4 Key Points Every Golfer Should Know to Practice Smart on the Simulator

With today’s technology, the average golfer has more access to cutting-edge facilities than ever before. However, many players still don’t know how to get the most out of indoor practice. Sure, swinging a club every now and then may prevent some offseason “rust,” but by taking a focused approach, you’ll not only stay on top of your game this winter, but you’ll get through the offseason better than before.

To determine the fundamentals that really help amateur golfers, I spoke with Joke Plecker, a top 100 golf coach. According to him, there are four key points you can focus on this offseason to take your game to the next level.

1. Hone your setup

It may not be the most exciting thing, but setup is the foundation of the golf swing. In order to develop a consistent swing, you must start from the same setup position every time.

“I always say before a grand prix, someone has to check the tire pressure,” said Plec, “and [for golfers] It’s like checking your grip, ball position and form. “

Even the best golfers follow this principle. For example, Brooks Koepka revealed during an episode of The Warm Up that most of his drills focus on “PGA”: form, grip, and alignment.

This is a simple aspect of the game that’s easy to perfect. All you need are a few alignment rods and even some string to hone your setup.

2. Focus on faces and paths

There are many data points you can track when practicing indoors, but two are critical to developing a consistent swing: clubface angle and club path.

“Anytime you can hit the ball and get feedback on the clubface and path, you’re going to do wonders for your game,” he said. “That’s actually one of the first checkpoints we go through. [in lessons] Just to make sure you have the right path and good clubface alignment. “

Face angle is the horizontal direction the club face points when hitting the ball. Your face is either square, open or closed. If your face is square, the reading will be 0 degrees. If it’s on, your number will be positive (for right-handed golfers). If your face is closed, it will be a negative number.

Club path is the direction of your swing. If the number is positive, your swing path is from the inside out (for right-handers). If the number is negative, you are swinging from the outside in. Generally speaking, if your club path number is positive, you will produce a draw, and if it is negative, you will produce a slice.

These basics help create reference points so you can diagnose what’s happening during the swing, such as: the position of the hitting face, the direction of the clubface at impact, and even how the ball reacts to changes in lie.

3. Try your game

The off-season is the perfect time to try new things without worrying about ruining a round. Indoors, you can explore big concepts (such as ground force generation) and smaller adjustments (such as ball position, spine tilt, or equipment adjustments).

“In a controlled environment like a simulator, you can change some things and see how they affect your ball flight,” Plec said.

When making small changes to your setup and stance, Plec says, remember the Goldilocks rule: Find what works best for your game. Experiment with your driver by moving it slightly forward and then slightly back and observe how these changes affect launch angle, spin, and ball flight. This kind of thoughtful experimentation can help you understand how setting variables affect the results of your shots.

In addition to tweaking your regular shot, this process teaches you how to control the flight of the ball. Using the simulator, you can practice hitting low, penetrating shots in windy conditions, or learn how to adjust your settings to shape the ball on command.

4. Don’t neglect your putting

“Almost no one uses the offseason to practice putting,” Plec noted.

It’s easy to see why: Most standard indoor simulators don’t include a push rod. But winter is the perfect opportunity to focus on the fundamentals of batting.

Plec believes that three key factors drive consistent, repeatable putting strokes: starting line, alignment and body position. The starting line controls the initial direction of the ball and is arguably the most important factor in controlling the putt. Alignment and body position bring the clubface and body at right angles to the intended line, creating a consistent setup that promotes center face contact and true roll.

You don’t need expensive equipment to practice these basics indoors. A flat surface and a simple alignment aid (string or pole) allow you to check eye position, shoulder alignment and putting face direction. For more advanced feedback, a putting mirror or mat can help optimize shot path and clubface rotation.

The offseason isn’t necessarily a maintenance period. This can be a time to perfect the fundamentals, explore adjustments, and build a consistent game. Now, when spring arrives, you’ll not only be ready, but you’ll be a better, more confident golfer than you were last season.

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