What a Wonderful Winter Indeed

Use the cold weather as an excuse to finally make the right changes to your game.

I have seen many players, when facing the prospect of a cold couple of months, tend to place their golf clubs in the garage and allow dust to accumulate on their game. This strategy will hinder your improvement and cause greater frustration to occur when you decide to get back into golf the following spring.

In many instances when I see a player for the first time after an offseason, I see a great deal of stagnation and also a lack of focus on the fundamentals of the game. Their grip has gone by the wayside, their posture is mediocre at best, and their alignment makes it look like they want to hit the ball off the golf course instead of onto the fairway.

For juniors pursuing golf at a high level, I caution you against taking time off over the winter. Your counterparts in the south have the luxury of being able to play golf 12 months a year, while you can be limited to 7 months. For adults who are looking to find enjoyment in the game, taking time off now will cause a very slow start to occur once spring inevitably rolls around.

The question becomes then, "how do I practice in the winter?" Well, like every good problem, there is an equally good solution:

1. Indoor net and mat

   1. You can get a simulator if you choose to; however, it is not required. All you need is a net and a mat, and you have yourself a practice area. Throw a cheap body-length mirror up, and you can watch yourself work on any part of your swing.

2. Grip swings

   1. If you do not have the area to set up a place like that, all you need is a grip and a small room, and you can work on your positions and feels without putting a hole in the wall or in the stairs. This will also give you a chance to work on your fundamentals of grip, posture, stance, and alignment, all of which are required to execute good golf swings.

3. Mental Practice

   1. Yes, imagination is an effective tool when looking to improve your game of golf. Mentally rehearsing your drills actually does have an impact, as shown through multiple studies. Research by Dr. Richard Wiseman in "The Luck Factor" indicates that visualization can enhance performance by creating neural patterns similar to actual practice. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that mental imagery can lead to significant improvements in motor skills, which is particularly relevant for golfers aiming to refine their techniques during the off-season.

4. Go to the Gym

   1. Finding a way to move your body every day will have a positive effect on your overall health as well as on your golf game. Even if it is simply going for a walk for 30 minutes, that process will help keep your body loose and agile for the golf yet to come.

Do not allow your winter to get away from you. The players that I see make the most improvement are the ones who tend to spend their winters wisely. They work on the details of the golf swing and focus less on the outcome of the golf shot and more on the process to execute a highly effective swing. If you truly want to continue to develop your game, spending your winter well is a sound strategy of long term improvement.

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Now depending on the strategy you are able to follow through on, you will be able to work on a few different items. Since you will be playing less rounds of golf, I would recommend the following type of development:

1. Major Swing changes

   1. Since your swing will be your main focus, if you have been trying to make a change to your swing, now is the time to do it. By simply grooving in that move that has avoided you this past season, you will be able to get comfortable with the change in time for the golf season to get underway

2. Speed Training

   1. This is essential in development. Golf is a distance game. No matter how old you are, learning to move a little faster can be a large advantage during rounds. A word of caution: make sure your body is prepared for the fast swings you are about to undertake. Moving as fast as you can, will lead to injury if you are not properly warmed up and ready to move at a fast pace. I would highly recommend finding a personal trainer or a TPI certified instructor to give you a better idea of how your body moves so that you can strengthen your whole body and learn to swing even faster.

3. Putting technique

   1. I have 2 words for you: GATE DRILL!!!!! No matter what kind of putter you have, hitting the ball off the center of the face every time and with the same path will lead to better putts. All you need is a carpet and 2 spice bottles and you have yourself a gate drill set up and ready for you to use.

If you want to learn more about the different kinds of drills that can be applied to your game or if you want to improve yourself, check out https://www.mccookgolf.com/book-a-lesson to set up a training session with myself this winter!