Shooting balls into darkness all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker presents five exciting alternatives to improve your game.Knowing that not all golfers can invest much time in training, here are five training tips for your long game that you can implement quickly on any driving range.
Evaluate Your Shot Quality
Take 30 balls and hit each with a different club aiming at different targets. Perform a routine before each shot as if on the course or in a tournament. After every shot, grade the quality from 1 (very good) to 6 (poor). This increases concentration because no one wants to give themselves low marks.
Practice the Tai Chi Swing
This exercise requires high concentration and a quiet environment. Perform the golf swing or the parts you want to change in slow motion to feel each movement. Many close their eyes to strengthen the mental image. Masters can time their Tai Chi golf swing precisely. At home, do this without a ball, or use practice balls if space allows. On the driving range, gradually increase speed from 30% to 90% of your normal tempo, avoiding 100% to maintain control.
Practice Drawing the Ball
Drawing means a shot curving from right to left, starting right of the target line and bending back left. Swing the club from inside to outside with the clubface slightly closed relative to swing path. This is ideal if you tend to slice, as it helps counter that tendency.
Practice Fading the Ball
Fading the ball curves from left to right. Simply do the opposite of a draw by swinging from outside to inside with the clubface slightly open. No universal technique tips are given here because every golfer must adjust their swing differently. If you struggle, consider a lesson with a pro.
Focus on Specific Body Parts
If you take lessons and want to stabilize your swing in winter, it can be hard to do solo technical work as you can’t watch yourself. Although smartphones allow recording swings, angles are often suboptimal for analysis, and it can be challenging for amateurs. Instead, concentrate on one body part (like the left wrist), hit balls focusing only on that part’s movement to develop awareness and consistency. This approach brings security and technique improvement.
Whether refining technique or simply hitting balls on the range, add variety to your training with these tips!