Winters have certainly improved since I was a kid growing up in Geneva, N.Y. Back then, winter meant packing away my clubs for several months at a time — aside from my putter.
While I always recommend planning a winter golf trip to stay motivated, there’s plenty you can do at home to keep your game sharp during the colder months, too. Below I’ve outlined five ways you can keep the rust at bay during the winter.
1. Make putting practice a priority
Growing up in the snow belt meant winter putting was all I had — and it’s probably why putting has always been a strength of mine.
Today’s training mats are far better than what I used as a kid. They let you check your setup, monitor your stroke, ensure your ball is rolling end-over-end and work on distance control up to roughly 12 feet.
Now that we live in Florida, weather isn’t an issue — but we still keep a Perfect Putting Mat around because it’s that useful.
Perfect Putting Mat
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2. Use a mat and net to keep your swing fresh
If you have a garage or small indoor space, a hitting mat and net create an easy year-round practice setup. Options are endless, and even a compact space is enough to work on solid contact and swing mechanics. We set up a net in our garage and paired it with a launch monitor to dial in wedge distance control throughout the off-season.
3. Train your grip with a molded training grip
Your grip determines your clubface — and ultimately the direction your ball starts. But grip changes can feel uncomfortable, which makes the off-season the ideal time to address them.
A molded training grip allows you to rehearse proper hand placement without the pressure of hitting shots. Even Scottie Scheffler is known for constantly checking his grip. You can also install a fitted grip on a dedicated practice club and rehearse swings. Improving your grip often leads to better wrist action — and better ball striking.
4. Check your posture and setup in a mirror
Winter is the perfect season to work on fundamentals. Proper posture is crucial for consistent contact, but it’s hard to evaluate without feedback. Using a mirror, you can ensure your arms hang naturally and your hands sit directly under your shoulders at address. This simple visual checkpoint pays huge dividends.
5. Build speed
Everyone wants more distance, but swinging faster only gets you so far without specific training. Winter is the ideal time to build clubhead speed, and The Stack System is one of the best ways to do it. We’ve used it consistently, and the overspeed/underspeed protocols truly work — as long as you stick with the program. If more speed is your goal, it’s a worthwhile investment.
TheStack + Stack Radar Bundle
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