Hitting the Ranges Without Your Shoes

by Ryan Ballengee on May 18, 2009 11:26 AM EDT

James Driscoll lost to Zach Johnson in a playoff on Sunday for the Valero Texas Open title. (I called the Zach win in the fantasy picks for last week.) Driscoll has had quite the rocky professional career after reaching the finals of the 2000 US Amateur, ultimately losing to Jeff Quinney. I was rooting for Driscoll to pull it out, but that was because I'd like to see some younger players do well for themselves on the PGA Tour as they seem to be doing in Europe.

After reading Rex Hoggard at the Shag Bag blog, I root for him more now.

A few years back we spotted Driscoll on the practice range hitting balls without any shoes on because, “I like to feel the grass,” and he spends his off-season back home in Brookline, Mass., playing pick-up hockey games with his brothers.

I actually also practice on the range with my shoes off most of the time. It feels kind of nice to hit balls and have the grass on your feet at the same time. It may all be in my head, but it helps me to feel like I am making good foot movement because being barefoot causes me to need great balance or risk a slip and fall onto my face.

I picked up the practice when I worked at a driving range as a teenager. There was a group of guys of Asian descent that would come to the range and hit a massive bucket with their shoes off the whole time. I didn't really get it. But, one day, I came to the range to practice and forgot golf shoes or sneakers. And I wasn't going to twist my ankle hitting shots in flip flops. So, I took them off and hit barefoot. I've been sold ever since.

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Ok – Rex – you get an “D-” in grammar for this essay. Exactly how many brothers does Driscoll have that he can play pick-up hockey games – and exactly WHAT does that have to do with hitting balls on the range with your shoes off ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 18, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions

Haha. I think Rex was just trying to relay some bio info on Driscoll. Remember, in blogging, you can be extremely sloppy with your grammar. Should be two sentences, though.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 18, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

no excuse – that’s HOOOOOORR-ible.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 18, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

shoes

It’s weird but I HATE to walk on grass with bare feet. Always have, especially wet grass, it just creeps me out.

Maybe that’s why I have like, 35 pairs of golf shoes. ;o)

by golfgirl on May 18, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

lol – how come the words “high maintenance” just popped into my head ? (ducking) :-)

Byron Nelson used to practice with in bare feet so he could feel his balance better and to keep him from overswinging…leading to being out of balance.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 18, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I definitely cannot practice barefoot on wet grass. That’s an injury waiting to happen, haha.

I think I’ve had the same pair of standard black footjoys for about five years. Still as comfy as the day I bought them :)

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 18, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

say what ?? Didn’t you just write, “I actually also practice on the range with my shoes off most of the time” ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 18, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

A lot of time, the grass is dry and I can do it barefoot. If wet, though, I usually practice in shoes unless I’m under cover.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 18, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm – and is there some reason you have to go to a driving range in disguise ? :-D

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 18, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Har har. I love puns.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 18, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I love walking around in bare feet

But I don’t know if I’d ever hit a golf ball bare footed. And that’s for the same reason I won’t do it in sneakers or street shoes. I’m doing it at the range the way I’m doing it on the course. I don’t want anything, however small or minor, to feel different about the range and the course, wherever I can help it.

Maybe I’d do it as a drill here and there to feel the balance and so on, but it wouldn’t become a routine.

by Double Eagle on May 18, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions