Offseason Improvement Ideas

How to Keep Getting Better At Golf In the Winter

As many of us living in the upper Midwest experience every year, the beautiful summer and fall weather comes to an end and the cold and dreary months of the winter appear.  It’s time to put the golf clubs away for the winter and get started again next spring, right?  Not so fast.  As technological advances have made huge strides in golf instruction and training, it has also allowed us to make golf and golf training a year round activity. Even here in the upper Midwest and all cold weather climates.  

Facilities like SMART Golf and Fitness are on the cutting edge of year round, complete golf game improvement.  At SMART, you can work on the physical characteristics of your golf swing with a PGA Professional, you can train with a Certified Fitness Professional on movement patterns and strength training, and you can even work with specialists in the field of Physical Therapy, MAT (Muscle Activation Technique) and advanced Stretching patterns.  

High-end indoor golf and fitness facilities are the ideal place to sharpen your game and get your body ready for the serious training required for maximum game improvement. However, for those of you that can’t access these facilities on a regular basis, what is the next best thing?

I train my athletes in these major categories in the offseason: 

• Major swing changes
• Body endurance, durability, & strength
• Swing speed training

Major Swing Changes

Major swing changes might include anything from full swing mechanics to short game mechanics.  These might be changes in technique that were too comprehensive to do during the regular golf season.  These changes will require a lot of deliberate practice on the students behalf.  Many times these changes to the golf swing or mechanics are difficult and can take many months, if not years, to complete.  The beginning of the offseason is generally the best time to make these changes.  Speak with your golf instructor or coach to find out what changes are necessary and when it’s best to implement these changes.  

Body Endurance, Durability, & Strength

Body endurance and overall strength training programs are now year round programs for most athletes. However, during the off season is a great time to kick these programs up another level.  If the athlete has had any specific injuries or weaknesses, now is the time we will address these.  We will coordinate all strength and fitness programs with any swing changes that need to be made.  Constant communication between the Golf Professional and Fitness Professional during this time is crucial.  

Swing Speed Training

Speed training is one of the most popular offseason programs in the game of golf.  Who doesn’t want to get faster?  We all do. And we all want to hit the ball farther than ever before.  However, this needs to be done safely and under the supervision of an experienced professional.  All of our speed training programs at SMART Golf & Fitness Instruction are done under the supervision of a PGA Golf Professional and Certified Fitness Professional.  When adding speed to the golf swing the two most important factors are maintaining desired swing mechanics and providing a proper body structure to do so safely.  When speed training is done properly, it will be done over the period of many months and done in an environment where the body is protected from injury.  

If you are serious about overall game improvement then you need to be serious about what your offseason plan will be.  Don’t wait until the spring to get better at your game.  Take this year round approach to overall game improvement and you will then maximize your potential.  

About the Author

Todd Russell is a PGA of America Member and is recognized as one of the best golf instructors in the state of Illinois. Todd has been teaching and growing the game of golf for over 20 years. Working with thousands of students throughout his career, ranging from true beginners to high level tour players, Todd has developed the ability to make anyone better at golf.

Click here to learn more about Todd.