From Range to Green: A Simple, Actionable Practice Routine for New Golfers
Practice makes par-fect! As a new golfer, you may be unsure how to practice effectively. Should you spend an hour hitting drivers, or should you focus on putting? The answer is to do a little bit of everything with a smart plan.
In this guide, we’ll outline a simple 60-minute practice routine designed for beginners to help you see real improvement. You can adjust the length based on your available time. This routine divides your practice into focused segments, ensuring you’re not just mindlessly hitting balls.
It’s engaging, actionable, and proven to help newbies develop their skills. Golf coaches recommend spending about 80% of your practice time on your weaknesses and 20% on your strengths. Our plan reflects this approach. So grab your clubs, and let’s head to the range with a purpose! Need help picking out clubs or accessories? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Golf Clubs and Beginner Golf Gear Review: Top Clubs, Gloves, and Accessories for New Golfers.
Practicing at a driving range with targets. A good beginner routine divides time between putting, short game, and full swings. Most amateur golfers see the fastest improvement by focusing practice on their weakest areas (and yes, that often means short game!)
Warm-Up (10 minutes): Begin with a gentle warm-up to get your blood flowing and to prevent injury. Start with some light stretches focusing on your shoulders, back, and hips, as these are common tight areas for golfers. Next, hit a few soft wedge shots or practice half-swings with a 9-iron. The goal here is to loosen up, so don’t worry about distance or direction just yet. If you have access to a practice net or open area, take some slow practice swings to feel your balance. Additionally, warming up should include a few putts on the practice green, if available. Aim to hit some 10-foot putts to help you get a feel for your stroke. This routine is designed for a 60-minute session, but even if you only have 30 minutes, always allocate a couple of minutes for warming up. This will make the rest of your practice more effective and enjoyable.
Short Game Practice (20 minutes): It’s tempting for beginners to spend all their time hitting big drives, but remember most shots in golf happen inside 100 yards – the short game! Dedicating time here will seriously lower your scores. Spend ~10 minutes chipping or pitching and ~10 minutes putting.
- Chipping and Pitching Practice (10 minutes): Locate the practice green and work on basic chip shots. If you don’t have access to a short game area, you can simulate pitching on the driving range by aiming at a nearby target, such as 20 to 30 yards away. Use a wedge or a 9-iron for this practice.
Here’s a fun game to try: Toss a ball just off the green and challenge yourself to chip it close enough to “save par,” imagining you need to get up-and-down in two shots. This exercise helps develop your touch around the greens.
Remember to focus on solid contact: keep your hands slightly ahead of the clubhead, shift your weight onto your lead foot, and avoid flipping your wrists. Even if you can’t access a practice green, you can still practice the chipping motion in your yard or with a net. - Putting (10 min): Start your practice on the putting green with short putts, ranging from 3 to 6 feet. These help build your confidence. See how many out of 10 you can successfully sink. A great drill by Phil Mickelson involves trying to make 20 consecutive putts from 3 feet; if you miss, start over. He would even aim for 100! It’s more challenging than it seems, but it helps groove your stroke.
Next, practice longer putts for touch. Try a few putts from 20 to 30 feet, aiming to stop the ball near the hole, ideally within a putter’s length. This will improve your lag putting and reduce the risk of three-putts. If you’re practicing at home, consider using an affordable training aid like the PuttOUT Pressure Putt Trainer. It makes putting drills enjoyable by providing feedback on your speed. Many users find that it makes practice addictive and fun—exactly what you want!
Full Swing Practice (30 minutes): Now for the long game. Break this into two parts – 20 minutes working on a specific weakness and 10 minutes simulating real play:
- Focus on Your Weaknesses (20 min): Identify the part of your long game that gives you the most trouble. Is it a big slice with the driver or topping your 5-iron? Whatever the issue is, dedicate about twenty minutes to working on it.
For example, if you struggle with your driver, spend this time focused on tee shots. Place an alignment stick or a club on the ground to ensure you’re lined up properly. Practice making a smooth swing at around 80% effort, prioritizing solid contact over power. If your iron shots are the problem, hit a bucket of balls using a mid-iron, such as a 7-iron. Concentrate on one specific fundamental, like weight shift or keeping your left arm straight.
A classic drill to improve balance and center contact is the feet-together swing; try hitting some shots with your feet together.
Remember the expert tip: spend the majority of your practice time on your weaknesses. It may not be as rewarding as hitting a perfect drive, but it will pay off on the scorecard! Keep the practice enjoyable by setting mini-goals, such as “I will hit 5 solid iron shots in a row.” When you achieve these goals, you’ll know you’re improving. - “Play” the Course (10 minutes): For the last part of your full-swing practice, simulate on-course situations. Instead of hitting the same club repeatedly, imagine you’re playing a few holes of golf in your mind. For example, start by hitting a driver as your “tee shot.” If it goes well, great! If not, don’t take a mulligan; just move on as if you’re now in the rough. Next, hit an iron as if you’re aiming for a green, followed by a wedge to simulate a pitch onto the green. This practice not only helps you switch clubs and targets, but it also keeps your mind engaged. It’s an excellent way for beginners to transition their range skills to the golf course. To make it more interesting, you can even write down an imaginary score (for instance, “Drive went into the rough, iron didn’t reach the green – okay, I’d be hitting 3 from 50 yards…” and so on). This game-like approach to practice is more effective than simply hitting balls and is also fun!
- Bonus Tip: It all starts with the grip – Read our 5 Simple Golf Grip Tips for Beginners to Improve Your Swing
Cool Down and Reflection (5 minutes):
Take a few minutes at the end of your practice to cool down and reflect. Start by hitting a couple of easy wedge shots to relax your muscles, and make sure to stretch your back and legs to prevent soreness.
As you cool down, think about what went well during your practice and what areas need improvement for next time. For instance, you might find that you’re confident with your chipping (which is great!) but that your long iron shots were inconsistent. This insight can help guide your next practice session—perhaps you’ll want to dedicate more time to working on your irons.
Consider jotting down a quick note in a golf journal or on your phone. For example: “Practice: 6/23 – Still slicing the driver, but my 7-iron contact is improving. Next time: focus on more driver drills.”
This reflection process transforms practice into progress by reinforcing what you’ve learned.
Example 60-Minute Practice Breakdown: To summarize, here’s a sample 1-hour routine many coaches recommend:
- 10 min: Putting (short putts, 3-6 feet).
- 10 min: Warm-up with wedges to irons to woods (easy swings to loosen up).
- 30 min: Focus on your biggest weakness (e.g. full swing problem or specific club).
- 10 min: Short game shots that give you trouble (bunker shots, flop shots, or more putting/chipping of your choice).
Feel free to adjust the times (e.g., 30-minute session = 10 min short game, 15 min full swing, 5 min cool down). The key is a balanced practice – don’t neglect any area completely. Many beginners find dedicating time to short game is a game-changer, since it’s often overlooked.
Ready to level up your golf skills? Try this practice routine in your next session. You’ll be amazed how structured practice leads to faster improvement (and more fun) compared to just whacking balls aimlessly. Remember to keep it relaxed and enjoyable – golf improvementReady to improve your golf skills? Try this structured practice routine during your next session. You’ll be surprised at how much faster you can progress (and how much more fun it is) compared to just hitting balls randomly. Remember to keep it relaxed and enjoyable—golf improvement is a marathon, not a sprint. Challenge yourself to stick to a routine for a few weeks and take note of your progress.
If you need any training aids, consider using a simple tool like an alignment stick or a weighted swing trainer. The SKLZ Gold Flex Trainer is excellent for improving tempo and warming up. Most importantly, have fun and celebrate the small victories—whether it’s straighter drives, solid chips, or reducing your three-putts.
We’re here cheering you on! Feel free to share your practice journey or any questions with us at ParSmith.com. Now, get out there, practice with purpose, and watch your scores improve. Happy golfing! is a marathon, not a sprint. Challenge yourself to stick to a routine for a few weeks and note the progress. And if you need any training aids, consider a simple tool like an alignment stick or a weighted swing trainer (the SKLZ Gold Flex Trainer is great for tempo and warm-ups). Most importantly, have fun and celebrate the small wins – straighter drives, solid chips, one less three-putt than last time. We’re here cheering you on! Feel free to share your practice journey or questions with us on ParSmith.com. Now get out there, practice with purpose, and watch your scores drop. Happy golfing!
