Why Shane Lowry says the range can be a ‘dangerous place’

Shane Lowry knows there are different expectations for a golf shot on the course versus one hit on the range.

But, as he explained to GOLF’s Dylan Dethier on the latest episode of Warming Up, that’s the whole reason why he says the driving range can be a “dangerous place.“

Dethier and Lowry were talking through how Lowry would hit a low fade to one of the polls down range when Lowry explained that even if he hits what would be a good shot on the course, it may not look like a good shot on the range.

“I’m just trying to get it finish in on the yellow poll. And that’s why the range can be dangerous place at times as well,” Lowry said. “Because you stand here like and let’s say I stand there with a 3-iron and I, I hit it on it misses my target by like 10 yards, on the range that doesn’t look like a good shot. But on the golf course it’s a good shot when you’re playing a tournament.”

Lowry said it’s easy to get too precise on the range when you have a much larger margin for error in actuality.

At the same time, Lowry explained how it’s it during his warm-up and what is game is actually like on the course can actually have a bit of an inverse relationship. He’s hit enough balls to know that if he hits a couple loose ones on the range, it won’t necessarily mean he’s going to hit it bad.

But it goes the other way too.

“I’ve had some of the best warm-ups in my whole career and went out and shot 75,” he said. “And I’ve been the other way. I’ve hit the ball really badly. And it’s almost like the other way around is when things are not feeling that great, it kind of focuses in more to go out and just try and shoot the best score you can.

“Whereas when you’re feeling great and hitting the ball well, I almost feel like you got like a little complacent or something.”

You can watch the full Warming Up episode with Shane Lowry below.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.