Shooting balls into darkness all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker shows five exciting alternatives that will help you improve.Knowing that not all golfers have much time for training, here are five tips for your long game that you can practice on any driving range, even with limited time.
1. Assess the Quality of Your Shots
Take 30 balls and hit each with a different club towards different targets. Before each shot, establish a routine similar to a real course or tournament. After each shot, rate its quality from 1 (excellent) to 6 (poor). This practice increases concentration as no one wants to give themselves bad grades.
2. Tai Chi Swing Practice
This exercise requires high concentration and a quiet environment. Perform your golf swing, especially the parts you want to change, in slow motion. Many find closing their eyes helps enhance the internal image of the movement. Experts can time their swings in Tai Chi tempo, e.g., 30 seconds to a minute. At home, perform this without a ball, but on the range, you can gradually increase speed using the 30-60-90 rule, starting at 30% speed and finally reaching 90%. Avoid 100% speed on the course to maintain control.
Key points for Tai Chi speed swings:
• Give clear movement instructions to yourself
• Focus on one movement aspect at a time
• Find a calm environment (turn off phone)
• Get external feedback (coach)
• Start without balls
3. Practice the Draw
A draw is a shot curve from right to left, starting slightly right of the target line and curving back left. Hit a draw by swinging the club from inside to outside, feeling like your club goes far right of the target, with the clubface slightly closed to the swing path. If you tend to slice, this drill helps counter that.
4. Practice the Fade
Try hitting a fade too, which curves from left to right. Do the opposite of the draw: swing the club from outside to inside with a slightly open clubface to the swing path. Instead of specific technique tips, it’s best to get professional instruction if you struggle to consistently hit draws or fades.
5. Focus on Specific Body Parts
If you take lessons and want to solidify your swing over winter, focusing on just one body part—like your left wrist—during practice can help. Concentrate solely on how that part moves during your swing, avoiding other thoughts. This focused practice gives greater control and confidence in your technique.
Whether refining technique or just hitting balls, add variety to your training with these tips!