10 Ways to Keep Your Swing During the Golf Off-Season

When it comes to a golf swing, practice doesn’t just make perfect; it maintains it. That’s why downtime is such a problem for golfers. With so many moving parts, it doesn’t take much to get out of sync.

It’s a particularly big issue for those who live in cold climates. Our friends at the Loch March golf and country club in Kanata face this challenge year in and year out.

The good news is that we can learn from their trials. So what we’ve done here is take their many experiences as well as other golf club successes and reduce them to a series of helpful tips.

1. Exercise and eat right.

For many golfers, golf is their exercise, so when winter rolls around, they lose that outlet. It may not seem like much, but the added fat, reduced oxygen and higher stress levels all have an effect. A strong approach to exercise year-round will have a year-round positive affect on your swing.

2. Focus on posture.

Posture is a vital component of playing golf well. In order to have good posture that doesn’t require thinking, we must have it at all times: on the course, at work, sitting in front of the TV and so forth. The focus on posture should be a consistent effort, but winter is a great time to accentuate it.

3. Embrace the cold.

Playing at an Ottawa golf club, you’re going to have to play in the cold sometimes. Invest in a high-quality cold-weather golf outfit, which can help you stay warm while minimizing bulk. If it’s too cold to play on the course, consider hitting the range instead, which is generally warmer.

4. Practice indoors.

When it’s too cold even for the range, take your practice time to an indoor driving range. Don’t use it as a crutch. Go outside whenever you can. But when that’s not possible, an indoor range is a great alternative. Some Ottawa clubs, such as the Loch March Golf and Country Club in Kanata, even have one on site.

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5. Practice at home.

Golfers don’t need an expensive driving simulator to practice at home. Those who know their swing can maintain it using whiffle practice balls. Just find yourself a safe area large enough to swing fully.

6. Visit an indoor simulator.

Those expensive simulators, however, can be helpful. They provide sensory data that’s like being on the course, so mix them into your winter routine. You can find these simulators at golf clubs, driving ranges and even arcades.

7. Putt too.

Purchase a practice mat, and practice your putting too. Due to the mental aspect of the game, there’s often a synergistic relationship between your drive and putt. So don’t focus so much on your swing that you abandon putting.

8. Watch video tape.

During the season, use the buddy system to tape swings. Over time, you’ll build a library, which will include your progression as well the snags that tend to show up in your swing. You might be surprised at how much watching these will translate into success on the course.

9. Take video courses.

Video courses for golf swings are available online and on DVD and Blu-ray. Magazines like Golf Digest include an excellent course library online as part of your subscription.

10. Practice your swing from the opposite side.

If you’re limited to whiffle golf balls in your basement, switch up. If you’re a righty, develop your swing from the left. This has a couple of benefits besides overcoming boredom. It forces you to focus on fundamentals, and it actually strengthens your backside swing for better contact and longer distances.