Off-Season Excellence: Training with Golf Aids, Drills, and Workouts
As the winter months roll in, golfers often find themselves looking for ways to keep their game sharp. While you brace yourself for the cold months ahead, it’s good to have a plan to stay active when you can’t always go outside. Believe it or not, you can keep your game pretty sharp at home even without hitting balls. That’s why we’re talking about golf training aids, movements and workouts you can do anywhere, and with minimal equipment.
Off-season golf practice can help you increase swing speed, make better contact with the ball, and develop more core strength and mobility. In this blog we’ll be sharing some of our favorite training equipment and techniques that anyone can do without a large investment. Pick anything from this list, commit to it with some discipline, and try to get 1% better on each workout or drill you choose. Come April, you’ll already be feeling the difference.
Effective and Simple Training Aids
From swing mechanics to putting precision, we’re talking training but with a purpose! There will be many days when going outside is not an option, but you can always work on that 5 inch course between your ears.
Approaching these training aids with diligence can carry over into stronger golf habits when you focus on the small movements of your swing. And when you combine that with the body control workouts we’ll share in a bit, you can translate these exercises into real gains on the course.
Getting Better Without Hitting the Ball
When you can’t hit a golf shot, you can still hone in on the finer points of your swing and its elements. The GEM Trainer helps you with the takeaway and getting your wrist square at impact on the follow through. The creators identified this as the hardest move to instruct in golf after talking with fellow PGA training professionals. GEM trains you on golf’s essential move, which is easier to demonstrate than to describe. It’s one of those things you just have to feel to appreciate, but the moment you start working with it you can feel what movements lead to a good swing.
Another great way to get better without swinging is to work with weighted training clubs which focus on increasing swing speed and helping you identify common swing flaws. By following the protocol of the SuperSpeed Golf Training System, you can gain an average of 5% on your swing speed over just 6 weeks of regular practice. And with training sessions that only take 10 minutes to complete, you can implement it into a program of drills and exercises that will get you moving to beat those winter blues!
Putting Drills and Training Aids
Drive for show, putt for dough is a common golf saying…and for good reason. You can gain more strokes in a round (or keep from losing them) with a solid putting stroke, and you don’t need much to make it happen. A simple roll-up mat and putting mirror combine for an efficient way to get 10 solid minutes of putting practice. Or go all out with a DIY indoor putting green to hype up that mancave of yours. They’re easier than you think, and fun for the whole family.
A Full Swing Practice in Your Own Backyard
Welcome to the backyard, your very own golf sanctuary where the grass is sorta green and your swing is the main event. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, a simple setup can get you hitting golf balls in no time. A hitting mat, net enclosure and you’re off to the makeshift range, but we have to warn you. Rolling out and ripping a bunch of swings might be a good way to take out some frustration (and by no means do we discourage it), it’s not the recipe to better golf. For this to create any gains, understand that artificial turf is very forgiving and can make poor shots feel relatively decent, leading to bad mechanics.
So if you want to hit off the mat, consider a diagnostic like the Divot Board that can tell you instantly where you are making turf contact. Ideally, you’re hitting the ball first to create compression, but nobody hits it perfectly. A fat shot would yield a long ugly white strip across the small sequined board; thin shots would fill the foremost half of the lane. This simple training aid is essential for hitting balls that you can’t see fly more than 5-10 feet.
And to create a backyard range, you need a good setup. Here’s what we recommend, but shop around! You’ll find all the components you need online.
Components of a Simple Backyard Hitting Area
Rukket 10x7ft Pop Up Golf Net: you’ll appreciate the tented enclosure that makes it easier to retrieve balls after your hitting session.
GoSports Hitting Mat: The 5 ft x 5 ft ELITE surface mat is what you want here, but you can get away with smaller sizes if you need to cut costs.
Divot Board: This is a must have. We recommend placing it adjacent to the hitting mat for the most accurate turf contact because the board is nearly an inch thick.
Garmin Launch Monitor: Ok, we know we said simple…but adding this $500 launch monitor from Garmin will give you a much better idea of how you’re hitting it. By tracking key metrics like clubhead and ball speed, launch angle and direction, you’ll have more opportunity to iron out those bad habits.
Golf Workouts You Can Do Without Any Equipment
No equipment, no problem. You don’t need a fancy gym setup to get a good golf workout, you just need a good coach! Fortunately, there are great instructors all over social media who offer programs you can follow along with.
If you’re looking to get started right away, here are a few exercises you can try.
Planks with Rotation
Start in a traditional plank position, maintaining a straight line from head to heels. Rotate your body, opening up your chest towards one side while lifting the corresponding arm towards the ceiling. Hold for a few seconds, return to the plank position, and repeat on the other side. This exercise engages your core muscles, especially the obliques, enhancing both strength and rotational stability crucial for a powerful golf swing.
Single-Leg Romanian Deadlifts
Stand on one leg while keeping a slight bend in the knee. Hinge at the hips, lowering your torso forward while extending your free leg straight behind you. Maintain a straight line from your head to your extended leg. Engage your core and return to the starting position. This exercise targets your hamstrings, glutes, and lower back, promoting balance and stability – key components for a controlled and balanced golf swing.
Medicine Ball Russian Twists
Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat. Hold a medicine ball close to your chest and lean back slightly to engage your core. Twist your torso to one side, tapping the medicine ball on the ground beside you. Return to the center and repeat on the other side. This dynamic exercise enhances core strength and rotational power, helping you generate more torque during your golf swing.
Bird-Dog Exercise
Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position. Simultaneously extend one arm forward and the opposite leg straight back while keeping your core engaged and hips level. Hold for a moment, then return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. The bird-dog exercise improves core stability, balance, and coordination – essential elements for maintaining control throughout your golf swing.
Get Moving With a Fun Golf Game
Want to get active with the whole family and enjoy a golf-type experience? Consider the Phigolf Golf Simulator, bringing the course to your living room for an unparalleled practice session. Now this is not a serious indoor golf simulator, it’s more of a video game that requires a golfing motion. Get your friends and family involved because it’s cold outside, and this is better than nothing!
Training Aids to Consider for At-Home Practice
Here are the training aids we featured in this blog. If you purchase with these links, we’ll get a small referral fee at no cost to you, which helps us pay for testing the products that we recommend for you!
Product List:
GEM Golf Trainer: Dive into the innovative features of the GEM Golf Trainer, designed to enhance your swing mechanics and overall performance.
Divot Board: Explore the benefits of the Divot Board, a unique training aid that focuses on improving your ground interaction and ball-striking skills.
Rukket 10x7ft Pop Up Golf Net: you’ll appreciate the tented enclosure that makes it easier to retrieve balls after your hitting session.
GoSports Hitting Mat: The 5 ft x 5 ft ELITE surface mat is what you want here, but you can get away with smaller sizes if you need to cut costs.
Rucket Hitting Net: Uncover the convenience of Amazon's top-rated hitting net, ideal for both indoor and outdoor practice, allowing you to perfect your swing without leaving home. And with Prime shipping, it will be here before you know it.
Weighted Swing Aids from TopShelf Golf: Discover the advantages of incorporating the SuperSpeed Golf Swing System into your training routine, building strength and muscle memory for a more powerful swing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Golf Training Aids Actually Work?
Addressing the skepticism around golf training aids. We delve into the science and success stories to determine the effectiveness of these tools in enhancing your golf game.
How Can I Practice Golf at Home?
Figure out what you want to improve and identify a plan for getting better. Try to dedicate 10 minutes a day to begin, and add more time as you establish the habit. Getting just a little bit better every day is the goal, so be realistic and purposed in your practice. Use training aids that fit your space and try the workouts mentioned in this blog.
How Do You Practice Ball Striking?
Use tools like the Divot Board to get a visual of where you are striking the ball. Your goal should be to make ball-first contact, which takes practice.
How Can I Practice Swinging Without a Club?
Weighted swing aids like the SuperSpeed system are good for strength and clubhead speed. Other exercises can also allow you to isolate elements of the swing and improve your body mechanics.
How Can You Practice Golf in Small Spaces?
You can start where the money is: putting! Get a simple indoor putting green and roll away. Or, use the GEM Trainer to practice short swings and get a better feel for your takeaway.
Conclusion
Winter doesn't have to be a slump for your golf game. With the right training aids and workouts, you can emerge from the off-season stronger, more focused, and ready to conquer the fairways. Elevate your game this winter, and tee off the next season with confidence.
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