When the winter comes around, a lot of golfers tend to put the clubs to rest. However, the winter season is when we see talented golfers come and practice more often. After all, this is the time when players should implement swing changes and prepare for the upcoming competitive season. So, if you want to win titles and see your handicap tumble down next season, now is the time to get to work. Here are some tips to keep spirits high and make use of the off-season:
The correct (amount) of clothing: make sure you are layered up when you venture out onto the golf course or driving range. Lots of thin layers really help to keep in the heat while giving you the freedom to swing. Wearing sports leggings or tights under trousers, fleeced tracksuit bottoms under waterproofs or hand warmers for inside your gloves are some clever ways to stay warm and make the wintry winds tolerable to practice in.
Book a lesson: it can be difficult to pull yourself to the range to practice in the cold weather, especially if you are a self-confessed ‘fair-weather golfer’. To combat this, try booking a regular golf lesson over the winter months. A set of lessons can provide some structure to your winter practice and some extra motivation to get to the driving range. Wintertime is when most ambitious players book a lot of lessons, to help make some technical changes. If you wait until the weather gets better, you’ll want to spend more time playing rather than practicing, leaving less time to enhance your skills.
Play less holes more regularly: there is no better feedback than your performance on the golf course. Therefore, keep playing but rather than a full round, see if you can get out for 6 or 9 holes twice a week. This will decrease your time spent out in the cold but also give you some pointers on what part of your game might need some attention on the practice ground. If you are booking in for golf lessons over the winter, playing some holes in between will help give your teaching professional a picture of what’s happening on the course, allowing you to reap the rewards of your coaching.
Hopefully we’ll see you down at the academy putting the work in this winter!
