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Category:
Published: November 2007
For those of us who live in the great Northeast, the golf season is all but over. Clubs have been tucked away and most golfers won't think much about playing again until the spring when they rush to the range and urgently try to shake the rust off their swings. Many will struggle and head home shaking their heads, discouraged and sore, wondering what the heck happened to them over the winter.
My answer to this is to use the off-season to really IMPROVE your golf swing. Many ask what they can possibly do during the winter months as the courses and ranges are all closed. Well the short answer to that is, "Good." Training without hitting balls, or hitting into a net, can be a highly effective way of improving your game. By removing the stimulus of the golf ball and/or its flight, golfers learn how to feel better mechanics and eliminate the compensations they make due to ball flight results.
One of the biggest problems facing golfers is having far too many thoughts going through their heads while attempting to make a swing, especially after receiving instruction. Grip change... posture adjustment... takeaway path... weight shift... shoulder turn... swing path... forearm rotation... finish position... etc. All essential components, but since the golf swing takes (on average) about 1.2 seconds from takeaway to impact, that is far too much to try and accomplish all at once. It's no wonder that players often struggle; they are trying to change too much, too fast and are overcome by mechanics. Many actually give up on swing changes during the golf season because the new swing isn't working or they physically can't perform the desired motion. The last thing golfers want is to get worse, so they revert back to their old swings, essentially wasting their time and money with little or no benefit.
To overcome this, it is essential to practice proper swing mechanics as individual parts and at a pace which can be controlled. Fundamental swing motions can be broken down and effectively habituated through simple controlled repetition. Attempting to master all at once, especially while trying to hit a ball towards a target while playing, can frustrate and discourage even the most skilled athlete. The brain simply cannot process information that quickly. It is only continued repetition of a correct motion that allows the motion to become natural and eventually executed without thought. It has then become a habit which is exactly what are striving to achieve!
I enthusiastically advocate winter golf training to all my students, as it is the perfect time to break things down and focus strictly on developing more efficient and effective techniques. A practice area can easily be set up at home with a small mat and inexpensive pop-up net. An area with approximately a 9-foot ceiling height should be enough for most to make full swings, at least with a short to mid iron.
Winter is also a great time to work on building strength and overcoming any physical limitations which might be hindering your playing potential. If flexibility is lacking, pinpoint the area and address it with an effective stretching program. If balance or stability is an issue, train on unstable surfaces, as this will provide instant feedback and stimulate the stabilizing muscles. If strength or lack of distance is of concern, perform exercises that will build the specific muscles that are weak and allow you to achieve more power and control.
All in all, winter can be a golfer's best friend. Use this time to master your fundamentals and get yourself in better golfing shape! Imagine going to the range next spring and not having to think at all about your swing. You are better, stronger and more fundamentally sound then you have ever been. Your new swing motions are now ingrained habits. You just see the target and swing! God, that felt good! Wow... I'm ready! Let's play!
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