Feb 12, 2025

Stay Sharp: Winter Golf Tips to Keep Your Game on Point

We’re the first to agree that a golf course dusted in crisp, white snow evokes a winter wonderland. But a season of damp weather and freezing temps can really chill the progress in your game. We’re told the average golfer loses 10 strokes in spring simply by neglecting their off-season opportunities.

But not you.

Whether you’re an avid golfer or a new enthusiast trying to maintain your gains, we’ve lined up trusted winter golf tips from our pros to help keep your game on point.

The Importance of Off-Season Practice

Consistent off-season golf practice has multiple benefits. Using time away from the greens strategically has proven advantages…

Builds confidence without the pressure of competition. The result? A more relaxed swing in springtime.
Increased strength and flexibility (and fewer injuries!).
Slow repetition builds muscle memory. No one is playing behind you, and perfecting your technique is more manageable with intentional, precision-focused drills.
Scratching the golf itch -- golf is one of the rare sports that can be both exhilarating and calming. Staying engaged with golf in the off-season is a great way to beat the winter blues and create a bridge between seasons.

Indoor Golf Practice Tips

How to Set Up a Putting and Chipping Area at Home

Your short game loves a good winter workout. For putting, use a putting mat or roll out a strip of carpet on a flat surface. Aim at a cup or small target (like a mug). You can also use alignment sticks or tape to practice straight strokes.

For chipping, use a chipping net or set up targets like buckets or towels to practice accuracy. We like foam or low-compression balls to avoid damage.

This brings us to one of our top winter golf tips: Get to know the feel and precision of any new equipment while finessing your short game indoors. If it’s time to consider a new club, this is the perfect time. Louisville Golf’s full club collection can be sorted by type, including handmade putters meticulously crafted out of persimmon wood.

Pro Tip: Simulate real course conditions by tweaking distances, slopes, obstacles, etc. Use pillows for elevation changes or a foam wedge for slopes.

How to Use Swing Drills and Mirrors to Build a Better Game

Posture Check: Stand sideways in the mirror and practice setting up with proper spine angle, knee flex, and shoulder alignment. Ensure your back is straight and your arms hang naturally, ready for the pendulum position.
Backswing Position: Face the mirror and slowly take your backswing. Check to make sure your club stays on-plane, your shoulders rotate, and your lead arm remains straight. Pro Tip: Set up your phone camera behind you and record to get an alternate angle.
Impact Drill: Ready? Freeze! Just kidding, that’s what would happen if you tried to play 18 holes outside. This is simply perfecting the art of the pause: Pause at the impact position and ensure your hips are rotated, weight is on your front foot, and your hands are ahead of the clubhead.

Simulators and Virtual Golf

One of the best ways to improve your golf game is to recreate the real thing. Golf simulators for winter practice can offer realistic accuracy and feedback, thanks to the constant improvement in technology. You don’t need a TrackMan in your basement to get the benefits of a simulator or app — for a starter piece of home equipment, we like the Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor (usually around $299) or the Flightscope Mevo (around $350), both of which can be used with their own apps to track your practice and swing statistics.

Want to feel like you’re truly on the links, even in January? Admittedly, the E6 Connect app is our gold standard, so if you can swing it, the next-level Flightscope Mevo+ will work with the E6 Connect app, and even comes with 10 “free” E6 Connect simulated golf courses.

Fitness and Flexibility:

Golf fitness exercises go beyond improving your game. The moves we’ve chosen work double time to improve mobility and prevent injury.

Yoga and Core-Strengthening

Golf requires a quiet, smooth strength, and yoga focuses on muscle building and stretching in an intentional, low-impact way…ideal for golfers’ needs. If you want to skip combing through the results on YouTube, we like to recommend husband-and-wife team Breathe and Flow. Their videos are easy to follow, relaxing, and still a hefty workout for any skill level.

Core-strengthening exercises are another tool to improve your golf game indoors. A strong core helps improve posture and contributes to a powerful, controlled swing.

Cat-Cow Stretch: Increases spinal flexibility and strengthens posture muscles, reducing back strain. On all fours, alternate between arching your back (cow) and rounding it (cat). Perform slowly for 1–2 minutes.
Dead Bug: Enhances core control and protects the lower back during the twisting motion of a swing. Lie on your back with arms and legs extended. Lower one arm and the opposite leg toward the floor while keeping your core engaged. Alternate sides for 2-4 minutes.

Cold-Weather Outdoor Practice:

Sometimes, you just need a jolt of fresh air. If you’re prone to cabin fever, rest assured not every moment of off-season golf practice has to be indoors. To avoid injury and maximize the impact of your time outside, dress in layers and use low-compression golf balls…and if there’s snow or slush on the ground, neon or brightly colored balls are easier to spot.

Your short game is always an option when winter conditions keep you from going all out, but we like to embrace the opportunity to slow down and focus: A slow-motion swing drill is perfect. Practice your full swing at 50% speed, focusing on posture and your specific mechanics. Then, slowly increase the speed over 10 repetitions, finishing with a single full-speed swing.

This approach will help you tune in to your body, cement the muscle memory, and avoid injury or overexertion from being out in the cold.

Your Winter Equipment Checklist:

Just because your clubs are safe and warm in the garage, doesn’t mean you’re optimizing your winter golf equipment care. As professional golf club makers, we recommend a simple, effective three-step process:

Clean: Thoroughly clean each clubhead, shaft, and grip with warm, soapy water. Use a soft sponge or brush to remove dirt and debris from grooves and a microfiber cloth to dry.
Inspect: Check for signs of wear and tear, especially dents, rust, or loose ferrules. Pay close attention to the grooves on the clubface — they need to stay sharp for proper ball spin.
Regrip: Check for smooth, shiny, or slippery areas that signal it's time for new grips so you can maintain a secure hold.

Preparing your bag for the season can help you feel closer to the game. It’s a satisfying feeling to toss out the broken tees, old balls, and trash. Once it’s clean, restock your bag with the essentials…fresh balls, tees, gloves, and a clean towel.

Starting to feel prepped for your best season yet? Get your bag in bogie shape with our collection of handcrafted clubs made with traditional materials. A club from Louisville Golf is modern play with a master craftsman feel.

If you’re already a friend of Louisville Golf, check out our newest arrivals here: https://www.louisvillegolf.shop/collections/whats-new

Stay Engaged with Your Game

Year-round improvement won’t happen if you’re not showing up year-round. Try these recommendations for two weeks and let us know your progress. Similarly, drop us your favorite winter drills or post a photo of your indoor setup — let’s inspire each other to stay sharp this season!

For more winter golf tips or any questions about clubs or equipment care (or if you just want to chat with fellow golf lovers to make it through these frigid months), contact us at Louisville Golf.