Shooting balls into the dark all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker shows five exciting alternatives to advance your game.Knowing that not all golfers can invest much time in training, here are five tips to improve your long game effectively on any driving range with limited time.
1. Assess the Quality of Your Shots
Take 30 balls and hit each one with a different club towards a different target. Perform a pre-shot routine as if on the course or in a tournament. After each shot, grade the shot quality from 1 (very good) to 6 (poor). You’ll notice your concentration improve, as nobody wants to give themselves bad marks.
2. Tai Chi Swing Practice
This drill requires full concentration and a quiet environment. Perform your golf swing elements you wish to change in ultra-slow motion to feel and consciously control each movement. Closing your eyes can help strengthen the internal image of the motion. Experts can even time their Tai Chi golf swings precisely, e.g., 30 seconds or one minute. At home, practice without a ball—or with air balls if space allows—and gradually increase tempo on the driving range using the 30-60-90 rule. Start at 30%, then 60%, finishing at 90% tempo. Avoid 100% speed swings on the course to prevent loss of control. Key points: give clear movement cues, focus on one swing aspect, find a calm place (turn off your phone), get external feedback (coach), and begin with no-ball swings.
3. Practice the Draw
The draw ball flight curves from right to left, starting slightly right of the target line and bending left back to the target. To hit a draw, swing the club from inside to outside—feeling like the clubhead goes far right of the target—with the clubface slightly closed to the swing path. This is especially helpful for golfers struggling with a slice, as it counteracts that slice tendency.
4. Practice the Fade
Alternately, try hitting a fade, where the ball curves left to right. Simply reverse the draw technique: swing from outside to inside with the clubface slightly open relative to the swing path. No specific technical tips are given here because every golfer’s swing adjustments differ. If you have trouble controlling these shot shapes, consider a lesson with a pro to identify your specific fixes.
5. Focus on Specific Body Parts
If you take golf lessons and want to stabilize your swing over winter, technical training on your own can be tricky since you can’t see yourself hit. Although smartphones allow swing recordings, amateur analysis is often unhelpful due to poor angles and lack of expertise. Instead, focus on one body part, e.g., your left wrist: hit balls concentrating solely on the feeling and motion of that part without thinking about other swing elements. Ideally, concentrate on areas worked on with your coach. For example, if working on lowering arms in the downswing, focus on your right elbow’s position after impact. This practice enhances your technical