I've sadly put the golf clubs back in the basement, taking them out of my car trunk for yet another season. While there are those who don't mind playing in freezing temperatures -- my father-in-law being one of them -- the cold and wet weather we experience in the winter months makes getting out on the course for a round a dicey proposition. I made it official by taking the Perdomo 4-Finger cigar case out of the bag, and placing the cigars back into the humidor.
That doesn't mean I intend to let the clubs gather dust, however. There are plenty of ways to stay sharp in the winter.
When there isn't snow on the ground, I'll spend some time on the weekend hitting the driving range that's open year-round. It's rarely crowded this time of year, which means I'm in less of a rush and the afternoon is a form of relaxation as well as practice. I can smoke Cohiba cigars and not feel like I'm holding anybody else up when I take my time between shots trying to figure out why my seven-iron is acting more like a nine, or whether I will actually get one of my drives airborne.
If the weather won't cooperate, there are plenty of drills I can do inside. Putting on the carpet is classic, though the only thing I worry about there is whether my aim is true. It messes up my stroke if I start to worry about getting it perfectly in the center of the cup, since the ball rolls much faster on the green than it does on my rug.
I'll also spend a lot of time practicing my grip while I watch TV. I'll alternate between using a training club I have that forces my hands into the right position on the shaft and one of my usual irons, hoping to get comfortable. As someone who grew up playing baseball rather than golf, the golf grip is something I always struggle with, and winter marks the perfect time to try and get that more ingrained into my system.
Anyone have any other useful golf tips to share?
That doesn't mean I intend to let the clubs gather dust, however. There are plenty of ways to stay sharp in the winter.
When there isn't snow on the ground, I'll spend some time on the weekend hitting the driving range that's open year-round. It's rarely crowded this time of year, which means I'm in less of a rush and the afternoon is a form of relaxation as well as practice. I can smoke Cohiba cigars and not feel like I'm holding anybody else up when I take my time between shots trying to figure out why my seven-iron is acting more like a nine, or whether I will actually get one of my drives airborne.
If the weather won't cooperate, there are plenty of drills I can do inside. Putting on the carpet is classic, though the only thing I worry about there is whether my aim is true. It messes up my stroke if I start to worry about getting it perfectly in the center of the cup, since the ball rolls much faster on the green than it does on my rug.
I'll also spend a lot of time practicing my grip while I watch TV. I'll alternate between using a training club I have that forces my hands into the right position on the shaft and one of my usual irons, hoping to get comfortable. As someone who grew up playing baseball rather than golf, the golf grip is something I always struggle with, and winter marks the perfect time to try and get that more ingrained into my system.
Anyone have any other useful golf tips to share?
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