AUGUSTA, Ga.— Practicing and warming up are distinctly different things. And the data Augusta National is collecting from the practice area this week proves it.
You see all sorts of interesting things during pre-tournament practice sessions, some of which we wrote about here. Players alternating technical work with more artful stuff. Different driver-wedge splits, and all sorts of other things.
But pre-round warmups are a different proposition. They’re more simple, structured, and often quicker than you might think.
“I’m just making sure that my body is ready to go,” Ludvig Aberg, who opened with a four-under 68, said. “I try not to pay attention a whole lot to what I’m doing when I’m warming up.”
“I actually cut my warm up short today,” adds Aaron Rai, who hit just 14 golf balls before his two-under 70 on Thursday. “I spend most of my time warming up in the gym and reviewing the hole locations. I hit just enough balls to be comfortable.”
Augusta National has been tracking every shot hit on the practice area this week. We analyzed 1,676 of those shots hit by players before their rounds. Here’s what it revealed about how players warm up for the Masters.
Checklist for the perfect Masters warmup 
JD Cuban
✅ Spend time stretching before the round (at least 30 mins) ✅ Review the course before your round (at least 30 mins) ✅ First five shots on the range should be half-to-three quarter wedge shots, averaging 82-yards. ✅ Hit at least seven different clubs. Some pros hit closer to 10. ✅ Average about 4 shots per club in total. A few more for some clubs, less for others. ✅ Pros budget a few extra balls for mid-iron shots, for them something around a 172-yard shot. ✅ Dedicate ~35 percent (or more) of your warmup to long irons and woods. ✅ Your last shot should be an easy shot. Almost half of all players finished with a shot that averaging 98 yardsl ✅ Hit 42 golf balls total
You may not be playing Augusta National this week, but wherever you’re playing golf, you can take a little insight from those contending at the 2025 Masters. And maybe even warm up like them, too.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
