Shooting balls into the dark all winter makes no sense. Fabian Bünker shares five engaging alternatives to boost your game.Knowing that not everyone has much time for their golf training, here are five practical winter training tips for your long game that you can apply on any driving range, even with limited time.
1. Evaluate Shot Quality
Take 30 balls and hit each with a different club towards a different target. Before every shot, perform a routine as if on the course or even better, in a tournament. After each shot, grade the shot quality from 1 (excellent) to 6 (poor). You will notice your concentration improving as you strive to avoid bad scores.
2. Tai Qi Swing Practice
This exercise requires high concentration and a quiet environment. Perform your golf swing, especially the parts you want to change, in absolute slow motion to feel every movement and control it consciously. Some find closing their eyes strengthens their mental image of the movement. Advanced practitioners can time their Tai Qi golf swings precisely, working up to swings lasting 30 seconds or a minute.
Practice this at home without a ball unless you have ample space for air shots; it suits the driving range well, where you can gradually increase tempo using a 30-60-90 percent pace progression. Avoid 100% tempo swings on the course to maintain control.
3. Practice the Draw and Fade
The draw is a ball flight curve from right to left, starting slightly right of the target line and curving back left. You hit a draw by swinging the club from inside to outside with a slightly closed clubface relative to your swing path. If you often slice, this drill helps combat that.
The fade is the opposite, a flight from left to right. Swing from outside to inside with a slightly open clubface. Each golfer may need unique adjustments to hit these curves consistently; consulting a pro is advisable if you struggle.
4. Focus on Specific Body Parts
If you take lessons and want to stabilize your swing over winter, technical solo training is tricky since you can’t see yourself swing. While filming your swing with a smartphone is possible, it’s often not reliable due to angle issues and difficulty in self-analysis.
Instead, concentrate solely on one body part, such as your left wrist. Hit balls focusing only on that part’s movement and feel. Align this with your coach’s guidance for better results. This focus builds your confidence and feel for your technique.
Whether working on technique or just hitting balls, bring variety and purpose to your winter range sessions with these tips!