Unfortunately, winter is here again, and for many golfers, this means the golf clubs are put away until April. The idea of practicing in dull, freezing conditions can be enough to put off even the most diehard of golfers.
However, what if I was to tell you, you could improve your game without leaving your home? In this article, I will highlight just 3 simple ways in which you can use the offseason as an opportunity to tune up your game ready for that first Qualifying medal in April.
When putting, having the ability to control the ball speed and distance the ball travels is essential. It is arguably more important than line as the speed you hit a putt, will dictate the line (Ie The firmer you hit a putt, the less it breaks and vice versa). Therefore if you can’t control the speed, it will be a lottery as to whether you have selected the correct line.
A simple distance control drill would be putting to the skirting board, hit 3 putts from 3 foot, 6 foot, 9 foot and longer if you can and try to get the ball to nestle against the skirting board. Or place a sheet of paper on the floor (the smaller the better) and try to stop the ball on the paper from varying distances.
Work on these throughout the winter and say goodbye to 3 putts in 2019.
As we all know, during the winter months we spend much of our time sat down. We are far more likely to drive places rather than walk and spend more time sitting on the sofa watching boxed sets to avoid the elements outside. The downside of this is when we spend prolonged periods in a seated position, our hip flexors tend to get shorter and tighter, and our glutes get weaker. This can have catastrophic effects on the golf swing and drastically increase the chances of injury.
DON’T PANIC. I’m not suggesting for one second you need to be spending 5 days a week in the gym, but doing some simple exercises, and stretches at home (often can be done in 5-10 minutes) will help you hit the ground running in April. It is essential that you are prescribed the correct exercises for your body so seek out a TPI Certified Instructor (Yours truly) and get a simple programme written up for you.
To make swing changes, you DO NOT need to hit balls. In fact, in the early stages of making a change, plenty of good quality repetitions without a ball is advised. Removing the ball from the equation allows you to commit to the changes more without the worry of the resulting shot.
The more you exaggerate the quicker you will make changes. Lots of amateurs fail at this as they like to feel comfortable, but often it means their flaws remain the same and their scores never get better.
Using mirrors is a fantastic way to get instant feedback and helps players to understand what it feels like to hit certain positions. They can then make plenty of good quality repetitions so when they then take the new swing to the course, it feels less alien.
Have a go at these, and let’s make 2019 your best season yet!
