Improve Your Game This Winter Prepare, focus, relax.  The InnerDrive motto.  The winter months are the best time to work on your preparation.  Use an 8 week period to make some changes and by the time The Masters rolls around, you will be a better golfer.  Now all you have to do is get motivated and get started! Develop your body Strengthen your mind Hone your swing fundamentals Break bad habits Improve your equipment Plan your next season

Develop Your Body--Golf Fitness Experienced Players--What are your weaknesses?  Do you fade late in the round?  Do you want another 10 yards from your driver?   Find a personal trainer to work with for an 8 week period. Make sure they are familiar with the golf swing, it will help.  Flexibility Strength Endurance  Newer Golfers--See above--these apply to you, too.  But if you want to take a more gradual approach, here are some ideas that many of my students have made a part of their everyday routine. Walking--Try to get in 10-15 miles a week.  It's good to walk at least a mile or two everyday, but having a weekly goal helps, too.  If you are trying to lose weight, this is great place to start.  Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi--All of these are great ways to develop your body.  Just be patient, it'll take a few weeks to get your body used to moving differently. Check the website for our upcoming Golf Fitness workshops coming soon!

Strengthening Your Mind Mental Game Seminar--Saturday, March 28  Baltimore Set goals Visualize yourself achieving the goals Play under pressure Learn to relax What do you want from the game?  Writing your goals down really helps, along with your plans to achieve your goals.  Maybe you want to establish a handicap, lower your handicap, compete in a tournament, play in the US Open.  The mind is the most important aspect of the game.  Are you using it wisely?  Visit InnerDrive Golf's Mental Game page.    Check for upcoming workshops!

Hone Your Fundamentals Good fundamentals are required to play good golf and continue improving. This is the best time of year to rework a swing that you think needs changing. It is also a great time for new golfers to learn the swing.  At Pine Ridge and Hilltop, we teach through the winter.  We have covered and heated stations, so there is no excuse not to come out and practice! Have your swing video-taped. We'll analyze your swing and explain what you need to do to get to the next level.  Practice drills at home.  Range work should include: pitch shots, knock down or wind shots, fades, draws, hooks and slices as well as grooving your "A" swing.

Break Bad Habits Do you do any of the following?   Topped shots Over the top swing Fat shots (ground before ball) Quitting on your swing (not following through) Too long a back swing? Too short a back swing? What are some of your swing faults?  What other things do you do that prevent you from being a better player?  Swing faults can be fixed much easier in the winter than during the season. You have the luxury of not worrying about the results of your swing, and that is often what you need to do to change it.  It won't feel comfortable, breaking bad habits rarely does.  Sometimes a lesson or two along with a steady diet of drills can help get your swing on track.  Studying good swings through video and books/magazines can really help, too.

Improve Your Equipment How old are your clubs?  Do you know if the golf ball you are playing is right for you?  Do your grips need replacing?  Clubs--This is a great time of year to pick up a set of clubs at a discount. Become familiar with improvements in clubhead design as well as shaft design.  Where do you go to demo clubs? I wouldn't buy a club unless I could hit it first.  Grips-Check your grips.  Are they worn in places?  Are they slick?  Then it's definitely time for new grips. Get it done this winter before the rush in spring.  Most pro shops stock grips so you can try various types to see what you like.  Golf balls-Do you have a favorite ball?  If not, ask for golf balls for a holiday gift. People will give you all different types. That is the only way to see if you like a ball.  Remember, in the winter you will lose distance due to the cold. (but you'll pick up ground roll when the ground is frozen!)

Golf Rules Pros call the rules of golf their 15th club. Knowing the rules can save you strokes.  Buying a rules book and keeping it in the bathroom is a great way of learning the rules.  You ought to have it memorized in 8 weeks!  Visit the USGA website and take their rules of golf quiz. It changes frequently and it's a fun way of learning.  Rules and Etiquette Seminars coming in February/March

Planning Your Next Season Golf trips are a great way of improving your game. You have set aside time to dedicate to the game and you usually put in extra practice before hand so you enjoy your trip.  InnerDrive has some great trips in the planning stages...Ireland, Italy, Pinehurst, Williamsburg to name a few. Golf leagues can be a wonderful way of improving. You will play regularly and often in a competitive format. It's also a good way to meet new people. Golf tournaments are an excellent way to raise your game to another level.  Check the local golf magazines and the VSGA and MSGA websites to find out what you have to look forward to.

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Julieta@InnerDriveGolf.com   443-414-2288

Baltimore, MD      Pine Ridge Golf Course