Handicap Practice

Since I am still fairly new to this game, I often wonder how many people shoot handicap practice from an assigned yardage versus the number who practice from a greater distance (there is a poll at the bottom of the page). Personally, I like to practice from a longer yardage than what I am assigned for registered targets. A while ago someone, I can't remember who, told me I should always practice from one or two yards greater. For me this seemed to work but I have run into a slight problem lately. I joined a winter league and the league assigned me a handicap yardage of 26. My PITA yardage is 24. I have been practicing from 27 yards for the league and am OK with my performance. However, my scores from 24 yards are now no different than they are from 27. Not that my scores are bad, I currently average 86 from the 27, but I am just not happy unless I am breaking above 90. I am assuming there is not that much difference as far as shooting technique in those 3 yards but maybe I am wrong. I did change the load I was using (up to the time I moved to 24 yards I used the same load for handicap and singles) to a faster one and that has been the only thing that has made any difference. I am practicing tonight and I think I will shoot one round from 27 and the next from 24. This time I will take it slow and try to closely evaluate what I am doing.

--Heather