5 Ways To Improve Your Golf Game During a Miserable Winter

Winter is always a miserable time of year for golfers, and 2014 has brought more frigid woes than normal. With a huge storm having pummeled the South and now doing the same to our Northern neighbors, there would seem to be little to do but dream of your next Myrtle Beach, South Carolina golf vacation.

But that’s not the case.

Bad weather doesn’t mean you should put your dreams of improving in the closet with your clubs. Here are five things you can do to ehance your chances of playing well on your beach golf vacation this spring.

1. Bring those clubs inside and practice while looking into the mirror. Swing in slow motion, monitoring your swing in the mirror and trying to relate what you are feeling with what you see. You’ve got plenty of time with the snow on the ground, so dedicate 5-10 minutes several times a week to swinging in the mirror.

2. Being in good shape helps you play better golf, so when it’s to cold to go outside, lift weights, focusing on your glutes and core. The increased strength will provide greater confidence and allow you to really go after the ball. If lifting weights isn’t your thing, Pilates and/or yoga are no less beneficial as each will greatly improve your flexibility. Setting the remote control down long enough to workout has many benefits.

3. Buy a mat and work on your stroke inside. To really hone your mechanics, practice putting with one hand at your side.  The one-armed drill will help you develop a consistency and rhythm that will pay dividends when you are on real grass.

4. Work on improving your mental game. Whether it’s visualizing an efficient pre-shot routine (and I mean very efficient – thinking about a shot to long is rarely of benefit) or controlling your emotions, particularly anger, winter is the time to begin implementing plans. You can practice your pre-shot routine in the living room and begin working on techniques to deal with your emotions.

5. After all the indoor practice, if you have a nice golf store in the area (and the roads are clear), head to the simulator to begin grooving your swing with the benefit of state-of-the-art technology as an aid.

What do you do to work on your game during the winter months?