Even in Florida, your golf game can get a little frozen up over the winter. Shorter days and cooler temps can keep you off the golf course, but spring comes early to the Sunshine State.
With prime-time golfing on the way, spring is the perfect time to dust off your clubs and get your game back in shape. Here are 10 tips to get you started.
1. Inspect Your Golf Gear
With a new year of golfing ahead of you, an inspection of your gear is in order. Look over your driver, woods, wedges, irons, putter, and hybrids. Have you been happy with each piece of equipment? Are there any items that you consider lacking? If so, you might want to replace them.
This is a good time to regrip any handles that have become worn. You might also decide to buy one or more new clubs. If you choose to treat yourself to a new set of golf clubs, take the time to get them fitted.
A knowledgeable person at a pro shop has the equipment to assess your swing and recommend adjustments—and the type of clubs—that will optimize your performance.
2. Update Your Fitness Routine
Form is everything in golf. Upper body and core flexibility and strength are essential for success. Evaluate your fitness routine to make sure that you are incorporating exercises and stretches that will benefit your game.
Top muscles to strengthen for golf include:
- Gluteus maximus
- Pectorals
- Latissimus dorsi
- Shoulder adductors
- Core
- Forearms
3. Give Extra Attention to Flexibility
In addition to strength and endurance training, pursue greater flexibility. As you know, golf demands bursts of wide-ranging, fluid motions. Flexibility helps to prevent strains while making these motions.
Suggested golf flexibility exercises:
- Twisting stretch for loosening the hamstrings and lower back
- Hip press for taking pressure off the lower back
- Scarecrow twists to warm up the spine for swinging the club
- Standing side stretch for opening the chest and loosening the spine
- Shoulder flossing for removing stiffness in the neck and shoulders
4. Set Goals for the Upcoming Golf Season
When you want to improve your golf game, you need to define what improvement looks like. This means setting goals. Ideally, you will write down the goals you want to achieve in your game. Identifying exactly what you hope to accomplish gives your brain a concrete purpose to pursue instead of a vague notion of better performance.
You'll have the best chances of meeting your goals when you follow these practices:
- Specify measurable goals
- Choose goals that are realistic for you
- Set some short-term goals
- Set overall long-term goals
- Set a goal for each practice
- Set a goal for each competition
Goal setting brings clarity whether you reach a goal or not. By comparing your performance to your goals, you'll discover insights about what you need to work on more. Although you might not attain every goal, a journey defined by specific destinations produces the most outstanding results.
5. Practice Your Putting Stroke
Tuning up your golf game requires practicing each technical action. You should focus first on the stroke itself instead of the ball to improve putting.
Spend about 10 minutes a day with your putter. Swing it without using a ball to increase your muscle memory and control. You could try using a yardstick or other straight edge as a guide to develop a straight putting stroke. This is a great exercise you can do inside or outside.
6. Practice Your Chip Shot
Your next task is to improve your chipping stroke. Spread a towel on the ground five feet away from your position. Work on chipping the ball onto the center of the towel.
The exercise allows you to judge distance and keep the ball straight. As you improve, move the towel farther away in five-foot increments.
7. Take 100 Swings a Day
You don’t need to use a ball for your swinging exercises, which means you can practice the swing at home. Take 100 practice swings with an iron each day.
Start with 50 swings, adding 10 each day until you reach 100. This is a great way to increase flexibility and strength.
8. Visit the Driving Range
The driving range is an excellent place to work on practice shots with all of your clubs. Dedicate certain days to certain clubs. One outing, work on your short game with your wedges, and other days, focus on the long game with your woods or long irons.
A good session at the range will have you hit 50 to 60 balls. On days that you work at the driving range, you can reduce your non-ball practice swings at home by the number of shots taken at the range.
9. Practice Reading the Green
Mastery of the short game is what it takes to get the score you want. An excellent way to get better at reading the green is to do it without the pressure of making the putt. Some methods for reading greens include:
- Assess tilt and slope of green as you approach it from a distance.
- Stand behind your ball on the green, raise your putter and determine which way the ball will break by which side of the hole you can see from the shaft of the raised putter.
- Read with your feet! Stand over the ball as though you’re going to putt. You’ll be able to tell if there is an elevation change in your feet.
- Squat behind the ball and look for breaks between the ball and the hole.
Just take time to go through your pre-putt routine and develop your reading skills.
10. Break Bad Mental Habits
Golf can be frustrating. As with any athletic endeavor, your mental strength matters as much as your physical skill. Work toward stripping negativity from your thoughts as you approach each shot.
Try to visualize perfection. Focus on the necessary physical movements and set aside your feelings as much as possible.
Consider the Advantages of Private Golf Club Membership
Practicing and playing within a community of golf enthusiasts will bring out your best. At Bella Collina, members build their skills at a practice facility with:
- Putting greens
- Pitching greens
- Chipping greens
- Practice bunkers
Of course, our world-class golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo is the centerpiece of the Bella community. The course is nestled in the rolling hills of Central Florida, only 30 minutes from Orlando. The elevation changes within the beautiful location set the stage for exciting rounds of golf.
Memberships at Bella Collina are available for those who are solely interested in playing golf, ideal for those who live in Florida part-time, or those who frequently vacation here.
Contact us today to learn more about our golf and sports memberships.
