Seeing a PGA pro and developing a good practice plan is a good start. This ensures incorrect practice habits. My practice on the driving is limited, due to back issues. When I do go I normally focus on tempo and alignment. Usually hitting a nine iron, six iron, one of my hybrids and maybe finishing with a few drives (my strength). Then to the green to hit a few chips and putts. Normally limiting my time to about thirty minutes, give or take, but working on specificifics. When you are 77 and the old back acts up, no need to antagonize it more. If I am having a real issue I go see my PGA pro to let him take a look and see what is needed. Note: Everyone should go to the range with a purpose. Find it rather funny to watch ball bangers and try to avoid practicing next to them. They can be detrimental to your health with those chili poppers. Best of luck, which is defined as when preparation meets opportunity. =)

I really like to pick a target and imagine a fairway and work on hitting shots that I will see on the course. I am also a fan of taking full shots out of the practice bunker.

For the most part, I work on striking the ball solid but do not spend hours on the range. When struggling with soild contact, it's generally from swinging too hard. So, I work on slowing things down and not sweating the ball speed until solid contact comes back. Then, gracually bring the hips speed up until contact suffers. I also do this at warmup, to some degree.

As for short game practice, I practice pitches and chips fairly oftend and have a great putting mat at home when I can work on 8 foot and shorter putts.

Most of my practice time lately has been working on my short game. I'm not the longest hitter out there and I'm good with that. I find that I could make up for the lack of distance by getting up and down and the only way to do that regularly is to have a solid short game. This time of year, the days are shorter, so I don't get to practice as much. With more daylight, I usually spend a few days a week at my course's short game practice area just working on my chips and pitches within 100 yds. If you get those dialed in, you'll see 4 to 5 strokes knocked off your scorecard.

I'm not a range person at all, I normally play my way in and out of golf shape..lol But as far as practice I try to get a minimum of 3 hours aweek at my favorite Exec course putting, greenside bunker and 20-30 yard chips. Which has helped a great deal the last couple of years, right now my weakness is my long irons (4hy, 5i, 6i) so what my plan is to play my my Exec course with my problem clubs. It has six 300 yard par 4s. So thats how I practice. Luckily here in Vegas I can play year round.
Thanx for the thread...madgolfer hitemstraight

In season, the range a couple times/week and chips and pitches in the back yard. No long range sessions, about 10 balls each, 5 iron, Hybrid, Driver, 8 or 9 iron. Bunker and putting a couple times/week at the course.

I'm a "body mechanics" guy so when I go to the range...which is often...I work on specific areas of my swing trying to see exactly how the body works best to execute a proper golf shot. For instance today I worked specifically on trying to keep my right arm extended longer during the backswing and not let it break down to a "less than 90 degree position." I work on things like forearm rotation, how and when the weight transfers from back leg to forward leg... things like that. Before a round of golf though I practice caveman golf...see target, hit ball to target, repeat...and try to keep mechanics out of my head.

I rarely go to the range unless I have a club that gives me fits on the course. Or optimizing one golf club (shaft, head weight, etc), comparing two similar clubs (both dialed in).

I spent a lot more time with wedges lately. What one sees in my thumbnail is an optimized bag. The only wedge not stock loft is the 46-10 (I bent it to 44 because it works better than a 9 iron). My 7 iron is 32 because it works better than a standard 6 iron.

I go to the pitching greens and practice bunkers usually twice weekly. Also have a neighborhood park that I can practice “specialty shots”. One criteria of a sand or a lob wedge is the “oak tree flop shot” (15 foot tree). The 56-12D and 60-04T pass with flying colors. Since the practice bunkers at the courses are packed sand, I use the playground sandbox for soft sand shots. Plenty of hard pan and thick grass lies at the park too.

I use an indoor sim thru the winter months, live in South Dakota so it’s about the only way to hit real balls. Have a practice net I set up in my garage but I use foam practice balls for that. I usually work on mechanics and small swing changes during winter practice and try to just pay attention to consistency during my playing months.

Not able to golf outside in the off-season due to living in Midwest. I play in a simulator league to try to keep my swing somewhat in check. During the season when I go to the range a majority of the time I spend working on 100 yards and in. (Sand wedge and lob wedge). Distance control and accuracy. I struggle a little with ball striking once I get to the mid irons. Any suggestions?

I typically just try to hit flop shots for an hour and a half then feel bad and force myself to put from 1-3 feet.

Absolutely agree. I truly enjoy practicing, just as much, if not more, than playing. When I head to the practice green or the field where I practice, I always have a very specific task that I am trying to fine tune, whether it's chipping, pitching (I'm always working on 40-80 yard pitches), drawing/fading 5 irons, etc.

Lately I have been working on a new move (for me) which is based on Carl Lohren's "One Move to Better Golf" - so far, so good. Starting my swing this way has produced the best strike, trajectory, distance and spin, than any previous method - I hope it lasts!

Happy practicing everyone.

I play at a municipal course with no range or warm up area, only a practice green. I rarely go to the range.It's only when a problem with ball contact arises, that I'll go and hit a bucket of balls or two.

When I do go, I take 3 or 4 irons, start with the most lofted iron, pick out a target, and work my way through to the lowest lofted iron.

I would usually work on getting consistent shot shape. Stick an alignment stick about 6 feet in front of me on the target line then start the ball right of the stick and draw it in. The stick gives you a good point of reference.
I also chip in my back yard while waiting for dinner. 20 yard shots helps the up and downs.