M L
GOLF
A HEAD START FOR WINTER GOLF
BY TOM ATKINSON , PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Are you properly prepared for Winter golf ? Our Winter ' s have certainly been milder of late than what we are used to but it ’ s now , after Christmas when it usually gets colder . Make sure you ’ re ready to keep your golf going into late January and February so you don ’ t lose ground before the season starts . Here ’ s a couple of simple ideas to help you .
Invest in high-quality outerwear I never thought I ’ d be talking about technology in golf clothing but it ’ s massively improved and waterproofs especially now are so much lighter , more breathable and comfortable than ever .
Most importantly of all it ' s all more stretchy and thinner , so it ’ s much easier to play golf in . You really get what you pay for when it comes to winterwear and waterproofs , and good ones last for a long time , so it ’ s worth spending decent money on the best kit .
Wear a base layer and a snood
You have to stay warm on the course and the best golf base layers will help reduce heat loss from your core whilst also keeping you away from that bulky sweater . They are amazingly warm for such a thin piece of material and many are skintight to increase blood circulation . A snood is a superb piece of golf wear , keeping your head and neck warm is essential , they can also double up as a face covering as and when you need one !
Get a good pair of wet weather gloves There ’ s nothing worse than losing grip in wet conditions . I used to be a write off before technology helped me . A good pair of Winter golf gloves will hugely improve your grip of the club when they get wet .
They also tend to be a little thicker than a traditional glove , which helps keep your hands warm as well . They take a while to get used to , but can make all the difference during those winter rounds .
Keep your hands warm It ’ s absolutely essential that your hands stay warm while you ’ re playing . The moment they get cold you ’ ll lose a lot of feel and it ’ s really difficult to get them warm again after all your hands are the only point of contact on the club . Using handwarmers , or golf mitts is a really effective way to keep them warm .
Change your golf ball Most of us like one particular model of ball , but it ’ s well worth considering changing that preference to suit winter conditions . You will likely benefit from a firmer distance golf ball that carries further through the air because you want optimum carry when the fairways and greens are soft . Those softer and colder conditions also mean you can afford the slight drop-off in softness , feel and spin around the greens .
Practise your short game It can be easy to neglect your short game , especially in the Winter , but you should practice it twice as much . The course , all be it shorter by measurement , may actually play longer and often tougher , so you ’ ll probably need it more often . Also you ’ ll be playing different kinds of short game shots from all types of lies and the ball will react differently on wetter and softer greens . Make sure you vary the lie when you practice and use the same model of ball you intend to use out on the course to make it more realistic .
Try playing with half a set We play a few ‘ 3 clubs & a putter ’ competitions at Heswall , it ’ s astonishing how many people actually do better ! It enables you to increase your creativity and versatility on the course , improving your shot-making skills , which can be especially useful in the wind or around the greens .
Adjust your driver The modern clubs are fantastic throughout and heading into Winter is the ideal time to take advantage of their adjustability . Contrary to belief you need more carry in the Winter as the ball won ’ t roll in the softer conditions . You can get this by increasing loft to launch the ball higher and moving weight back to increase the spin - most of the best golf drivers will allow you to do this using a standard wrench tool . Even if you do this , your yardages will be shorter in winter because the ball doesn ’ t fly as far through the air and you ’ ll get much less roll when it lands . You ’ re also more likely to play in strong winds that will really knock the ball down in the air , and heavy rain will also affect the ball flight .
Generally , taking one extra club is usually a good idea , and conditions might dictate you ’ re playing two or three more clubs more than you might in the summer .
Adjust your putting The longer grass and added moisture on the surface in the Winter means there ’ s more friction when your ball rolls , so putts will be slower and break less . Adjust to Winter speed and break and your own course conditions by spending plenty of time on the practice green .
Invariably you leave your putts short , it ’ s a common theme in club golf , you can putt more aggressively in winter because of the less speed and break . If you ’ re still struggling to get the ball to the hole , a putter with a firmer feel off the face or heavier weighting could also help . Another solution might be to switch to a mallet putter , which comes with the added benefit of more stability .
Go and enjoy your Winter golf , don ’ t become too preoccupied with your score , it ’ s about keeping yourself rust free for the incoming Spring time .
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