Stepping onto a driving range for the first time? Yeah, it can feel a bit daunting especially with all those unwritten rules and the general sense that everyone else knows what they’re doing.
But honestly? Every golfer started right where you are. The range is actually one of the more relaxed spots to get your feet wet and start building your skills.
A little etiquette, the right gear, and a loose plan will turn that first visit from awkward to genuinely productive. It’s easy to spot the folks just whacking balls without much thought, but you can do better than that.
The range isn’t just about who can hit it the farthest. Real improvement starts when you have a clue what you’re working on. Show up with a plan, and you’ll probably surprise yourself with how much you take away, even if you’re not ready for a full round just yet.
Key Takeaways
- Keep noise down and respect other golfers’ space—wait your turn at hitting stations.
- Bring your own glove and clubs if you can, and have at least a rough idea of what you want to practice.
- Warm up properly and focus on targets, not just distance.
Essential Driving Range Etiquette
Getting the basics of range etiquette right makes practice safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Most of it’s common sense, but a refresher never hurts.
Respecting Personal Space and Safety
Safety’s non-negotiable. Stay behind the marked lines when someone else is swinging—those lines aren’t just for show. It’s way too easy to get clipped by a club if you’re not paying attention.
Give other golfers space. Ten feet is a good minimum buffer from anyone actually hitting balls.
Mind your angles. If you’re on the far left, don’t aim at a target on the far right. Cross-range shots are just asking for trouble.
Let people know if you’re grabbing another bucket and someone’s waiting for your spot. Don’t make them stand there guessing.
And don’t even think about aiming at the range picker. It’s not a target, and the staff really doesn’t appreciate it.
Quiet Zones and Noise Manners
The range isn’t a party zone. Keep your voice down—most people are there to focus.
Music? Use headphones. No one wants to hear your playlist blasting across the bays.
Try not to narrate every shot out loud. We’ve all been there, but nobody needs the running commentary.
If you want advice, book a lesson. The range isn’t the place to ask strangers for swing tips or get into lengthy golf debates.
Quick hellos are fine, but long chats break people’s concentration. Keep it short and let others do their thing.
Proper Use of Range Facilities
Only take as many balls as you plan to hit. Leave the rest neatly for the next person.
Don’t hog the best spots. If it’s busy, be aware of time limits and rotate out so everyone gets a turn.
If you’re hitting off grass, make your divots in a line—don’t scatter them. It’s better for the turf and the folks after you.
Share equipment like ball washers and club cleaners. Treat them with care.
Stick to any posted rules about which clubs you can use or how many balls you can hit. Some ranges have extra guidelines for beginners.
Cleanup and Range Courtesy
Leave your spot cleaner than you found it. Pick up tees, baskets, and any trash.
Return baskets to the right place. Don’t just leave them lying around.
If you’ve made divots, try to fix them or fill them in. The next person will thank you.
Wipe down any shared gear you used, especially at cleaning stations.
Do a quick check for personal items before you leave—gloves, towels, water bottles, whatever.
What to Bring for Your First Driving Range Trip
You don’t need a full set of clubs or fancy gadgets on your first visit. Just a few basics will do the job.
Selecting a Few Key Clubs
Start simple—three or four clubs is plenty. Keeps things manageable and lets you focus on the basics.
A 7-iron is a classic beginner club. Forgiving, straightforward, and gives you a decent feel for making solid contact.
Bring a sand wedge for short shots and to get used to higher-lofted clubs. They’re easier to hit high and help build confidence.
Throw in a short iron like a 9-iron for some variety. Short irons are easier to control and help you groove your swing.
If you’re feeling it, add a fairway wood or hybrid. Honestly, leave the driver at home for now—it’s just not beginner-friendly.
Don’t have clubs? Most ranges rent them out. It’s a good way to try before you buy.
Golf Balls, Tees, and Must-Haves
Most ranges include balls with your bucket fee. They’re usually older, so don’t stress if they don’t fly like the ones on TV.
Bring a towel to wipe down your clubs. Clean grooves make a difference, believe it or not.
Tees might not be necessary—many mats have built-in rubber tees. Still, a few wooden ones in your pocket never hurt.
Water is a must, especially if it’s hot. Hitting balls is more tiring than you’d think.
A glove helps with grip, especially if your hands sweat. Not essential, but you’ll probably wish you had one after a while.
Apps, Tools, and Helpful Gadgets
A simple app on your phone can track what you practiced. Golf Shot and Golfshot GPS are decent options.
Alignment sticks are handy for checking your stance and swing path. Cheap, but surprisingly effective.
If the range has a launch monitor, give it a try. Seeing your numbers—ball speed, carry distance—can be eye-opening.
A tiny notebook works wonders for jotting down what feels good (or not). Sometimes you’ll forget those little swing thoughts by next time.
Headphones are fine if the range allows them. Some folks like music to get into a rhythm, others prefer the sound of the club striking the ball.
Warming Up and Pre-Shot Routines
Warming up and sticking to a routine is what separates the folks who get better from those who just whack balls. A little prep keeps you healthy and helps you build habits that actually transfer to the course.
Stretching and Injury Prevention
Get your body moving before you start swinging. Golf uses muscles that don’t get much action during the day.
Start with shoulder rolls—ten forward, ten back. Loosens up the main swinging muscles.
Torso twists: Hold a club across your shoulders, rotate left and right. You’ll feel it in your back and sides.
Don’t skip your wrists and forearms. Extend an arm, pull back on your fingers, hold for 15 seconds each side.
Hip circles—hands on hips, rotate both directions. Gets your lower body ready.
Finish with the club stretch: Hold a club overhead, hands wide, lean left then right. It’s a good stretch for your sides.
Spending five minutes on this can save you hours of soreness—or worse, injury. Cold muscles really don’t like sudden hard swings.
Practice Swings Before You Hit
Practice swings aren’t just for show. They’re your chance to rehearse.
Take two practice swings before each shot. First one’s all about tempo and balance—keep it smooth.
Second swing? Make it just like you want your real shot to feel. If you’re hitting a 7-iron, swing like you mean it.
Brush the turf with your practice swings. It helps you find where your club naturally hits the ground.
Don’t overdo it. Two focused swings are better than six half-hearted ones.
Try to keep your rhythm the same between practice swings and real shots. If you’re smooth in practice, don’t suddenly go after the ball with extra speed.
Pre-Shot Routine for Consistency
A pre-shot routine helps you stay steady, even when you’re nervous. Try to do things the same way every time.
Stand behind the ball. Pick your target, picture the shot in your mind.
Find an intermediate target—a spot a couple feet in front of your ball that lines up with where you want to go.
Step in the same way each time. Right foot, left foot—whatever feels natural, just repeat it.
Two practice swings, then set up to the ball.
One look at the target, then pull the trigger. Don’t stand there second-guessing yourself.
Keep the whole process to about 20-30 seconds. Any longer and you’ll start overthinking.
Use this routine on every shot at the range. It’ll become second nature when you’re actually out on the course.
Mastering Your Practice Plan
If you just hit balls with no plan, you’ll improve slowly—if at all. A little structure and some goals go a long way. Quality beats quantity every time.
Setting Goals for Each Session
Before you grab a club, have a goal for your session. Maybe it’s “hit 7-iron to within 10 yards of a target” or “work on takeaway position.” Keep it focused.
Try working on different things each session. One day might be about distance control, another about accuracy with short irons.
Sample Session Goals:
- Distance Control: Hit 8-iron to three different yardages.
- Accuracy: Pick a flag and try to land shots near it with mid-irons.
- Tempo: Work on keeping your swing smooth.
- Ball Flight: Experiment with draws or fades.
Track your progress in a notebook or app. It’s actually kind of satisfying to see improvement over time.
Quality Over Quantity: Hitting with Purpose
A lot of beginners just blast through a bucket of balls. Try to avoid that. Make every swing count.
Pick a target for every shot—even during warm-ups. It’s closer to real golf that way.
Here’s a simple plan for a 60-ball session:
- Warm-up (10 balls): Loose swings with short irons.
- Technical work (20 balls): Focus on one swing change.
- Target practice (20 balls): Aim at different targets and distances.
- Pressure shots (10 balls): Pretend you’re on the course, hitting to a green.
Switch clubs often. It keeps you from getting stuck in a rut, and real golf is all about variety.
Taking Breaks and Staying Focused
Your brain needs breaks to process what you’re working on. Take 30 seconds between shots to reset and visualize.
Step away every 15-20 balls. Stretch, grab water, whatever helps you reset.
If you start spraying balls everywhere, it’s usually a sign you need a longer break.
Try to keep range sessions to 45-60 minutes. Short, focused practice is way better than endless hitting that just tires you out.
Target Practice and Distance Control
Purposeful target practice turns random hitting into real improvement. Working on distance control with different clubs builds consistency. A few alignment aids and a bit of tracking can turn your range time into real skill progress.
Aiming at Driving Range Targets
Every driving range has distance markers and flags scattered across the field. Instead of just whacking balls into the void, it’s way more effective to pick a specific target for each shot.
Start out aiming at bigger targets, like the 100-yard marker or a wide flag. Once you’re hitting those pretty regularly, try narrowing your focus to a smaller target or a certain section of the range. It’s a bit like leveling up in a video game—don’t make it harder than it needs to be at first.
Target selection strategy:
- Short irons (7-9 iron): Aim for 80-120 yard markers
- Mid irons (5-6 iron): Focus on 130-150 yard targets
- Long irons/hybrids: Target 160-180 yard flags
- Driver: Pick distant markers beyond 200 yards
Don’t just hit at the same target over and over. Mix it up—maybe hit three balls at the 150-yard flag, then switch to the 100-yard marker with a different club. That’s a lot closer to what you’ll face on the course, anyway.
Using Alignment Aids Effectively
Alignment sticks (or even just a couple of old clubs) on the ground can help you get your setup and swing path right. Place one stick parallel to your target line and another perpendicular for your feet. It sounds simple, but it makes a difference.
Most ranges have some kind of alignment aid, but honestly, bringing your own is just easier. Two sticks cost less than a lesson and you’ll use them forever.
Basic alignment setup:
- Point one stick at your target.
- Place the second stick parallel to the first, along your toe line.
- Before each shot, check that both sticks are still parallel.
Alignment aids help with launch angle, too. If your setup is square and repeatable, you’ll start hitting more consistent shots—both in speed and trajectory.
But don’t get hooked on the sticks. Use them for the first 10-15 balls, then take them away and see if your body remembers the setup you just practiced.
Tracking Yardages and Progress
Keep a quick log on your phone or scribble in a notebook. Jot down which clubs you hit, which targets, and roughly how many balls landed close.
Sample tracking format:
- 7-iron: 10 balls at 130-yard flag, 6 within 10 yards
- Driver: 8 balls at 220-yard marker, 5 within 20 yards
Look for patterns in your misses. Are you always short with your mid-irons? Does your driver keep fading right? That info is gold for your next practice.
If your range has a launch monitor, track ball speed once in a while. Even small gains show you’re making better contact and swinging more efficiently.
Set weekly goals like “hit 7 out of 10 balls within 15 yards of target.” Little challenges like that keep you engaged and make practice less of a slog.
Clubs to Use and First Practice Sequence
Starting with shorter clubs just makes sense. You build confidence, get a feel for your swing, and avoid the frustration of jumping straight to the driver. Master control and tempo with wedges before even thinking about fairway woods and drivers.
Starting with Wedges and Short Irons
Wedges are your best friends when you’re new to the range. They’re forgiving, easy to control, and let you work on your swing without the pressure of hitting a long iron.
Grab a pitching wedge or sand wedge for your first 10-15 swings. Don’t worry about how far the ball goes—just focus on making solid contact. The shorter shaft helps with balance, and you’ll start to feel what a good swing actually feels like.
Key focus points for wedge practice:
- Swing at 50-75% power
- Focus on clean contact
- Watch the ball flight for instant feedback
- Try a few different distances with the same club
Short irons like 8 and 9-irons are next. They’re still forgiving but start to give you a bit more distance.
Spend about 20 balls total on wedges and short irons. It’s enough to build some confidence and rhythm before moving on.
Transitioning to Mid and Long Irons
Once you’re comfortable with wedges, grab a 6 or 7-iron. These clubs offer a nice blend of distance and control.
Mid-irons need a slightly longer swing and a bit more rotation. You’ll see the ball flight is lower and the shots go further than wedges.
Practice progression for mid-irons:
- Start with half swings to find the center of the clubface
- Work up to three-quarter swings
- Keep the same tempo you used with shorter clubs
- Try for ball-first contact every time
Long irons like 4 and 5-irons are tough, honestly. If you’re just starting out, you can skip them. They’re less forgiving and harder to hit well.
If you do want to try them, keep your expectations in check. They need very precise contact, and there’s not much room for error.
Introduction to Fairway Woods and Driver
Fairway woods are a great way to get into longer clubs without the driver stress. A 5 or 7-wood gives you more loft and forgiveness, and you can hit them off the ground or with a low tee.
Driver considerations for beginners:
- Only use it after warming up with shorter clubs
- Tee the ball high (half above the clubface)
- Focus on smooth tempo, not raw power
- Don’t expect perfect shots—nobody does at first
Save the driver for last in your session. It’s tempting to grab it right away, but most improvement comes from working on other clubs.
Limit driver swings to 10-15 per session when you’re new. It’s a tough club, and you’ll get more out of your practice by working on the easier stuff first.
Routine and Frequency for Beginners
A regular practice routine and consistent visits really lay the foundation for improvement. Most beginners do better with structured sessions once or twice a week, not random marathon sessions.
Building a Driving Range Routine
Try starting with a simple 60-ball structure. It keeps you focused and stops you from just mindlessly blasting balls.
Our Basic 60-Ball Structure:
- Warm-up (10 balls): Wedges and half swings
- Technical work (30 balls): One specific skill
- Target practice (15 balls): Aim at flags or markers
- Fun shots (5 balls): End with your favorite club
Start by loosening up—shoulders, back, hips. Take 20-30 half swings with a wedge before hitting full shots.
For technical work, pick just one thing to focus on. Maybe it’s grip, stance, or tempo. Trying to fix everything at once is just confusing.
Always use alignment aids—clubs on the ground or range markers. Skipping this step is how bad habits sneak in.
How Often to Visit for Steady Progress
From what I’ve seen, beginners improve fastest with 1-2 range sessions per week. That’s enough to build new habits without burning out or breaking the bank.
If you’re playing rounds, once a week is fine. Twice a week speeds things up, especially when you’re new.
Weekly Practice Schedule Options:
- Conservative: One 45-minute session
- Accelerated: Two 30-45 minute sessions
- Intensive: Two sessions plus some putting
Don’t go every day. Your body and brain need time to process new movements. Three days between sessions is about right for building muscle memory.
Quality matters way more than quantity. I’d rather see you hit 50 focused balls than 150 just for the sake of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
New golfers all seem to wonder about the same things: etiquette, practice routines, and which clubs to use. Here’s what you really need to know for productive range sessions.
What are the top driving range etiquette tips every newbie should know?
Stay behind the safety lines when others swing. Nobody wants a club to the head—those lines are there for a reason.
Keep noise down. Use headphones if you want music, and skip the loud commentary on your own shots.
Don’t aim at the range picker. Yeah, it’s tempting, but it’s just not cool for the staff.
Wait your turn at busy times. If you’re grabbing another bucket and someone’s waiting, let them know.
Keep your area tidy. Only dump out balls you’ll use, and make neat divot patterns if you’re on grass.
How can I effectively structure my practice plan during a driving range session?
Set a goal before you even leave the car. Are you warming up for a round or working on something specific?
Start with shorter clubs and work your way up. Wedges, then mid-irons, then longer clubs and driver.
Keep focused practice to 45 minutes max. After that, you’re probably just getting tired and sloppy.
Switch between technique work and target practice. Work on swing mechanics, then test it by aiming at something.
What's a solid practice routine to follow with 100 balls at the driving range?
Use 20 balls to warm up. Hit 4-6 shots each with wedge, short iron, mid-iron, long iron, and driver.
Spend 40 balls on your problem areas. Work on specific swing issues or clubs that give you trouble.
Use 30 balls for target practice. Pick different flags or markers and work on hitting them.
Finish with 10 balls using your favorite club—end on a high note.
As a beginner, which clubs should I focus on while practising at the driving range?
Start with your 7-iron or 8-iron. They’re forgiving and good for building solid contact and tempo.
Practice your pitching wedge a lot. You’ll use it around the green, and it builds confidence.
Work on your driver only after you’re comfortable with irons. Don’t rush it.
Skip the long irons for now. Stick with clubs you’ll actually use, usually 7-iron through wedges.
Can you give me a quick rundown of a solid one-hour golf practice plan at the range?
Spend 10 minutes stretching and taking easy swings. Your body needs to warm up.
Use 15 minutes for technique work with one club—pick the one that gives you the most trouble.
Dedicate 20 minutes to working through your bag. Hit 5-6 shots with each club, focusing on rhythm.
Finish with 15 minutes of target practice. Pick specific yardage markers and try to hit them with different clubs.
Are there any effective tips for targeting and accuracy improvement for novices on the driving range?
Try laying down alignment sticks or even a spare club on the ground—it helps a lot with setup and aiming where you actually want the ball to go.
Don’t just smack balls into the abyss. Pick out a flag, a sign, or even a random patch of grass as your target. It makes practice way less mindless.
Start easy. Go for closer targets first, and only stretch out to longer distances once you’re feeling good about your aim. There’s no shame in building up bit by bit.
Work on your pre-shot routine every single swing. It might feel tedious, but those habits will stick with you when you’re out playing for real.
If you’re using those rectangular mats, let the straight lines guide your feet and clubface. They’re not just for show—use them to double-check your alignment before you hit.