THE ULTIMATE 30-MINUTE RANGE SESSION
Golf Monthly|May 2023
Top 50 Coach Rick Shiels shares his practice secrets to help supercharge your game for the season ahead
Rick Shiels
THE ULTIMATE 30-MINUTE RANGE SESSION

We’re all guilty of it. We go to the range with best intentions, but end up hitting balls without much thought. We call it ‘practice’, when it’s really anything but. The problem? This won’t help one bit when the pressure is on out on the course.

Over the following pages, I’m going to show you how to make long-term improvements by implementing a simple 30-minute range session into your practice. I break the time down into three elements: basics and technique, skill challenges and pressure practice. Start using this and I’m confident it can transform your game for the better.

Basics & technique

1 Alignment

We tend to think of this as the ‘boring’ stuff, but it’s crucial. Get a couple of long clubs out of your bag, one for alignment and one for ball position. Many of the best players in the world will do this religiously. Set the clubs up as I have here, with one pointing a fraction left of the target you’ve chosen and the other lying across it, so it forms a perfect right angle. This works as a great alignment aid and provides a handy checkpoint to ensure your ball position is in the correct place.

Once you’ve warmed up, hit some wedges, ensuring your feet are parallel to the target line and the ball position is roughly in the middle of your stance. This will develop your feel for a good set-up and make sure bad habits don’t creep in. Hit ten shots in total, stepping out and back in each time to hone the perfect address position.

2 Technique

Esta historia es de la edición May 2023 de Golf Monthly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición May 2023 de Golf Monthly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE GOLF MONTHLYVer todo
Is it Time for the Presidents Cup to Be Scrapped? - The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue?
Golf Monthly

Is it Time for the Presidents Cup to Be Scrapped? - The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue?

The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue? Why would anyone even suggest such a drastic course of action? It may sound harsh, but since the inaugural event in 1994, the International team has managed just one victory and one tie while the American team has won 12 times, including nine straight from 2005. It is 26 years since the International team's solitary success in 1998 at Royal Melbourne under the captaincy of the late Peter Thomson.

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 2024
Surprise packages
Golf Monthly

Surprise packages

Jeremy Ellwood looks back on some of the more unusual golfing countries he has visited during his 20+ years writing for Golf Monthly

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2024
TAKE YOUR IRON GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Golf Monthly

TAKE YOUR IRON GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL

The key to good iron play is finding the right low point in your swing. Here's how to do it...

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
How to organise the perfect golf day
Golf Monthly

How to organise the perfect golf day

Golf Monthly's guide to arranging and running a memorable and successful event

time-read
7 minutos  |
September 2024
A LEGEND
Golf Monthly

A LEGEND

Michael Weston makes a pilgrimage to Pedrena in Spain to visit Seve's family home and talk about his life and legacy with his children

time-read
9 minutos  |
September 2024
"THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I LIVE FOR"
Golf Monthly

"THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I LIVE FOR"

Alison Root sits down for a chat with Anna Nordqvist, the three-time Major Champion and first playing assistant captain in Solheim Cup history

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2024
SCALING NEW HEIGHTS
Golf Monthly

SCALING NEW HEIGHTS

The Solheim Cup seems to grow in significance and excitement with every staging, and this year's encounter in Virginia promises to be no exception...

time-read
8 minutos  |
September 2024
STOKE PARK
Golf Monthly

STOKE PARK

I never expected to write about Stoke Park again after its closure in 2021, but it seems reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2024
PEAK AT THE OF HIS POWERS
Golf Monthly

PEAK AT THE OF HIS POWERS

Scottie Scheffler is a remarkable golfer who is well on his way to becoming an all-time great. Michael Weston analyses his accomplishments and explores his life to date...

time-read
8 minutos  |
September 2024
TaylorMade P7CB and P770 irons from £179 per club
Golf Monthly

TaylorMade P7CB and P770 irons from £179 per club

Adding to an extremely strong 2024 product line-up, TaylorMade has launched its latest irons in the successful P-Series - the P7CB and the P770.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024