Golf Simulator Practice Routine: 10 Tips + a Proven Practice Plan

Golf simulator practice may not be the same as heading to the golf course or the driving range, but it can absolutely be effective.

If you are lucky enough to have a golf simulator to work with, I’ll show you how to practice more effectively and lower your scores without ever going to the course.

It takes a little while to get used to simulator practice, and you have to understand that there are sometimes issues with outliers and accuracy. However, golf swing mechanics are golf swing mechanics, and as long as you work on them correctly, you will improve.

Golf Simulator Practice (Key Takeaways)

If you are a little too eager to jump on the simulator and get started, you may want to bookmark this advice and come back later.

However, before you go, here are some key golf simulator tips to improve your practice:

• Use your simulator for both driving range and on-course practice.
• Incorporate training aids like HackMotion to enhance your practice sessions. These tools provide data-driven feedback that can accelerate your improvement.
• Track your progress and focus on areas that need improvement to take your game to the next level.
• Simulate on-course scenarios to prepare for real-life challenges.
• Don’t neglect your pre-shot routine. Practice it consistently on your simulator so it becomes second nature on the golf course.

If you prefer to work through some of this information by watching a video, take a look at this guide on how to maximize indoor golf practice this winter with your simulator.

What to Practice on the Golf Simulator?

A golf simulator allows you to practice everything from your full swing to course management to shot accuracy.

You will struggle to practice sand shots on a simulator, as well as some recovery shots. Also, depending on the simulator technology that you have, putting practice is a bit different.

I would consider investing in an indoor putting green or mat to use in conjunction with the simulator, ensuring you accurately address this area of your game.

10 Proven Tips for Effective Golf Simulator Practice

Golf simulators can be an endless source of entertainment. Whether your round of golf gets rained out or you simply enjoy a day away from the sun, playing a course that you would not be able to play otherwise.

The possibilities with a golf simulator are endless, and golfers often overlook golf simulator practice. Don’t miss the chance to use your golf simulator to make you a better player.

1. Set a Goal for Your Practice Session

When starting with a golf simulator, it’s common to bounce between the range, course play, and various modes without a clear focus. In the beginning, this kind of exploration helps you get comfortable with the technology, but it’s not targeted practice.

To achieve real improvement, it’s essential to set clear goals for each session.

Decide what specific area of your game needs attention (accuracy, distance, course management, club selection, or distance control) and use your simulator’s features to work on it with purpose.

2. Don’t Forget Other Technology

Golf simulators offer a lot of technology, and it can be overwhelming at first, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. But once you’re comfortable with the basics, it’s smart to bring in additional tools that enhance your practice sessions.

While simulators give great feedback on ball flight and shot shape, they don’t offer much insight into what your body is actually doing during the swing.

That’s where a tool like HackMotion comes in.

Using HackMotion alongside your simulator is like having a coach with you. It tracks your wrist angles in real time and helps you understand how proper wrist mechanics impact your swing.

You’ll get immediate data on your motion while also seeing how those movements translate into results on the simulator.

Explore HackMotion now and take your indoor practice to the next level.

3. Incorporate Actionable Drills

Once you understand what your wrists are doing, the next step is turning that feedback into reps that actually change your swing.

While wearing your HackMotion and working with your simulator, you can do some golf drills that offer you real-time feedback on things like impact position and golf swing consistency.

Two of our favorites are the Faldo drill and the Motorcycle Drill.

To fully understand how to perform the Motorcycle Drill and discover how it can transform your downswing, watch Rob Cheney’s video below.

4. Play Golf and Track Data

Leverage your simulator’s ability to track strokes gained data. Use this information to pinpoint areas of your game that need improvement, such as putting, approach shots, or tee shots.

If you are reluctant to track stats on the course, start tracking them when using the simulator to help you gain insight.

Strokes gained is one of the more useful data points you can benefit from.

Category	What to Track	Actionable Tips
Tee Shots	Distance and accuracy	Test your driver and 3-wood to see which is more reliable for hitting fairways.
Approach Shots	Yardages and proximity to target	Practice key distances (e.g., 100-150 yards) to improve consistency.
Short Game Alternatives	Control on partial shots	Use the simulator to dial in wedge distances (e.g., half and three-quarter shots).
Putting	Stroke consistency and aim	Pair with a putting mat to work on pace and alignment for improved accuracy.
Shot Patterns	Dispersion and consistency	Focus on reducing left/right misses by tracking and adjusting swing mechanics.

5. Look for Distance Gaps

Early in the winter season, work through each club in your bag and hit five to ten shots with each one on the simulator.

Once you’ve hit every club, review the results as a full set instead of looking at each club in isolation. Distance gaps naturally get wider as swing speed increases, especially at the top of the bag, but inconsistent or unexpected gaps can quietly hurt your scoring.

Using a simulator makes this process easier because you’re seeing consistent carry distances from the same lie, with fewer variables. That helps you quickly identify whether a gap is normal or something that needs attention.

When Distance Gaps Are (and Aren’t) a Problem

Club Area	Normal Gap Range	When It’s a Problem	What It Usually Means
Driver – 3-Wood	15–25 yards	Over 30 yards	Launch, strike, or gapping issue
Fairway Woods – Hybrids / Long Irons	12–18 yards	Gaps over 20 yards	Inconsistent contact or overlap
Mid-Irons	10–15 yards	Two clubs flying the same distance	Swing or loft issue
Short Irons	8–12 yards	Gaps over 15 yards	Delivery or speed inconsistency
Wedges	8–12 yards	Gaps over 12–15 yards	Missing a yardage or poor partial control

If the gaps show up mostly because your swing speed has increased, it may be time to reassess your set makeup.

If they appear randomly throughout the bag, it’s often a sign of inconsistent contact or delivery.

6. Create an On Course Situation

Ever finish a round wishing you could go back and practice one specific shot, like a 160-yard approach or a fade off the tee on a dogleg? With a simulator, you can.

Instead of relying on visualization at the range, you can recreate those exact on-course scenarios.

You can even simulate weather conditions, add wind to your session, and learn how it affects your ball flight. If a certain shot gives you anxiety on the course, build confidence by practicing it in a controlled environment.

7. Learn to Control the Clubface

The angle of your golf clubface at impact determines the direction of the golf ball.

It’s as simple as that if the clubface is open, the ball goes right; closed, the ball goes left.

The wrists control the clubface.

Using a simulator where you can practice shot shaping and the HackMotion, where you can dial in wrist position, allows you to learn to control the clubface and hit the shots you want to hit.

Work on a fade and a draw that you can consistently rely on, but don’t forget about hitting high and low shots as well.

8. Test Out Your Course Management Skills

How strong are your course management skills?

Use your simulator to test different strategies on the same hole. Try playing it once with a driver, then again with a hybrid or 3-wood. Each option creates a new scenario and a new decision.

This kind of experimentation helps you learn how to adapt and still score well. Course management doesn’t develop overnight, but with a simulator, you can practice smarter decisions through repeat play and analysis.

9. Pre-Shot Routine Practice

One of the biggest simulator mistakes? Treating it like a video game instead of a practice tool.

Hitting random targets is fun, but if you want results on the course, you need to train your mind, not just your swing.

That starts with building a consistent pre-shot routine. It helps you repeat the same motion under pressure and translate your simulator work to real rounds.

Here’s a simple routine to follow:

• Visualize the Shot: Stand behind the ball and picture the full flight, launch, landing spot, and rollout.
• Pick a Specific Target: Aim small. Instead of “the fairway,” choose a tree, a bunker edge, or a flagstick.
• Set Your Stance and Grip: Step in with good posture, square alignment, and a comfortable grip.
• Take One Practice Swing: Focus on your tempo and one clear swing thought.
• Commit and Swing: Step up, take a breath, and make the swing – no hesitation.

10. Distance Control Practice

Distance control is one of the areas of the golf game that I have always found to be the most difficult to work on. At most driving ranges, you have a few pins set up at yardages like 75 or 100 yards away from you.

What if you want to practice the difference between a 60-yard and a 70-yard shot?

It’s so hard to tell if you are doing this effectively, but with a simulator, the process is incredibly easy.

With the data that the simulator gives you, you can finally learn how to shorten your backswing length and change club selection to achieve every yardage in the bag.

Simulator Practice Plan (5 Days, Repeat as Needed)

Everything covered in this guide, from improving contact and controlling the clubface to dialing in distance gaps and making better on-course decisions, only works if those skills are trained consistently.

This five-day simulator practice plan is designed to reinforce the exact concepts discussed throughout the article.

You don’t need to complete the five days in a row, and you don’t need to restart every week. Simply cycle through the plan at your own pace and repeat it as long as you’re practicing on a simulator.

Each practice day includes a 20-minute option for efficient sessions and a 40-minute option for deeper work. Both versions focus on the same skills. Choose whichever one you have time for.

20-Minute Simulator Practice Plan

Day	Focus	Practice Breakdown
Day 1	Contact & Strike Quality	5 min: Short-iron warm-up, focusing on centered contact 10 min: Mid-iron shots to one target, noting strike consistency and low point 5 min: HackMotion drill work using the Release Drill or Faldo Drill to reinforce impact and structure
Day 2	Wedge Distance Control	5 min: Warm-up with partial wedge swings 10 min: Practice two wedge distances (for example, 60 and 80 yards), alternating targets 5 min: Review carry numbers and consistency
Day 3	Clubface Control & Shot Shape	5 min: Warm-up hitting straight shots 10 min: Intentionally hit fades and draws with a mid-iron 5 min: HackMotion check-in using the Motorcycle Drill to match wrist feel with ball flight
Day 4	Gapping & Bag Awareness	5 min: Warm-up 10 min: Hit three to four clubs back-to-back to compare carry distances 5 min: Make note of any weaknesses in carry distance and plan to work on the weakest clubs in the bag
Day 5	On-Course Simulation	5 min: Warm-up using your full pre-shot routine 15 min: Play simulated holes, committing to targets and club choices, always use your pre-shot routine

40-Minute Simulator Practice Plan

Day	Focus	Practice Breakdown
Day 1	Contact & Ball Striking	10 min: Progressive warm-up (short irons to mid-irons) 15 min: Mid-iron contact work to a single target, tracking dispersion 10 min: HackMotion drill reps using the Release Drill or Faldo Drill to improve impact conditions 5 min: Blend drill feel into full swings
Day 2	Distance Control & Wedges	10 min: Warm-up with wedges and short irons 15 min: Practice three wedge distances using partial swings 10 min: Short-iron carry consistency with one club to multiple targets 5 min: Review carry distance trends
Day 3	Clubface Control & Trajectory	10 min: Warm-up hitting stock shots 15 min: Fade and draw practice with a mid-iron 10 min: High- and low-trajectory control 5 min: HackMotion check using the Motorcycle Drill to confirm wrist behavior
Day 4	Gapping & Set Makeup	10 min: Warm-up 15 min: Full-bag gapping session focused on carry distance 10 min: Re-test clubs with questionable gaps or overlaps 5 min: Make notes on bag setup or future practice priorities
Day 5	On-Course Play & Decisions	10 min: Warm-up using your routine 20 min: Simulated holes played with intent 10 min: Replay missed shots or test alternate clubs and strategies

How to Get Better Results With This Practice Plan

• Let the focus of the day dictate your decisions: If it’s a distance-control day, don’t chase speed. If it’s a clubface-control day, don’t constantly switch targets. Focusing on a single skill can make a big difference in your ability to improve.
• Use HackMotion to train movements: Check wrist data during drill work, then blend the feel into normal swings without staring at metrics all session.
• Prioritize carry distance over total distance: Carry numbers give clearer feedback for wedges, irons, and gapping work.
• Commit to your pre-shot routine on every simulated shot: This is what allows simulator practice to translate to real scoring improvement.
• Repeat the plan until results change: When contact improves, distance gaps tighten, and decisions feel easier, the plan is working. There’s no need to rush to something new.

What is the Downside of Practicing Golf on a Simulator?

With all of these positives and great ideas to improve your game, it is necessary to warn you about some negatives of practicing your game on a golf simulator.

Keep these things in mind, but don’t let them stop you from practicing and getting better in the comfort of your own home!

• The golf simulator’s accuracy can be off by a few yards; you may have to adjust when you get to the course.
• Practicing from certain lies like sand and rough is something that is best achieved when you can feel it out on a real course or driving range.
• Golfers tend to forget to vary their practice and step away from the ball at times when using a golf simulator, don’t let the simulator suck you in; follow the routine that you need on the course to make your practice more effective.

FAQs

Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about golf simulator practice.

Can you improve your short game with a simulator?

Yes, you can improve your short game with a simulator if you approach your practice sessions with clear goals, focus on refining your swing mechanics, incorporate training aids and devices, and regularly track and analyze your progress.

Can you learn to play golf on a simulator?

Learning to play golf on a simulator is entirely possible. Ensure you have a high-quality mat to create a more realistic turf-like feel. If you eventually transition to the golf course, that interaction between the golf club and turf is key.

Are golf simulators realistic?

The better the golf simulator, the more realistic it is. More important than realistic in a golf simulator is accuracy. When a simulator is accurate, you get the most benefit from it.

Golf simulator vs. Reality – what’s the difference?

The biggest difference between golf practice on a simulator and golf practice on the course is the interaction with the golf ball at impact. When the lie on a simulator mat is almost always perfect, it’s a bit of a controlled environment that makes things a little easier.

Final Thoughts

A golf simulator can be a powerful tool, but improvement only happens when practice is intentional. Random shots and full rounds are fun, but they don’t always translate to better scores on the course.

When you practice with a plan, track meaningful data, and understand how your swing mechanics influence ball flight, simulator sessions become far more effective.

This is especially true when you combine simulator feedback with tools like HackMotion, which help you train wrist control and impact conditions instead of guessing.