PGA Head Professional in Naas Golf Club, Bernard Quigley presents you with driving range session with a difference:
Perusing the driving range, where I am attached in Naas Golf Club, I regularly notice a lack of structure or practice constraints in golfers as they hit ball after ball without consequence.
Mindlessly focusing on block practice and technique, rather than process or outcome, can only improve your score by so much. However, adding in some variety and imagination will go a long way towards improving your skill level and lead to better golf.
The 50-ball practice challenge is a routine you can employ during your range session to add consequence, variety and ultimately improvement! So here it is:
50 balls. Follow the description for each shot. Treat each shot as you would on the golf course: Pick a target and do your full routine. Rate yourself on a scale 1-10 on how well you execute the desired shot. 1=Not great, 10=Excellent. Keep track of the shots you did hit well and the ones you didnt hit so well. Use this as a guide for your next practice session The first 20 shots are a warm up…
| 1 to 5 | Feet together | |
| 6 to 10 | Focus on good posture | |
| 11 to 15 | Focus on good alignment changing target for each shot | |
| 16 to 20 | Focus on good rhythm | |
| 21 | Hit the highest possible trajectory with your 9 iron | |
| 22 | Hit the tee shot on the 1st hole of your home course | |
| 23 | Hit the lowest possible trajectory with your 7 iron | |
| 24 | Hit the approach shot on the 18th hole of your home course | |
| 25 | Hit a high fairway wood/hybrid | |
| 26 | Hit a 45 yard pitch shot into a soft green | |
| 27 | Hit a low pitching wedge | |
| 28 | Hit a draw with your 6 iron | |
| 29 | Hit the 18th tee shot of an important tournament | |
| 30 | Hit the approach shot on your favourite hole | |
| 31 | Hit your 9 iron as low as possible | |
| 32 | Hit a fade with your 4 iron | |
| 33 | Hit a recovery shot 70 yards from a green | |
| 34 | Hit a high fairway wood/hybrid | |
| 35 | Hit your 7 iron the normal distance of your 9 iron | |
| 36 | Hit a straight drive | |
| 37 | Hit the tee shot on the 17th hole in Sawgrass – 130 yards | |
| 38 | Hit a sand wedge as high as possible | |
| 39 | Hit a 6 iron on a par 3 where the pin is 10 feet from the edge | |
| 40 | Hit a low draw with a long iron | |
| 41 | Hit the tee shot on the 17th hole in St. Andrews | |
| 42 | Hit a high fade with a short iron | |
| 43 | Hit the postage stamp at Royal Troon | |
| 44 | Hit a low fade with your 8 iron | |
| 45 | Hit your driver the same distance as your 5 iron | |
| 46 | Hit a high draw with your 5 iron | |
| 47 | Hit a pitch over high trees to a pin 5 paces from a bunker | |
| 48 | Hit a low hybrid/fairway wood | |
| 49 | Hit a 5 iron into an imaginary 30 MPH wind | |
| 50 | Hit your driver as far as you can | |
Bernard Quigley has 15 years’ experience in teaching and custom fitting. Coaching all standards of players from beginner to advanced. With a state-of-the-art Trackman indoor coaching and custom fit studio and recently renovated short game facility. Individual, group and packages available.
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