I’ve been using Tom‘s methods for just over a year now since taking an in person lesson and subsequently subscribed to the on line school. On the range I’m an all star butI seem to have issues when I’m playing . Thin shots and toe hits seem to be my biggest issues. My consistency in ball strikes is overall better but my handicap is basically the same ( hovering around 8 index). Driving the ball has also been an issue, particularly a loss of distance. Any Thoughts
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I've read a few articles of late where Collin Morikawa, Mel Reid and Justin Thomas have all in a way, advocated to spend more time on the course and play golf as opposed to spending time on the range.
JT has stated unless you actually "play golf" on the range and by that he means changing targets and clubs every shot, then it loses it's purpose. He asks the question "when do you ever hit 20 7 irons on the bounce out on the course?".
CM is a firm believer his exceptional ball striking is down to playing numerous holes as a kid instead of hitting balls on the range. How many times per round do you hit off a perfectly flat lie?
That being said, yes you do need to spend time on the range working on a change but eventually you have to get out there and play golf.
On the range, your focus is on the process of the swing and no real thought to the outcome of the shot. By outcome I mean hitting the fairway, avoiding the water on the right, staying out of the trees. When you get to the course, it's vice versa and the outcome takes over from the process.
I'm not suggesting you don't spend time on the range but to spend more time playing the game and being in that playing environment.
Next time you go golfing, do exactly that and golf. Forget about where the ball ends up and just play. I wouldn't even score but instead count the number of solid strikes that you make and then try to beat that number next round.
Rehearse your set-up so it's repeatable and only have a couple of swing thoughts, one for the backswing and one for the downswing. After you've played, and using your rehearsed set-up and your two swing thoughts, film your swing and review it to see where you are at.