The Comfort of the Driving Range
For many golfers, practice means turning up at the range, hitting a large bucket, and leaving feeling productive. The problem is that this kind of practice rarely reflects what actually happens on the course. Repeating the same club over and over builds familiarity, but not adaptability.
Golf is played one shot at a time, with changing targets, lies, and pressure. Range practice often removes all of that.
Why Repetition Can Be Misleading
Hitting multiple balls with the same club allows golfers to groove swings, but it can also hide problems. On the course, you do not get a second attempt straight away. Poor range habits often fail under real conditions.
Short game is where this becomes most obvious. Many golfers spend far more time hitting drivers than chipping or putting, even though most shots in a round happen inside 100 yards.
Practising Like You Play
More effective practice mirrors the course. Switching clubs between shots, picking specific targets, and practising under small amounts of pressure builds better habits. Even limited practice time can be effective when used deliberately.
Quality always beats quantity.