, you'll be driving 300 yards in no time.

 

Using your foot

 

Fantastic tip! You can feel like a pro on the range as you have such a great lie etc...then go out on the actual course and hit 100+

As I'm finding out, the only way to really improve is get out on courses

 

I've played many sports which involve hitting a moving ball, some at junior national level. Hitting a stationary ball is very hard

 

That's where I go wrong. 300 yards, wrong direction

 

Don’t have distance as a target, just concentrate on hitting it straight
Distance will sort itself out

 

I took a couple of lessons. Hit a seven iron 170 yards. Golf pro was impressed but didn’t understand how I could hit it so far (his words not mine). Down to the boxing. I weigh 17 stone but boxed for years so rotating my body at speed I find comfortable. The fact that muscles developed for power in the punch also comes in useful in a golf shot helped enormously. I never continued but do plan to take it up next spring. Getting too old for anything else!

 

I think the guys above have given you good advice - having lessons is key, from a pro and not one of your mates, it'll cost you a few quid but it'll stop you developing bad habits. You'll find (as said above) accuracy is better than distance i.e. 175 yds on the short stuff is better than 250 yds in the jungle - for that reason I never carried any irons longer than a 5 - I mostly used a 3 wood from the tee and should I stray with that a 5 & 7 wood with their shorter shafts are better, easier to use tools than long irons from the first cut of rough. Using the above got me down to a 14 h'cap fairly quickly - good luck with it.

PS If you aren't gonna play regular, you're probably wasting your time.

 

Many golf course now have practice areas, large open spaces we're you can hone your strike off grass. I played since I was 16 until life overtook me and demands on my time became too great, at the time of walking away from golf I was playing off a 6 handicap, and trust me here, if you wish to improve then hit the practice fields and concentrate in particular on your short game, chipping and putting can save you so.many shots.

If time allows an hour a day or every other day practice will rapidly improve your game and bring more enjoyment from a truly wonderful pastime.

 

You'll no doubt have been closing the face of the seven iron mate, strong right hand grip, surprised a pro never spotted that. Closing the face tends to shallow the angel of the club you're using and usually changes the loft to some.thing more like a 5 or 6 iron.

 

Only one lesson in golf.
Drive for show ..putt for dough.