Golf Driving Range

What is a golf driving range?

The Range Practice (commonly called “the driving range”) is a golf course’s practice area. Players hit balls from stations lined up toward a large landing area, marked by flags or targets placed at known distances. English speakers refer to it as driving range.

People come here to work on their swing, fine-tune their distances, warm up before a round, or—for beginners—hit their first few balls before heading out on the course.

How does a driving range work?

• The balls: You can get them by the bucket or by the basket, usually from a dispenser that operates with tokens, a card, or a badge, which are sold at the front desk. The number of balls per bucket and the prices vary by club.
• Driving range balls They belong to the club and must remain at the driving range: they are not to be taken out on the course.
• Job Openings: Part of it is often covered, which makes it possible to practice in bad weather.
• Distances Distance markers are displayed in meters or yards, depending on the golf course: check the unit before drawing any conclusions about your distances.
• Pickup The balls are fed using a protected machine that moves across the receiving area.

Carpet or grass: What's the difference?

On a rug, the club still slides even when it touches the ground slightly before the ball: a lightly skimmed shot may then seem like a good one. It's practical and always an option, but the feedback on the quality of contact is less reliable.

On the'grass, you can tell by the divot: a divot that starts behind the ball’s position indicates good contact, while one that starts in front suggests a fat shot. When a patch of grass is exposed, it provides a more accurate picture of what’s happening on the course. The club staff moves it regularly to allow the grass to grow back.

What is the short game zone?

Most golf courses supplement the driving range with an area dedicated to the short game:

• a putting green to practice putting;
• one approach area, with a green that you aim for with a chip or a pitch;
• often a training bunker.

That's where a lot of shots are won: a large portion of the shots in a round are played near the greens.

How Can You Practice Effectively at the Driving Range?

• Start small: a few half-swings with the wedge before moving on to the long clubs.
• One target for each bullet: Choose a specific flag rather than just charging straight ahead.
• Check your alignment by placing a club or a wand on the ground, parallel to the line of play.
• Switch clubs and targets on a regular basis, just like on the course, where you never play the same shot twice.
• Repeat your pre-shot routine Practice on some of the balls to prepare for your shots under real-world conditions.
• Prioritize quality: It's better to take 40 well-thought-out shots than 150 taken in rapid succession.

Safety and Etiquette Rules

• Stay in your stance and swing down the center of the driving range.
• Never go after a ball on the receiving area.
• Leave enough space for your neighbor before taking a practice swing.
• Please follow the club's guidelines, especially regarding grassy areas that are closed for maintenance.