Shooting balls into darkness all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker presents five exciting alternatives to boost your game.Knowing that not all golfers can dedicate much time to practice, here are five training tips for your long game you can apply with limited time on any driving range.
1. Assess the Quality of Each Shot
Take 30 balls and hit each with a different club towards a different target. Before every shot, follow a routine similar to that on the course or during a tournament. After the shot, grade its quality from 1 (very good) to 6 (poor). This method will improve your concentration as you aim to avoid bad scores.
2. Tai Chi Swing Practice
This exercise requires high concentration and a quiet environment. Perform your golf swing—especially the aspects you wish to change—in slow motion to feel each part of the movement. Many find closing their eyes helpful to strengthen the mental image of the swing. Eventually, you can time your swing to last 30 seconds or more. Start without a ball at home or on the range, gradually increasing your swing speed from 30% to 90% of your normal tempo. Avoid full-speed swings on the course to maintain control.
3. Practice the Draw and Fade
Learn to control the ball flight by practicing draws (right-to-left curve) by swinging the club from inside to out with a slightly closed face. If you tend to slice, drawing can help combat that. Likewise, practice fades (left-to-right curve) by swinging outside-in with a slightly open clubface. For personalized advice, consider lessons from a professional coach.
4. Focus on Specific Body Parts
Working on your technique over winter can be challenging without feedback. Instead of relying heavily on video analysis, concentrate on one body part per session—for example, your left wrist. Pay attention to how it moves during your swing and the sensations involved. This focused practice complements lessons with your trainer and supports technical stability.
Whether refining your technique or simply hitting balls on the range, adding variety using these tips will enhance your golf training.