Dec. 23, 2005

With the winter months upon us, neglecting your golf game should be the last thing on your mind. In order to come out swinging without any winter hitches you must practice even though the conditions can sometimes be unfavorable. There are many things you can do in the comforts of your home to get ready for spring golf such as drills and flexibility and strength. It is also important to brave the weather and get in some quality practice. I am a firm believer in quality over quantity.

To make the most of your practice time it is important to follow a few processes before hitting any balls. Make sure you spend ample time stretching especially the arms, shoulders, and back without neglecting the lower body. Making sure your muscles are loose and stay loose allows for less tension in your arms which will ultimately allow you to keep from losing distance on your shots. Staying loose will also discourage injuries.

After you have stretched, go ahead and take a few practice swings with 80% effort to find a good rythym and to allow your golf-specific muscles to loosen naturally. The next step in making your practice time quality time is to adhere to your pre-shot routine for each shot. Your purpose is to not hit as many balls as it is to hit great shots. It is much more productive and better use of your time to concentrate on hitting 20 great shots as opposed to hitting 100 balls and hoping for half of them to be good. After your quality range practice, remember the great shots and how diligent you were with your pre-shot routine. Remembering those great shots in the cold weather will help you maintain a great mental attitude when the spring golf season tees off. Stay warm and good luck!