Hit Down Dammit! Golf Instruction

Winter Practice

Just thinking about the above topic (It Ain't Over Til It's Over) got me to thinking about my own life. Specifically, whether to hang up the irons for the winter? Draw a line in the fairway and declare an end to this season, and start afresh in March. When I lived out east the weather used to force this decision upon me. But I've lived on the west coast for 15 years now where the fact you "can" play all year round means you ought to. And now, even out east with the advent of indoor golf domes the clubs sometimes don't earn their right to collect dust during the winter because you can practice all winter long.

That said, practicing - and not playing - all winter long is not a bad alternative. Practicing without the distraction of constantly being put to the test by playing, is a good way to make a swing change or simply improve muscle memory. Far too much of my business teaching golf comes at a time of year when truthfully golfers should be playing and not learning. The trend is to play in May and June and then, frustrated with how they are playing, spend July and August learning how to play.

Notwithstanding human nature, in raw theory a golfer would be far better off learning in the late fall, practicing throughout the winter, and playing (see also: enjoying) golf in the spring and summer. But we're back to the never-ending schedule again, aren't we? Yes and no. While golf would still be a 12-month endeavour there would at least be some definition to your schedule. You know, as opposed to the 365 day shopping week.