How to get the most out of your training at the range or indoor center

1. Review your equipment

   It’s good to go through your equipment well in advance, primarily reviewing the clubs in your bag. It’s essential to have a club for every distance you might encounter during your game. It’s perfect to test the lengths of each club when you are at the range or your indoor center. Here, you might also use a “Pro Tracer” to truly see how far you hit with each club.

   As for the selection of clubs in your bag, it varies somewhat depending on your handicap, but here are some tips:

   You need a reliable Sandwedge to get you out of bunkers and over obstacles when you’re near the green. Make sure you know how far you hit this club with a full swing. My favorite wedge is a 56-degree wedge that I use in bunkers, for short approach shots, and at my full distance of 65 meters with this club.

   Furthermore, fill in the gaps with a club for every 10 meters. For me, the next step is a 52-degree, then a Pitching wedge (P-wedge), followed by irons from 9 to 5.

   When we talk about hybrids and fairway woods, I have a Hybrid 5, followed by a FW7, an FW4, and then a driver.

   This usually works quite well for everyone, but feel free to experiment (some have a set up to iron 6 and then switch to a hybrid).

2. Warm-up for mobility and presence

   When you arrive at the range and are about to start your training session, it’s crucial to warm up. Not only for your mobility and flexibility but also to ground yourself and find your presence. Feel free to warm up with cross-body movements to activate the left and right hemispheres of the brain, promoting a good balance between technical thoughts and rhythm. This enhances your ability to swing through in your stroke. Warm up for approximately 5-10 minutes before each training session.

3. Train with quality

   Once you get to the range or your indoor center, it’s important to train with quality. It’s better to have a shorter training session with a clear purpose than a longer one without a goal. In my book*, I have several tips for training sessions, and here’s one of them:

   45-minute Range Session – focus on your fundamentals: grip, aim, and setup. Start by warming up as mentioned above, preferably with 5 final deep breaths. Use one of your mid-irons in this session (9-iron, 8-iron, or 7-iron). Follow your routine before each shot, checking your grip and setup, including the distance to the ball. Continue for about 10-15 minutes.

   Then, pick a target and hit 5 balls, change the target, and hit five more, and so on. Continue for about 10-15 minutes. Check your aim before each shot.

   Finish by “playing a hole” on the range. Choose a hole from your home course, either a par 5 or par 4. Start with your driver, pick a fairway on the range, choose a target, follow your routine, and take a shot. Visualize hitting the fairway and continue with the next shot, and so on. When doing this exercise, pretend that you are playing just as you would want to on the course to score 2 or more points.

4. Target Focus – Each shot should have a purpose

   This exercise is connected to bullet 3 and will enhance the quality of your training. When practicing at the range, it’s easy to fall into the habit of mindlessly hitting balls without a purpose. This doesn’t provide as much benefit as giving each shot a purpose.

   Here’s what to do: Start simple and incorporate this exercise for 10-15 minutes of your training session. Now, take a shot with a club and then change the target and club. Choose different clubs for each shot and select a clear target you aim to hit with each club. Follow your routine before each shot and alternate between short and long shots (20-200 meters). When you successfully hit your target (which should be bold but reasonable), say something positive to yourself. Preferably out loud.

5. Swing in clothes that make you feel like a champion and that you feel comfortable in.

   When I competed full-time, clothing played a significant role. When I felt comfortable and stylish, I simply played better. We often competed for four consecutive days with 18 holes each day. Every day, I carefully selected the clothes I would wear, from socks and attire to choosing the hair tie. Believe it or not, this has a significant impact on an athlete’s performance. However, YOU choose what you feel comfortable in, and luckily, we all have different styles. Clothing choice is just as crucial in training as it is in competition. Daily Sports offers clothing that is both comfortable and stylish, and I am incredibly grateful for that. Here are my favorites for your training sessions:

   • A pair of comfortable pants, such as Lyric High Water in pink or blue.
   • A vest for maintaining mobility and staying warm, like Caen vest in pink or black or Madelene vest in black or pink.
   • A short-sleeved polo shirt like Peoria in blue or pink.
   • A long-sleeved shirt that is comfortable to swing in and easy to put on and take off, so a zipper is nice: For example, Alycia, a long-sleeved shirt in blue.
   • Alternatively, I choose a comfortable pullover that is soft for swinging, such as Bolzano pullover in black or gray.
   • A comfortable jacket to wear to and from training, such as Arezzo or Allos in black.

    

I hope these tips increase both your inspiration and motivation during your winter training sessions, whether you’re in an indoor center or on a range somewhere.

Best of luck!

You can purchase my book “Proud, Strong, and Confident” – a book about holistic training for golfers at Adlibris or Bokus or on my website www.jennyhagman.com.

/ Jenny Hagman