How to manage your golf game during lockdown
Getting to practice your golf in lockdown can be very difficult and not really feel like it is doing you any good. Here are a few little tips that can make your practice more effective.
You really do not need much equipment you already have your clubs. If you can only practice indoors with little room buy some balls suitable for indoor use (airflow balls, foam balls or even ping pong balls to chip with).
Depending on how understanding your partner is you don’t even need to get a chipping mat as a doormat will suffice for chipping and a carpet is perfectly good to putt on.
Use targets such as an up-turned tee to putt towards or a flower pot to chip into.
When you do practice, set yourself goals e.g. If you are practicing your putting set up two tee’s the width of a hole and from 5ft set yourself a target that you have to hole 50 putts before you finish.
Measure your progress either by counting how many shots it takes to complete a task or how long in time it takes. Always write down your results in a practice manual, it gives the practice more meaning and makes you accountable.
If you can practice outside chip to specific targets, work on where the ball lands not where it finishes (unless you have a putting green). Using a bucket as a target is a simple way to hone your distance control.
Practice on striking your shots out of the centre of the club, I cannot emphasise enough how important this is and the benefit you will see when you get back out playing.
If you do have a net to hit balls into make sure you have a golf pro keep an eye on your swing with remote lessons. You do not want to practice bad habits and swing faults.
Write yourself a practice schedule at the beginning of the week, this really does help you focus your mind and gives you a better chance of completing your practice sessions.
Keep fit even doing a daily walk will help keep the strength in you legs. You don’t need to go mad with the fitness but doing squats, planks and some stretching will help.
When we do finally do get to play again go out with no expectations and enjoy the experience.