Improving Your Game in the Off Season

Last week a snow storm rolled through Denver dropping 15 inches in 48 hours and reminded me just how close we are to the off season. Luckily the sun has returned and golf is in our future for a while longer. But the warm weather won’t last long and so the question becomes, Now What? How can I work to improve my golf game in the off season?

Is it possible to make progress on our game with snow on the ground?

The answer is yes. I’ve lived in Denver for a while now and therefore have been forced to find alternative ways to practice through the winter months. Others who live in similar climates can obviously relate. Consider yourself LUCKY if you are blessed with year round golf in good conditions. We can usually play 12 months out of the year but courses go dormant and mats come out at the driving ranges. It’s just not the same.

Here are a few tips I’ve found that make a big difference when Spring rolls back around.

1. Fitness and Flexibility
- The off season is a great time to focus on getting in better shape and improving flexibility. Just about every professional player has made fitness a priority these days. This is called a clue. I follow Stewart Cink on Twitter and he was talking the other day about his off season workout regimen. We can do the same.

2. Putting
- One of my last posts was about working on the putting stroke in more ideal conditions that the local putting green. Greens have flaws which means they can give false feedback about your stroke. Just because the ball misses left doesn’t mean you pulled the putt. Check the prior post for more details. The off season provides a great opportunity to groove a solid stroke under better conditions. Many companies have created putting trainers that are effective. I use the alignment rods pictured above and have seen good results. I set them up in the basement on tight carpet and hit putts in my spare time. The rods aren’t perfect but they provide fairly accurate feedback about the putter’s path. I can also see where the ball leaves the rods at the other end which tells me if the putt is starting on line.

3. Strengths and Weaknesses
- The off season months provide a great opportunity to review this year’s rounds and identify strengths and weaknesses in your game. Hopefully you have kept scorecards or stats of some kind. But even if you haven’t, you’ll be able to recall what worked and what needs work. I track putts, greens in regulation and fairways hit for every round. I have a pretty good idea where the numbers sit but I’ll get more detailed this winter. This is also a great time to mention keeping a golf journal. Track tendencies, swing thoughts and any other info of golfing value. I keep mine in the bag so it’s ready at all times. This off season would be a great time to start one of your own.

4. Goals
- After your game has been reviewed, get a few goals on paper as to where you’d like to go next season. We can’t hit targets that don’t exist. Goals are simply targets. Is there an all time low score you’d like to shoot? How about an average putts per round goal? How many greens did you hit in regulation this year and what is your goal for next? It’s amazing the power of a few simple goals.

5. The Mind
- Our minds are always with us and so we can constantly work on mental toughness and confidence. Mental work is something we can do throughout the year but the off season is a great time to re-focus. Recall the good shots. Recall the good rounds. Recall the great putts. Intentionally filter out the bad and focus on the good. Confidence is similar to trust, it gets built over time. And whatever we focus on grows. Ideally, we want our brains to recall the best shots we’ve ever hit when we stand over the ball. This is possible only if we intentionally focus on the info we want to stay. I built a list of the greatest shots I’ve ever hit that I review before each round. It’s just another simple way to get my mind in the right place before teeing off.

Stay focused this winter and you will see positive results when Spring arrives. All progress requires is a little intentional thought and actions that align. Let the less than ideal weather provide an opportunity for you to improve your golf game this off season.

Thanks for stopping by. Don’t forget to add the page to your Favorites and check back  soon. And as always, comments are always welcome.

Mike Snyder

Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

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