2026-07-18 · Birdia Blog

How Many Times a Week Should You Hit the Range to Improve?

Frequency isn't the problem — quality is

The right question isn't "how many times?" but "how do I practice when I go?". Adam Young stresses that most golfers practice in "block mode" — same club, same ball, no target — and that produces deceptive improvements on the range that vanish out on the course. Two or three structured sessions a week deliver more than showing up five times to hit balls on autopilot.

Harvey Penick summed it up decades ago: practicing without a clear purpose is just exercise. Every visit should have a specific goal (a distance, a ball flight, a miss to fix), not a bucket to empty.

A realistic weekly guide

• Casual player: 1-2 short, focused sessions keep your level up and prevent backsliding.
• Player looking to lower their handicap: 2-3 deliberate practice sessions, splitting time between the full swing and the short game.
• Don't forget the short game: Dave Pelz showed that most shots are lost inside 100 meters, so spending more than half your practice there usually gives the biggest return.

Three 45-minute sessions with intent beat a two-hour marathon where the last 100 balls just reinforce bad habits through fatigue.

How to make every session count

Alternate block practice (repeating a new move) with random practice (changing club and target on every ball), just as Adam Young recommends: variability transfers better to the course. Set a measurable goal per session and check whether you're improving from one week to the next. This is where Birdia helps: by recording your swings with your phone, you can see whether the changes you're after are locking in between sessions, instead of relying on feel alone. Having objective data on your swing phases turns each visit into useful information rather than blind reps.

Fuentes

• Adam Young — The Practice Manual.
• Harvey Penick — Little Red Book.
• Dave Pelz — Short Game Bible.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to go often for short spells or rarely for long ones?

Generally, shorter, more frequent sessions with a purpose beat occasional marathons. Fatigue degrades your technique, and the last balls of a long session tend to reinforce bad patterns. Two or three focused 45-minute sessions deliver more than one three-hour grind, because you keep your concentration and the quality of your movement.

How much time should I spend on the short game versus the full swing?

Dave Pelz showed that most shots are lost inside 100 meters, so devoting half or more of your practice to chipping, pitching and putting usually gives the biggest return on your scorecard. If you can only go twice a week, reserve almost an entire session for the short game.

Is there any point practicing at home without a range?

Yes. Working on tempo, hand position or dry swing reps complements your range visits, especially when you're bedding in a change. Recording those rehearsals with Birdia lets you compare your movement day to day and spot whether you're really locking in the improvement before you start hitting balls.