Shooting balls into darkness all winter is pointless. Fabian Bünker reveals five exciting alternatives to improve your golf game.
Knowing that not all golfers can spend extensive time training, here are five tips to enhance your long game that you can apply on any driving range, even with limited time.
1. Evaluate Your Shot Quality
Take 30 balls and hit each one with a different club to different targets. Before each shot, go through a routine as if on the course or in a tournament. After each shot, grade the quality from 1 (very good) to 6 (poor). This will boost your concentration over time since no one wants to give themselves bad grades.
2. Tai Qi Swing Practice
This exercise requires high concentration and a calm environment. Perform your golf swing and especially the parts you want to change in slow motion, allowing you to feel each movement and control it consciously. Closing your eyes can help enhance the inner image of the motion. Experts can time their Tai Qi swings precisely, aiming for 30 seconds to a minute per swing.
At home, practice without a ball unless you have enough space for air swings. On the range, gradually increase your speed following the 30-60-90 rule, starting at 30% tempo, then 60%, and finally 90%. Avoid hitting at 100% tempo on the course to maintain control.
Key points for Tai Qi tempo swings:
• Give yourself clear movement instructions
• Focus on one movement aspect at a time
• Find a quiet environment (turn off your phone)
• Get external feedback (coach)
• Start with swings without balls
3. Practice the Draw
The draw is a ball flight curve from right to left. The ball starts slightly right of the target line and curves back left. To hit a draw, swing the club from inside to outside with a slightly closed clubface relative to the swing path. If you tend to slice, this drill is especially useful to correct that.
4. Practice the Fade
Occasionally try hitting a fade, where the ball curves from left to right. This is done by swinging the club from outside to inside with a slightly open clubface. Everyone’s swing changes needed to produce these shots vary, so consider a lesson with a pro if you have trouble executing them.
5. Focus on Specific Body Parts
Many take lessons and want to stabilize their swing during winter. Self-correcting alone can be difficult, as analyzing your swing video may not always provide optimal feedback. Instead, focus solely on one body part during your shots, like your left wrist, and feel how it moves. This targeted attention can help internalize swing mechanics and improve consistency, especially when working on specific issues with your coach.
Whether refining technique or simply hitting balls on the range, add variety with these tips to keep your training engaging and effective!