Tip
van de pro
Wintergolf
The first rule of wintergolf is: Get out of the house and just do it!
So many people put the clubs away for almost half the year, but winter golf can be a lot of fun and you can even improve your game and make the next season your best ever!
In England we say that ‘there is no such thing as bad weather on a golf course’, but you do need good clothes. In the photo’s I am wearing thermal underwear and headwear, fully waterproof shoes, trousers and jacket (which must have enough room under the arms to allow you to turn) and special winter golf gloves (which are padded on the back but thin on the fingers and palms so you can feel the club).
In the winter I focus on 3 things in my full golf swing: my stand, my top of the backswing position and the finish of the swing.
1. In the first picture (the club is a 5 iron) my feet are under my shoulders and the ball is left of centre. In the winter (and in windy weather) my feet are wider apart and the ball is in the exact centre. The wider stand gives better balance in wind and on wet and muddy ground. Playing the ball in the middle of your stand helps you to hit the ball first, before you take a divot. (which is the Scottish word for hitting down into the ground and hitting out of a small piece of grass and dirt).
2. Picture 3 is the top of the backswing position, which for me is shorter than my summer backswing, because of the extra clothes. You could call it a ¾ backswing.
But I do try very hard tot turn my left shoulder down and under my chin as far as it will go, and then turn it just a little bit more!
3. Picture 4 is the finish of my swing. Being a small man (and not so young anymore) I know how important it is not to hit the ball and then stop. I really turn my hips and shoulders through as quickly as I can, so my hands finish somewhere around my left shoulder.
The thing I recently focus on is getting as much weight as possible onto my left foot, so that if I wanted I could lift my right foot of the ground.
I believe that if you work on the same ideas with your stand, top of the backswing and finish positions, you can play really well in the winter and improve your swing at the same time.
Finally, never fight the weather – you will loose! In strong winds, take a longer club and swing easy. Keep your head and your hands warm and keep your clubs clean. Especially the clubface and the grooves. Check your shoes and replace the spikes if you need to, golf is difficult enough without slipping and sliding your way around the golfcourse.
So, come on, keep playing and practicing this winter. I guarantee you will enjoy it and maybe even improve your games!
Good golfing,
Peter Stacey
PGA Professionals
golfbaan Sluispolder |
