Shooting balls into darkness all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker shares five exciting alternatives to improve your game.Knowing not everyone can invest much time in golf training, here are five tips for improving your long game, even with limited time on any driving range.
1. Assess the Quality of Your Shots
Take 30 balls and hit each with a different club to a different target. Before each shot, go through a routine similar to on-course or tournament play. Rate the quality of each shot from 1 (very good) to 6 (poor). This boosts your concentration as you naturally aim to avoid poor scores.
2. Practice the Tai Chi Swing
This exercise demands high focus and a calm environment. Perform your golf swing and pay special attention to elements you want to improve, in very slow motion. Closing your eyes helps strengthen the internal image. Masters can precisely time their Tai Chi swing, aiming for durations like 30 seconds or one minute.
At home, perform this without a ball (unless space allows for practice swings). It’s ideal on the driving range too, where you can gradually increase speed using the 30-60-90 rule: start at 30% speed, progress to 60%, and finish at 90%. Avoid full-speed swings on the course to maintain control.
Key tips for Tai Chi tempo swings:
• Give yourself clear movement instructions
• Focus on one movement aspect at a time
• Choose a quiet setting (turn off mobile)
• Seek 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 left. To hit a draw, swing the club from inside to out (feeling like you swing far right of the target). The clubface should be slightly closed to the swing path. This is ideal if you tend to slice the ball, as it works against the slice.
4. Practice the Fade
You should also practice hitting a fade, which curves left to right. This is done opposite to the draw – a swing from outside to inside with the clubface slightly open to the swing path. Since everyone’s swing adjustments differ, no specific technique tips are given here. If you struggle with hitting draws or fades, consider a professional lesson to learn your individual adjustments.
5. Focus on Single Body Parts
If you take lessons and want to stabilize your swing over winter, focus on one body part while hitting balls (e.g., your left wrist). Don’t think about other movements; feel how that body part moves during the swing. This helps analyze whether the movement felt correct. Working with your trainer on specific swing parts enhances this exercise’s effectiveness.
Whether improving technique or just hitting balls, add variety with these tips to your training!