Shooting balls into darkness all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker presents five exciting alternatives to advance your game.Knowing not all golfers have ample time for training, here are five tips for improving your long game with limited time on any driving range.
1. Assess Shot Quality
Take 30 balls and hit each with a different club to unique targets. Before each shot, perform a routine like on the course or in competition. Afterwards, rate the shot quality from 1 (very good) to 6 (poor). You’ll notice your concentration increasing as you strive for better scores.
2. Tai Chi Swing Practice
This requires high concentration and a quiet setting. Execute your swing or specific elements in extreme slow motion to feel every movement. Closing your eyes helps visualize the motion. Advanced practitioners time their Tai Chi swing precisely, practicing at 30, 60, and 90 percent speed. Avoid 100 percent speed swings during practice due to loss of control.
Focus points for Tai Chi tempo swings:
• Give clear internal movement commands
• Concentrate on one movement aspect (e.g., start of backswing)
• Find a calm environment (phone off)
• Seek external feedback (coach)
• Start without a ball
3. Practice the Draw Shot
A draw curves from right to left; the ball starts slightly right then curves back left to the target. Swing the club from inside to outside (feeling like swinging right of the target) with a slightly closed clubface to the swing path. This drill helps counteract slicing tendencies.
4. Practice the Fade Shot
The fade curves left to right and is the opposite of the draw: swing the club outside to inside with a slightly open clubface to the swing path. Both shots require personalized technique changes; a professional coach can assist with tailored advice on hitting draws or fades reliably.
5. Focus on Specific Body Parts
If you take lessons, winter is a great time to stabilize your swing technique. Self-recording with smartphones is often not ideal due to angles and analysis difficulty. Instead, concentrate solely on one body part (e.g., left wrist) while hitting balls, feeling its motion. Focus aligned with coach instructions (e.g., right elbow during downswing) improves swing awareness and confidence.
Whether refining technique or casually hitting balls, these tips bring variety and effectiveness to your training routine.