I'm off 5 and i do 30-35 minutes on the range with stretches, pitching and full swings with an alignment stick. Then I do 7-15 foot putts and some other stroke drills and then some 4 footers or putting comps if I'm with mates. Head to the tee and mark my ball, stretch again and the hook one in the shit and boom 83 off the stick.
Started doing this after watching your videos been close to breaking 80 and finally after about 3 weeks of really making sure I am warm and with advice. I broke 80. Sure only a 79 but I was so happy. Your videos have helped me a lot this season. I just started golf again after a 10 year break. Partly because of you I have gone from a 18 handicap to a 9.8. Granted when I was younger I was good at golf but still thank you for all your advice. Hopefully next season I get that baby down to around 5. Here's to a great season mate.
I've always played around with my pre round routine but never had it as organized as this. I think that not over thinking my shots and not trying to fix them right before a round will definitely have an effect on how I play. Thanks for the tips Rick, awesome video!
Great video Rick.I usually start with 15 full wedge shots (3 different degrees).Then I do 5 full sots with each iron (9-5)Then 10 shots with my 5 woodThen 10 shots with my 3 woodThat is 60 balls in about 30 minutes.I apply my shot routine on each shot, and visualization too.I then go putting (around the world on 1 hole (4 balls from 3' then 4 balls from 5' and finish with 4 balls from 7')That takes me about 10 minutes, then I drink 1 beer and I'm ready to tee up!
I take Hank Haney's recommended 100 swings a day in my backyard. Sometimes 5 days a week, sometimes 7, sometimes only 3. I do 40 swings each with the Orange Whip and Speed Whoosh and 20 swings with my driver. I take a 4-5 minute break at 50'swings. At the course I find I can walk out out to the first tee and start hitting quality shots immediately. Same result in a visit to the driving range.
This is something I don't do enough. I always find myself rushing before the tee. Pretty much explains why it takes me a couple holes to get into my groove. Thanks for the great videos Rick!
I would've loved to be able to do that......but the course I used to play at didn't have a driving range.....so I got there 1 hour before tee time....3 schooners, then 5 minutes of putting...and I was nice and relaxed for an enjoyable day.
I’m just starting to play maybe 3 times a week and this has significantly helped me to prepare for the round. I’ve knocked 10 shots off of my game over the last two months and that I can only put down to more consistency on different areas of the course because of this.
My dad always insists on showing up to the course and going straight to the 1st tee. We are both high handicappers (20+) but i always get there early to warm up when we play and consistently outscore him on the first 3 holes, until he gets warmed up. I try telling him that he needs to get there early and hit some shots but alas, he hasnt listened yet
Excellent! Try to do this on competition days. Wish I had time to do it for casual rounds. The 10 gap between practice and play for me is for strategy and getting into the best frame of mind for scoring. Focusing on one shot at a time.
Great video Rick, 3 years ago I started arriving 40 mins early and going to our practise nets away from the first tee where our chipping area is. I use 3 balls with each club except my driver. Then I chip around the old practise green as you mentioned in the video. I then hit 3 balls with my 7 iron to finish and have a 5 min putt starting from very close and working my way back until I miss. Since this routine I've lost 5 shots and always feel ready to play as well as I can on that day.
One thing I'd like to add to that which I do. Right before my tee time after all that putting I do back over to the driving range and hit whatever my first tee shot would be. So if it's a hybrid. One hybrid. Driver, 7 iron. Whatever it is you hit off the first tee hit one shot on the range before your tee time. That's the dead last thing I do
What about emulating the first hole at the range? Something like hitting driver, and iron (whatever it may suit the first hole), chip. Wouldn't it make the beginning of the round simpler, having it planned and practiced right before teeing off form the 1st tee?
Thank you Rick for this tip. I have been asking myself recently how I could better prepare for a round and you have definitely given me something to work on. before I would not warm up before a round and shoot high 90's. since warming up before a round I now can shoot in the 80's, even snuck a 79 in this last spring. Now wanting to take my game to the next level I believe your advice will make a world of difference. thanks again and On with the Quest!! Cheers
Sounds about right. Worked at a golf clubs for several years. Like to hit 12-20 balls on the range, 10-15 chips and as many good putts as I can before the first tee. Always ending on a good one for the mental game so I can see the putts falling. The short game is the only thing that keeps my scores low so it’s important I keep that part strong.
good video rick! everyone will have a different warm up routine. I agree with splitting up the time. Far too often I see people spending too much time on the driving range, panicking and getting tired when they hit some wayward shots. warm up is just that. relax, warm up, gain some confidence. I also think it is beneficial to simulate the first tee shot if possible before going onto the course.
Enjoyed that Rick. Especially the explanations of what not to do. I usually hit a half hour of long shots and head to the first tee. Chipping and putting is then terrible during the round.
Yes...I do stretching, full swing, and putting practice at home all week in my garage/golf gym.....It's part of a daily fitness and flexability workout routine tailored toward golf....Keeps me in physical shape....(I don't go to the regular gym.) When I show up to the course, I'm basically ready to play....I usually practice around the putting green, Chipping, Pitching, and Lag Putting to within 3 feet of the hole just to get the feel for that day........Under no circumstances, do I stand on the green and watch myself missing random shorter putts......(Its the same reason I don't hit large buckets of balls on the range.) If I have any time left, I may stroke a couple of full wedges and a couple of Drives, but no more than that. After that, it's time to hit the first Tee!!.....Cheers!!
These days I am only focusing on my short game before a round. Putting and chipping to feel confident around the green. The long game I trust the force :)
I think it has to be something that ensure's you are comfortable for when you start a round. What I usually do is rock up straight on to the first tee. Tee in the ground for my first stretch. If it's a big tournament then I will lean back thus thrusting the hips forward to ensure I am supple then stand over the ball and give it an almighty whack. This method is yet to work to it's potential but I'm being persistent with it straight after I come back from my back strain injury.
I usually arrive at the golfclub 60min before tee time. I go get my bags that are in a locker on the course and go streight to the driving range. Something I really think you should have mentioned is stretching without hitting balls, that really helps with the "loosing it up"-part before getting to the long shots. On the range I start as you mentioned (except I stretch first) then go for my 52degree wedge, hit a coupple of 50-100 yard shots and work my way up the clubs as you mentioned. Then when I get to let's say 6-7 iron I switch back to a 52degree again and hit 2-3 shots just to make it more gamerealistic. After hitting them I go for thje hybrid, the spoon and the driver. After driver I go back and finish off with my 52 degree again and lastly 2-3 balls with the 7 iron, just to make a good last ball strike and move on to the chipping and putting green. I spend about 15m chipping and putting before going up to tee 10min before teetime and mark my balls if needed and getting a peg and such and just visualize the first shot of the game. It makes a huge different by starting the round with a nice crisp first shot. Makes the rest of the round go smooth! :) Great videos, keep em coming!
Nicklas Jonsson spending more time on long shots than chilling and putting is backwards, prod usually spend 2/3 of there time before the tee for chipping in putting IE where all the strokes happen
@@joshhalasz2477 you need to get it there aswell, no work on the long shots means you might have more time spending saving pars around the green then going for the birdies. But as you say, and I dont argue with you that shortgame is more important cuz it is. It's just that I need more work on my long game atm in my game. Chipping and putting I make more of a priority on all the other days I dont play on the course.
I always try to do something like that but am always running late...must try harder! Of course, some decent practice facilities would be helpful too...
Started doing this and play has definitely improved. Seems to get rid of the 1st tee jitters. I hit 7-iron, 50, driver, hybrid, then chip, and finish with putting.
Hi Rick, video suggestion in your strategy series: how do you recce a new course (that you've not played before) before having to play it in a competition? Assuming you go to play a practice round, what are you doing / looking at / noting during that practice round. Thanks.
Great video Rick. How about a round preparation video where the club only has a putting green. What would you routine be (stretching/warmup drills, putting, chipping, etc.) and how much time should be allocated to this?
Hi Rick I tend to get there about an hour . ten b4 tee off as i do go through my full 14 set I'm playing with i very rarely change gear as i play 85% of my golf at PARKLANDS Gosforth Newcastle . I hit the driving range first then pitch & putt and then putting green i think it does help .plus warms the body up ready for the real test. ( THE GAME )
I see someone said go offload first! I was going to add that too. lol. thanks for the reminder regarding warming up. I like the idea of being time disciplined. I also try to have some time in there to make sure my body is stretched and loose.
one more thing I thought of today while at the range...my pre-round depends on type of round (practice round, I may just "warm up" and go) and time of year. Today it was 32c...my warm up/prep is different than when it is 10c.
i do some jumping jacks to get my blood flowing and body warm. i also stretch hamstrings, quads, groin and shoulders (rotator cuff surgery last year). then i start like Tiger short shots up to long shots lol
I think stretching is one of the most important things you can do. Also, drain the weasel before you head out. In regards to the practice shots, try to simulate some of the things you will encounter during the round.
I take about 1hr and 30mins to warm up before my junior tournaments, but that includes signing in and about 10 min of break time before I head to the first tee (I still arrive 10 min before tee time)
I like to hit 3-5 shots a club when I warm up but I usually start with my 5i and hit maybe 8-10 to see if I’m hitting fades, draws, or straight shots the best
hahahahaha Mr Rick , i just came accros this video of you with no beard. i was just saying " dam is that Rick Sheils ?????" thanks for the great content .
I have to hit 50-60 balls to loosen up properly or its 3 or 4 holes before my swing is comfortable.. Putting is a must before hand just to get a feel for the speed.. I need to find the time for the short game practice but that's the same in general
I think get there 1 hour a head, change shoes, check in, (and I am old so there are extras here), warm and stretch (not quite like the sexiest man in golf but...), visit the WC, and then something like your routine. I do like to "play the first couple holes" I am also looking to see how far do a few clubs go (weather and flex affects) so I know normally I think 8i 150...today it will take 7i (until maybe weather or I warm up more). You want to see how to do it, just go to a golf tournament and watch what a pro does before every round. IE if you are going to do it right, do it right, other wise get there, check in and let it rip with no "expectations" -- putt a long lag up/down/level to get a feel for green pace. There is also my pre-round prep - ie night before: balls, gear, food, and if I am really serious strategy. I think think through holes, what am I hitting to get the layback I want for approach shots, to keep it in the fairway, where can I let it rip. If I make the decisions ahead of time, I am already committed rather than should I hit driver or 3w here. Now it might be a day where my driver fails me and the strategy alters or conditions change but in a sense the "warm up and prep" starts before I even leave.
I see a lot of guys on the putting green just hitting putts. One of the older guys at my club asked me last week why I finish out all my putts, regardless of how long I am putting from. I said in comp I have to finish so if I am seriously practicing before a round why wouldnt I try and hole, or finish it off? Seemed surprised... Even if its just 3 inches I still tap it in.
this year I have been a joke when it comes to pre round warm up! rock up hungover 2 mins before due on tee. on occasions this year have picked up penalty strokes for lateness. unsurprisingly I am back up to 8.
I show up a little over an hour before. Time to get my clubs on my cart and shoes on. Pay then head to driving range so 15 minutes gone. Do 10 minutes of stretching and getting limber. 15 minutes of driving range about like he said. 10 minutes chipping and then 10 minutes putting. Then head to the first tee and wait for my turn to go with a few minutes to spare. I don’t like to rush myself and keep a nice smooth tempo to my practice to playing.
I personally spend 10 minutes lag putting for the pace and distance work on the green as it rains too regularly and stimp changes too much. Then warm the swing up. (range, net or even I open space without balls if there are no facilities) Then grab 5 balls and 3 wedges and practice all 5 balls (thrown down) on uphill, downhill, flat, no landing zone, loads of green, bunker. Do this 1 club at a time. Then do putting drill (clock) to see the ball go in the hole, I usually do about 4 footers. Then go shoot winning scores 🏆
Know this is an old post, and its a good one. But...surprised that you excluded warming up (stretching and getting big muscle groups activated). I'm older (58), need 10 minutes of just getting my body ready to play. Prevents injuries, helps me with the first swings.
Good points, but I don’t even touch my golf shoes until I’ve stretched for at least 20 minutes. Legs, arms, chest back, everything. Then I go into what you’ve talked about. I rarely see anybody stretching before their round starts. Yeah, you see the typical turns of the upper body while holding a club, but legs? Never! And the legs are where it starts! So for me I get to the course about an hour before my tee time.
Hi Rick I practice between rounds but then 5 mins before at tee I'll rock my hips back and forth swing a 4 / 5 iron together rock from one foot to other and seem to play alright however lately I've hit the ball well but found trouble and escape pretty well 9 from 10 times. So why now we'll my 3rd round in a row I had 2x8 3x7 and a 9 I did record 4 pars though but thoughly discussed with myself. Paul H.
Here's my warm-up. 1. I go to the driving range and start with the 60 degree wedge and I shoot 10 balls with each Club gradually working my way up to the driver. 2. Then I go to the chipping area practice a couple chips and I also practice some flop shots from probably 30 yards and closer. This is the time you would want to take some bunker shots if they have a sand trap you can use. 3. Putt. 4. Now you have zero excuses with any aspect of your game if you have practiced correctly 5. You must be aware that the practice balls will come off your Club much differently then your everyday golf ball you use during the round so make sure you use whatever golf ball you're going to use during the round while you are cutting and chipping this is one of the most important aspects of warming up.
Alway short game and putting. Range varies as it can boost or hurt my confidence. Struggling with my game so I would rather take my previous weeks practice sessions to the course than the 10 mins of potential mis hits right before my tee time.
Paul H. Here Rick just to add I'm watching my 9 vid of yours a subscriber am I. One other thing is there a form of spectacles that I can see through when it's raining for golf paul
