Why Can’t I Take It From the Range?

“Why can’t I take it from the range?” I hear this question repeated by golfers of every level. Why is everyone making this such a mystery? There are a few answers that cover most situations.

• There is nothing at stake on the range. When you get to the first tee and the stakes go up, your anxiety rises, your swing changes, and your performance drops.

• You hit the same shots over and over on the range, but when you get to the course, you only get one chance, and that creates pressure.

• As soon as you get to the course, you encounter many new thoughts and feelings, including fear of potential mistakes.

• On the course you often try to steer the ball instead of swinging the club.

• You rarely (or never) use your pre-shot routine on the range. So, you don’t have a consistent performance framework to rely on.

The following applies more to beginners:  Your swing is so inconsistent that it’s probably not realistic to think that there is a lot to carry over.

There are ways to solve each of these issues - that where mental golf coaching can help (sometimes as a supplement to your swing coaching).