What's the best way for amateur golfers to prep for the golf season ahead? Our GOLF Top 100 Teachers gives their best tips.
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Welcome to GOLF’s Top 100 Teacher roundtable, where some of the best instructors in the business answer the game’s most pressing questions. The goal? To help your game and lower your scores ASAP.
It may be mid February now, but the upcoming golf season is not far off. Soon enough, we’ll all be back outside chasing our little white ball all over the place.
If you want to hit the ground running for the 2025 season, though, it’s important you make the necessary preparations. It may be cold outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prep your game for the season ahead.
Below, a few of our Top 100 Teachers share their best tips for prepping during the offseason.
1. Dial in your short game
I’d recommend using two thirds of your offseason practice dialing in your short game. Find a launch monitor and practice with your wedges. Learn how far each of them goes with different length swings. Roll some putts on a mat to get a feel for your stroke. And if there are any days warm enough, get out and play! —Chuck Evans
2. Drill the fundamentals
There’s no better time to drill your fundamentals than during the offseason. Work on perfecting your drip, posture, ball position and alignment, and then rehearse your swing positions in front of a mirror. By the time the season rolls around, you’ll be in better form than ever when it comes to the basics. —Andrew Park
3. Find a simulator
The cold winter months can make it difficult to find somewhere to practice, but the best option when the temps are low is an indoor simulator. Most are equipped with high-tech launch monitors, so you can use this practice time to learn the distances for each of your clubs. Best of all, hitting balls throughout the winter helps keep your body loose. When the spring finally does come, it won’t be quite so hard to shake the rust off. —Cheryl Anderson
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.