How to practice your golf game during the winter months
Source article: http://www.helium.com/items/1485806-how-to-practice-your-golf-game-during-the-winter-months
For the avid golfer the winter season is the time of year when a heavy yearning for that first round of golf in the spring begins to rattle the bones.
When thinking about how many areas of the world experience these snow filled winters, it is easy to trade the golf clubs in for skis, skates or a snowboard as soon as the first snow flake appears. Most golfers do not hesitate to put golf on the back burner over the winter, to come back in the spring -every year- wondering where their golf game went. Golf is like playing the piano, you can spend years learning how to play but if you do not keep up with it your skills will slowly disappear. As we all know, practice does makes perfect.
In the world of golf, time is one of the largest problems plaguing the golfers and the industry. Most have difficulties finding the time to get to a golf facility, never mind, the four or so hours needed to play a round of golf. In the following, are some thoughts on basic exercises and drills that can be done in the comfort and warmth of your own home to help you stay focused on your game over those cold, unexciting months of winter.
1. Putting
Putting, as most golfers are familiar with is a very important part of the game requiring constant attention if you wish to see improvement. It can also be the largest source of frustration for almost every golfer. The answer to this is that putting takes time, practice and understanding of how a green will run. So many elements of a golf course; be it the roll and undulations of the greens, to the type, bend, and speed of the grass, club speed, or even the time and temperature of the day, can come into play during a round of golf.
If you hold the determination to learn, practice will pay off and golf will come easier in time. One helpful method to stay in tune with your putter off the golf course, is to spend nightly TV time practicing putting on the carpet in the living room. If you prefer to get fancy or already have one putting mats are available at most sporting stores. If carpet is your surface of choice, a cup or plastic container no bigger than your hand, or a target point in your line of sight is needed as place to line up your put to. Generally, the smaller the "cup", the tougher your shot will be. Different sized cups and two of three placements around the carpet are can help to avoid monotony setting in.
This advice may sound slightly silly, however you will be surprised how much more comfortable your putting stroke and your confidence will be next time your standing above your putter on the golf course. Whether it is the off season or simply that week you cannot find time to hit the links, there are plenty of ways to polish up the game at home.
2. Exercising and Physical Health
Many exercises, activities and gadgets exist these days to overwhelm any golfers senses. Many are designed to improve specific areas of the body important to golf, such as balance, flexibility, strength, toning, cardio and mental alertness. Yoga, Pilate's and other forms of balance core-oriented training are excellent activities to keep your center in check. Most local gyms, or fitness websites offer programs directed specifically at golfers. Please consult a professional trainer or doctor before starting a new exercise schedule.
3. Cardio
Keeping your cardio in check can be as simple as the daily walk with the dog or maybe let the dog walk you for a change. Pick up the pace and challenge yourself to that hill you usually would avoid. Always included in good cardiovascular exercise is that weekend of skiing, snow shoveling or any activity that gets your heart pumping for at least forty five minutes.
4. The Brain
Lastly, but definitely not least important is the complex mental aspects of the game. Do you ever find yourself sitting down with the kids to play a video game or playing them yourself? Have you played Tiger Woods Golf or one of the several different golf games on the market today? Tiger Woods has to be one of the best. The player must consider and choose such elements of the game such as distance, club selection, wind speed, direction, proper course management, and in-depth green analysis. In turn, the golfer developing a a stronger understanding of the natural game of golf. Every level of golfer can benefit from practice.
For the avid golfer the winter season is the time of year when a heavy yearning for that first round of golf in the spring begins to rattle the bones.
When thinking about how many areas of the world experience these snow filled winters, it is easy to trade the golf clubs in for skis, skates or a snowboard as soon as the first snow flake appears. Most golfers do not hesitate to put golf on the back burner over the winter, to come back in the spring -every year- wondering where their golf game went. Golf is like playing the piano, you can spend years learning how to play but if you do not keep up with it your skills will slowly disappear. As we all know, practice does makes perfect.
In the world of golf, time is one of the largest problems plaguing the golfers and the industry. Most have difficulties finding the time to get to a golf facility, never mind, the four or so hours needed to play a round of golf. In the following, are some thoughts on basic exercises and drills that can be done in the comfort and warmth of your own home to help you stay focused on your game over those cold, unexciting months of winter.
1. Putting
Putting, as most golfers are familiar with is a very important part of the game requiring constant attention if you wish to see improvement. It can also be the largest source of frustration for almost every golfer. The answer to this is that putting takes time, practice and understanding of how a green will run. So many elements of a golf course; be it the roll and undulations of the greens, to the type, bend, and speed of the grass, club speed, or even the time and temperature of the day, can come into play during a round of golf.
If you hold the determination to learn, practice will pay off and golf will come easier in time. One helpful method to stay in tune with your putter off the golf course, is to spend nightly TV time practicing putting on the carpet in the living room. If you prefer to get fancy or already have one putting mats are available at most sporting stores. If carpet is your surface of choice, a cup or plastic container no bigger than your hand, or a target point in your line of sight is needed as place to line up your put to. Generally, the smaller the "cup", the tougher your shot will be. Different sized cups and two of three placements around the carpet are can help to avoid monotony setting in.
This advice may sound slightly silly, however you will be surprised how much more comfortable your putting stroke and your confidence will be next time your standing above your putter on the golf course. Whether it is the off season or simply that week you cannot find time to hit the links, there are plenty of ways to polish up the game at home.
2. Exercising and Physical Health
Many exercises, activities and gadgets exist these days to overwhelm any golfers senses. Many are designed to improve specific areas of the body important to golf, such as balance, flexibility, strength, toning, cardio and mental alertness. Yoga, Pilate's and other forms of balance core-oriented training are excellent activities to keep your center in check. Most local gyms, or fitness websites offer programs directed specifically at golfers. Please consult a professional trainer or doctor before starting a new exercise schedule.
3. Cardio
Keeping your cardio in check can be as simple as the daily walk with the dog or maybe let the dog walk you for a change. Pick up the pace and challenge yourself to that hill you usually would avoid. Always included in good cardiovascular exercise is that weekend of skiing, snow shoveling or any activity that gets your heart pumping for at least forty five minutes.
4. The Brain
Lastly, but definitely not least important is the complex mental aspects of the game. Do you ever find yourself sitting down with the kids to play a video game or playing them yourself? Have you played Tiger Woods Golf or one of the several different golf games on the market today? Tiger Woods has to be one of the best. The player must consider and choose such elements of the game such as distance, club selection, wind speed, direction, proper course management, and in-depth green analysis. In turn, the golfer developing a a stronger understanding of the natural game of golf. Every level of golfer can benefit from practice.