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Over the course of my nearly three decades in golf, I’ve witnessed, countless times, beginner golfers walk up to the range, buy a bucket of balls, pull out the driver and launch into an hour-long session of wild, inconsistent swings.
Mindless ball-whacking does zero for improvement. This whole “quantity beats quality” mentality is a line of thinking that traps golfers in an endless loop of mediocrity.
Beginners and, actually, an entirely too large percentage of golfers show up and bash drivers for an hour straight. Setup? Ignored. Grip? Who cares. Swing plane? Never heard of it.
Meanwhile, the basics that actually matter—the stuff that turns triple bogeys into pars—get tossed aside like yesterday’s scorecard.
Here is a quick dose of reality for all golfers: the range can transform your game but only if you show up with a plan instead of just emptying buckets.
The mistake that’s keeping you terrible
I’ve taught everyone from complete beginners to improving mid-handicappers and they all make the same error: they practice without purpose. This mindset runs so deep that players will hit ball after ball without a plan, rather than focusing on specific improvements.
Watching a beginner spend $30 on range balls and hitting a driver for an entire hour is an all-too-common sight. Not one swing looks the same. No feedback, no adjustment, no improvement.
Eight drills that will transform your range sessions
Drill #1: The alignment stick setup
Place alignment sticks (or clubs) on the ground: one at your feet pointing at the target, one behind the ball pointing in the same direction. This forces proper setup every single swing. Use your first 10 balls just getting comfortable with correct alignment.
For the entire bucket, just hit a 7-iron. Learn to hit it straight, then work on distance control. Hit 10 balls with 75 percent effort, 10 at 50 percent and then 10 at 100 percent. This builds tempo and teaches you that power comes from technique, not effort.
Drill #3: The impact bag progression
Start without a ball. Make slow swings, focusing only on impact position: left wrist flat, weight on the front foot, hands ahead of the clubface. Then add balls, maintaining that same feeling. This drill alone fixes most beginner swing flaws.
Hit 20 balls with your feet touching. This forces you to swing in balance and use your body correctly, rather than just your arms. Start with short irons and work up. You’ll be amazed how solidly you can hit it.
Drill #5: The target practice progression
Pick specific targets at 50, 75, 100 and 125 yards. Hit five balls to each target with appropriate clubs. Don’t just aim “somewhere out there.” Golf rewards precision so practice precision from day one.
Drill #6: The tempo counting drill
Count “one-two” during your swing: “one” on the backswing, “two” through impact. Hit 20 balls focusing only on smooth tempo. Speed comes later. Rhythm comes first and lasts forever.
Drop 10 balls in a circle around a practice green. Hit each shot to a different pin position using different clubs: wedge, 9-iron, even putter from off the green. A sharp short game saves more strokes than driving distance.
Drill #8: The pre-shot routine builder
Every single ball gets the same routine: step behind the ball, pick your target, take practice swings, step up and hit. No shortcuts. Building this habit now prevents rushing on the course later.
The one thing that still ruins practice
You need to avoid the temptation to hit balls mindlessly when things start clicking. Even when you’re hitting it well, stick to your drill plan. Random swinging builds bad habits faster than you think.
The smart approach? Finish each drill completely before moving to the next one, even if you start hitting it poorly.
Why beginners stay frustrated
Range practice looks easy from the outside and golfers assume any swing is good practice. The basic principle remains: quality beats quantity every time. But beginners get addicted to the instant gratification of ball striking.
Master these eight drills. They’re proven, systematic ways to build a repeatable swing without developing bad habits. Stop wasting money on range balls that teach you nothing.
The driving range isn’t trying to trick you. It’s actually the most efficient learning environment when you use it correctly. Take advantage of that opportunity.
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