For those who live in the North and East, keeping your golf game in top condition is important. Here are some simple little things that will allow you to be ready at all times. The time involved is less, but it has produced tremendous results for many.
Having grown up in the Midwest and along Lake Michigan, I fully understand the plight of golfers living in snowy states during the winter. His season is drastically shortened by various factors. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find some simple things you can do to keep your game in top shape all winter long. The results you will see in the 2010 golf season will be much more than you anticipate or expect.
Here is a list of bullet points:
Reserve $8.00 per week for the next 14 weeks. Why? NEW GRIPS Heat has this dreaded effect on golf grips, it dries them out, makes them brittle and slippery. You should change your grips at least once a year AT THE START of the SEASON. Before putting your clubs away for the winter, be sure to clean them thoroughly…especially the grooves! warm soapy water and an old toothbrush will do the trick. Then dry them well too and wrap the heads in plastic wrap. The saran wrap will keep moisture out of the sticks and help prevent rust from forming. Oh, I know there are some who will say that stainless steel never rusts… Uh Huh, and pigs can fly too. Not all clubs are stainless steel and most have some type of chrome plating.
At least by doing this, you won’t have to brush them again when the season starts. Alternatively, and with a little more effort, you could get some paraffin wax and seal them for winter. To do this, melt the wax and dip each stick in it and then let it dry. When the season comes, simply remove the wax. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it works well to do this. If you go for this… don’t use your wife’s good pans. They have an affinity for getting upset about this. Go to the dollar store and buy a cheap skillet. It’s either that or face the possibility of eating wax once or twice for dinner.
Put your golf bag inside a travel bag, this serves at least three purposes, it prevents them from collecting dust, eliminates some ability for moisture to get to them, and keeps them ready at a moment’s notice. Who knows, you might get a chance to take a mini-vacation in warmer weather to play golf. Or in the previous wax in the pan box makes it easy to escape. Now for your own game of golf. More bullets for you, smile.
Go to any hardware store and buy yourself a 3/4-inch wood dowel. Wrap one of its ends with guazetex. It only needs to be about 2 feet long. While sitting at home, you could be watching the golf channel and working on your grip at the same time. The 3/4-inch tang is about the same size as a hilt. The guazetex will give you the ability to hold on to it more easily. And the spouse will appreciate that you don’t leave the golf clubs lying around the house all winter.
With another reference to working on your grip… grip it firmly and hold it there for 30 seconds at a time. This will build strength in your hands and forearms, making it easier for you to transition to your golf clubs when the time comes and the season approaches. Yes, I know, everyone always tells you that you should take the stick lightly. In my next article I will talk specifically about grip and grip pressure. Needless to say, it’s not what you may think. And I can prove it.
Practice your laying on the mat. Trust me, this does wonderful things for your golf game and your score. And aside from the shaggy rugs (which thankfully I haven’t seen seems like forever), it will always keep you in the game. Use a dime as a target and roll the ball over the top of the dime. If your ball rolls more than 12 inches past the dime, you hit it too hard. You already know the result of the drill on this one.
If you can get away with it… poke some balls into the couch or your favorite chair. My disclaimer to everyone on this is… NO FULL TURNS, AND NO GAPS IN THE CARPET. I don’t want a plethora of women looking to lynch me because you took my advice and hit the ceiling or tore up the rug.. Remember that your only goal is to get the ball up. SOME learn and keep some feeling. This will definitely teach you some tact. The game here is to learn how to sweep the ball off the surface, leaving no damage, and keep all the balls from bouncing off the meat. Once again, there will be a more descriptive article on chipping in the future. That’s all for now and until the next article. Happy golf and have a great day.