Don't let the short days and cold weather halt your progress toward lower scores next season. The winter offseason is a phenomenal opportunity to refine your technique, build foundational strength, and sharpen your mental game away from the pressure of the scorecard. This guide breaks down exactly how to use this time to build a better, more consistent golf game, with actionable drills and exercises you can do indoors, at a covered range, or in your living room.
The single most effective area to work on during winter is your putting. It requires minimal space, no expensive equipment, and the improvements you make will immediately translate to fewer strokes on the scorecard. Great putting is built on two simple pillars: starting the ball on your intended line and controlling your distance. Here’s how to work on both.
Most three-putts happen not because of poor distance control, but because the initial putt was sent off-line. If your ball doesn't start where you're aiming, gauging speed is pointless. Dedicate time to this fundamental skill.
Controlling your speed is all about developing feel, which comes from repetition. Your living room carpet might not be a perfect green, but you can absolutely train your body to replicate different-sized strokes.
If you have access to a heated or covered driving range, winter is the perfect time to work on swing mechanics without worrying about where the ball is going. The goal here isn't to blast drivers for distance, but to ingrain better movement patterns. Focus on one simple concept: the swing is a rotation of the body.
A powerful, consistent swing is powered by the big muscles of your torso, not by your hands and arms. I see a lot of golfers try to "lift" the club with their arms, resulting in a steep, disconnected, and weak swing. Instead, feel like the swing moving around your body in a circle, powered by the turn of your shoulders and hips.
A Simple Drill for Feel:
This is the engine of the golf swing. Now, grab a mid-iron (like an 8 or 9-iron) and try to replicate that same feeling of rotation. Make slow, half-speed swings where your only thought is to turn your body back and then turn it all the way through to a full, balanced finish. As you noted on your "turn" drill, you should finish with close to 90% of your weight on your lead side, balanced enough to hold the position for several seconds.
Feel is not always real. What feels like a big turn might look very different on camera. Use your phone to take slow-motion videos of your swing from two angles: "face-on" (directly in front of you) and "down-the-line" (from behind, looking toward the target).
Don't get bogged down in a dozen different positions. Just focus on that simple, powerful rotation. Turn back, turn through. If you smooth out that core movement, many other good things will fall into place.
You don't need a gym membership to build the physical foundation for a better golf swing. A strong, mobile body prevents injury and is the true source of power. Focus on two main areas: mobility (improving your range of motion) and stability (improving your core strength).
Incorporate these exercises into a 20-minute routine three times a week. The increased mobility and stability will make that body rotation we talked about so much easier and more athletic.
This winter, don't just put your clubs away. Use this time with purpose by working on your putting stroke indoors, building a better movement pattern at the range, and increasing your golf-specific fitness at home. Making small, consistent improvements in these areas will have you walking to the first tee next spring with more skill and confidence than ever before.
As you work on your game solo, you’re bound to have questions come up. Sometimes a video shows a flaw you don't know how to fix, or you're curious about a deeper strategy concept. For those moments, an on-demand resource like Caddie AI acts as your 24/7 personal coach. You can ask anything from "what's the difference between a chip and a pitch?" to "how can I stop swaying off the ball?" and get clear, simple guidance to help you keep a practice session a productive one.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
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