Shooting balls into the dark all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker shares five engaging alternatives to advance your game.Since not all golfers have a lot of time for training, here are five practice tips for your long game that you can implement on any driving range even with limited time.
1. Evaluate Shot Quality
Take 30 balls and hit each with a different club towards a different target. Before each shot, perform a routine similar to being on the course or in a tournament. After the shot, rate its quality on a scale from 1 (very good) to 6 (poor). This increases your concentration over time—few want to give themselves low scores.
2. Tai Chi Swing Practice
This exercise requires high concentration and a quiet environment. Perform your golf swing in extreme slow motion, focusing on the elements you want to improve. Closing your eyes can help strengthen the mental image of the movement. Masters can time their Tai Chi golf swings precisely, aiming for durations like 30 seconds or 1 minute.
Practice this at home without a ball unless space allows for practice swings with an imaginary ball. It also works well on the driving range, gradually increasing swing speed using the 30-60-90 rule: start at 30% speed, then 60%, and finally 90%. Avoid 100% speed swings on the course to maintain control.
Key points for Tai Chi tempo swings:
• Give yourself clear movement commands
• Focus on one swing aspect (e.g., the first part of the backswing)
• Find a quiet setting (turn off your phone)
• Get external feedback (coach)
• Begin with swings without a ball
3. Practice the Draw
The draw flight curves from right to left, starting slightly right of the target line then curving back towards it. To hit a draw, swing the club from inside to outside (as if swinging the club far right of the target). The clubface should be slightly closed relative to the swing path. If you tend to slice, this is a useful drill to counteract that.
4. Practice the Fade
Occasionally, practice fading the ball—a left to right flight path. Simply reverse the draw technique: swing from outside to inside with a clubface slightly open to the swing path. There are no universal technical tips since everyone’s swing changes differently to produce these shapes. If you struggle, book a lesson with a pro who can tailor solutions to your swing.
5. Focus on Specific Body Parts
If you take lessons and aim to stabilize your swing through winter, solo technical training can be challenging without visual feedback. Although smartphones allow swing recording, angles are often suboptimal and analysis can be difficult. Instead, concentrate on one body part—like your left wrist—while hitting balls. Ignore other movements and feel how that part moves during your swing.
Ideally, focus on an area addressed in lessons; for example, if working on lowering your arms in the downswing, focus on your right elbow. This focused awareness helps reinforce good swing sensation. Whether refining technique or just hitting balls, add variety to your practice with these