Get your personalized off-season golf training plan with drills and tips tailored to your space, equipment, and goals. Perfect for winter golf practice and year-round improvement.
It’s time to stop thinking that winter is the end of the golf season. Let’s start calling it the prep season instead.
There’s plenty you can do to work on your golf game during the colder months. You don’t have to put the clubs away and wait for spring – the right winter golf training plan can keep your swing sharp and even help you improve.
The key to effective off-season golf practice is having a routine and sticking to it.
We’ve put together a complete guide to help you structure your winter golf practice, whether at home or indoors.
You can tailor it to your space and equipment, and we’ve included actionable drills to make this “slow season” your most productive one yet.
It won’t take you long to figure out that the most important part of winter golf practice is not the time you are putting in, but what you are doing during that time.
A 20-minute practice session is better than a one-hour session if you are working on the right things.
Create your tailored winter golf practice plan with just a few clicks. Get drills and tips based on your available space and equipment.
Choose your space and equipment below, and we’ll generate the perfect practice routine with drills tailored to your needs.
Choose your available space below, and we'll generate the perfect practice routine with drills tailored to your needs.If you have a home golf simulator, you have the perfect setup for at-home practice and game improvement for the winter season. All golf simulators are different and offer access to unique technology and data.
When working with your at-home simulator, here is a basic plan for how you can get better this winter.
Break your full-swing practice into three sections, or three days’ worth of practice: clubface control, speed training, and ball flight or shot shaping practice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XklxkK1FsWg
Learning to control your clubface during the winter months is extremely beneficial. The wrists control the clubface in your golf swing.
Your main focus should be maintaining a flexed lead wrist at impact for crisper ball striking.
Here is the plan and the associated drills for working on clubface control in your golf simulator this winter.
The Faldo Drill is designed to help you find a repeatable backswing position by building the right wrist hinge and shoulder turn, without adding unnecessary arm lift.
Set your wrists as if you are already in the impact position. Keep your hands ahead of the ball and your lead wrist flat. Take some swings and try to match this impact position.
It’s fine to pause just after impact as if you are only taking half swings. Once you have that down, start hitting balls using this technique.
Set up two alignment sticks in front of the ball, one just inside and one just outside the target line, creating a “gate” for the ball to travel through.
Focus on hitting through the gate while keeping the clubface square.
Hit 15-20 shots, gradually narrowing the gate as you improve; check your results and the simulator data.
Select three different clubs (wedge, 7-iron, driver) and hit 10 shots with each, focusing on maintaining a square clubface at impact.
Review clubface angle data after each set to check for consistency.
Swing speed drills with a weighted club or device can help you gain more distance in the winter months.
Pair that practice with the proper workout and exercise regime and you’ll pick up some yards when you head back out on the course in the spring.
Establish your baseline by hitting ten shots with your 7 iron and then ten shots with your driver to get an idea of your current speed.
Make sure these swings are not purely about power; you want to just get a baseline, not test out your maximum speed. Pay close attention to speed, distance, and accuracy.
Overspeed training helps your body move faster using a lighter club or speed training stick.
If you don’t have a lighter club you can make this work by swinging an alignment stick. Work on swinging in sets of three.
Try 10 full-speed swings with balance and a fluid motion, making sure you record your speeds if possible.
Once you have worked on increasing your speed with the lighter club, it’s time to build up your strength with heavier golf clubs.
You can use a weighted club or attach weights to your clubs. Start with very small amounts and do this again in sets. Three sets of five to eight full swings is best.
Always check on your rotation and balance if you can’t keep them, lighten the weight or slow down the swing.
Now that you have done both your overspeed and power training, it’s time to move to your regular golf clubs and push yourself to swing a little fast.
See if you are able to increase speed from your initial base speed check. Keep the results of this practice session and watch how you develop through the winter.
Remember that even increasing your swing speed by two miles per hour can result in large distance gains.
Practicing your shot shaping is one of the best parts of owning a golf simulator.
Shot shaping practice can help take your game to the next level and have a huge impact on your scoring.
Work on shaping shots (fade, draw) by adjusting your swing path and face angle.
Play around with strong or weak grip positions depending on the results you are attempting to achieve.
Check your lead wrist position at impact. The more flexed you are, the easier it is to hit a draw. The more extended your lead wrist is, the easier it is to hit a fade.
Set up 10 swings where you rehearse a fade backswing with more lead wrist extension and radial deviation, and 10 swings with a draw backswing using more flexion and ulnar deviation.
Wear your HackMotion during each rehearsal and pause at the top to check your wrist angles.
Focus on how changes in extension and deviation influence clubface orientation before you even start the downswing.
Hit 10 shots where you attempt to vary the height of the ball flight. Focus on controlling dynamic loft at impact and adjusting trajectory based on the data.
Try to hit one shot low and the next high as you get better at this. This variation will help you become a lot better at controlling trajectory on the course.
Some golf simulators are not as effective with short game tracking and information. Regardless, you can implement this routine and drills to improve your short game practice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnzxz4FTNvI
When it comes to short game practice your best bet is to work on drills. Finding a variation of drills that help you make real progress on the course is your best option.
Here are some great ones to get started:
While practicing on your simulator driving range, set three targets at different distances (short, medium, long).
Use your simulator to hit 10 chips to each target, focusing on consistent contact and control over trajectory. Vary the club selection (wedge, sand wedge) for different shot types.
When you get really good at this, challenge yourself to use other clubs like the 9-iron, gap wedge, lob etc.
Set up targets at 20, 30, and 40 yards (adjust depending on your simulator’s setup or the common yardages you leave yourself on the course).
Hit 5 shots to each target, focusing on consistent carry distance. After each round, check the data for distance control and adjust your swing accordingly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpN1VuiAwPc
When you master this, switch clubs until you can be confident with all clubs in your bag.
Some golf simulators don’t offer much from a putting practice perspective. These at home putting drills you can do with or without the use of your simulator.
Make sure you do these consistently so you can ensure you are making progress.
Golfers who struggle with radial and ulnar deviation control in their putting stroke will love this drill. If you have a hard time keeping the putter on the proper path as you swing it back your wrists could be the culprit.
You’ll need a chopstick and a coin for this drill and if you have the HackMotion you’ll be able to record some valuable data.
For this drill you’ll need to be able to get an alignment stick to stand up.
Alignment stick holders are a great investment for indoor golf simulator practice.
Your alignment stick will work as your reference point ensuring you have a consistent setup and you can return the putter to the correct impact position each time.
Steering is a common issue for golfers. Instead of allowing for the natural rotation of the putter head, some golfers second guess themselves and steer to get the putter started on the right line.
You can use a laser or even just an aiming point, in addition to your HackMotion to learn to avoid steering and let the putter head naturally rotate.
Timing is a crucial (but often overlooked) part of putting distance control.
Great putters tend to have a consistent backswing-to-downswing ratio, often around 2:1.
Use the HackMotion wrist sensor to track the tempo of your putting stroke.
Practice making strokes with a consistent ratio and use the HackMotion metronome feature set to around 80 BPM to develop a repeatable feel.
Try it without a ball first, then add tees on either side of the ball to encourage a symmetrical stroke length as you match the metronome timing.
Not everyone has the room or the budget for a golf simulator room in their home.
If you are able to swing and hit balls into a golf net, you can still make plenty of progress in your home golf practice routine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py4C4ttTc3I
For effective full swing practice it’s great to have a net to hit into. Even though you won’t be able to track your entire ball flight, it does help to get a feel for how the ball came off the face.
In addition, you’ll want to make sure you have the HackMotion on during your practice so you are recording some data.
For at home practice, work on clubface control, speed training and consistency of strike.
The wrists control your golf clubface. The more control you have over your wrists and their action, the easier it is to strike the ball with power and consistency.
Here are the best ways to work on clubface control at home.
For this drill, you’ll try to stop your golf club just after impact. To do this, you’ll need both strength and the proper positioning of your wrists.
Hit 10 to 15 shots, focusing on stopping the club when it is parallel to the ground just after impact.
Wear HackMotion to check on excessive rolling or twisting of the clubface.
HackMotion shows you exactly what your wrist angles are doing at key points in the swing and how those movements influence clubface orientation.
Hit 10 shots where you deliberately feel like you’re increasing wrist flexion through impact (closing the face).
Then hit 10 more where you exaggerate wrist extension (opening the face).
Use HackMotion to see how each change affects the clubface and ball flight, and discover your natural tendencies.
Stabilizing the wrist helps improve clubface control. To do this drill, you’ll grip the club with one arm. Take a backswing, and as you swing back down to the ball, focus on closing the clubface, as we call the Motorcycle move.
Rotate your body through the swing while keeping this flexion in the lead wrist. After impact, ensure the club brushes the ground.
Not only will you develop more awareness of the clubhead, but you’ll also eliminate some of your issues with hooks and slices.
Even if you don’t own a simulator, you can incorporate golf technology into your at-home practice.
In fact, to stay more engaged, some interactive practice with HackMotion can help.
The release drill is ideal for golfers who struggle with a weak or inconsistent impact position. It helps you train proper wrist angles and shaft lean in a controlled, short swing.
With the release drill, you’ll groove the correct hand and wrist position from club parallel to impact. Using HackMotion lets you confirm if your release is staying in the correct zone.
The Faldo drill is perfect for golfers who tend to overswing or lose control at the top of the backswing. It helps build a more compact, repeatable top position by presetting the wrist hinge early.
With the Faldo drill, you’ll learn how to combine wrist hinge and shoulder turn while keeping your arms quiet.
HackMotion will show you if you’re holding structure or over-hinging at the top.
The motorcycle drill is one of the most effective golf swing drills from finding the correct location of your hands at the top of the backswing.
With the motorcycle drill, you’ll be able to get the feeling of moving towards flexion on the downswing.
The motorcycle drill gives you the feeling of revving a motorcycle at the top of the backswing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKoZFzoB7m4
Swing speed drills with a weighted club or device can help you gain more distance in the winter months.
Pair that practice with the proper workout and exercise regime and you’ll pick up some yards when you head back out on the course in the spring.
If you have a device that can track swing speed, your speed training sessions will be more beneficial.
Establish your baseline by hitting ten shots with your 7 iron and then ten shots with your driver to get an idea of what your current speed is.
Make sure these swings are not purely about power, you want to just get a baseline not test out your maximum speed. Pay close attention to speed, distance and accuracy.
Overspeed training helps your body move faster using a lighter club or speed training stick.
If you don’t have a lighter club you can make this work by swinging an alignment stick.
Work on swinging in sets of three. Try 10 full speed swings where you have balance and a fluid motion making sure you record your speeds if possible.
Once you have worked on increasing your speed with the lighter club, it’s time to build up your strength with heavier golf clubs. You can use a weighted club or attach weights to your clubs. Start with very small amounts and do this again in sets.
Three sets of five to eight full swings is best. Always check on your rotation and balance if you can’t keep them, lighten the weight or slow down the swing.
Now that you have done both your overspeed and power training, it’s time to move to your regular golf clubs and push yourself to swing a little fast. See if you are able to increase speed from your initial base speed check.
Keep the results of this practice session and watch how you develop through the winter. Remember that even increasing your swing speed by two miles per hour can result in large distance gains.
If you ever have days on the course where you feel like you can’t get two shots to feel the same, you need to work on your consistency.
The goal here is to maintain a repeatable wrist position and feel for solid contact.
To get the most out of your consistency practice, focus on these drills.
You should work with your HackMotion on while doing this drill so you have data as to how consistent your impact position is.
Take a 7 iron and hit 3-5 shots to establish a baseline for your wrist position at impact. The goal is to have a flat or slightly flexed lead wrist at impact.
When you are not within this range, set your HackMotion feedback to alert you and ensure you have your wrists in the proper position.
Many golfers struggle with consistency when switching from one swing to the next. If you feel like that transition from driver to 7-iron throws you for a loop, give this drill a try.
Hit five shots with your drive, five with your 7-iron and then five with your wedge. Once you do that, hit four shots with your driver, four with your 7-iron and four with your wedge.
Continue this pattern until you get to the single shot for each and then continue that for as long as your practice time allows.
You’ll have no choice but to make the necessary adjustments for stance, setup, wrist action, etc.
We all talk about the lead arm and the lead wrist position in the golf swing, but the trail arm can not be forgotten about.
The trail arm position will allow for a better approach to the ball, a correct swing plane, and better wrist action.
This video gives you some great tips and tricks for getting your right elbow setup correctly from the start and then keeping it in place as you strike the ball.
Practicing your short game at home is easiest if you have room to work with about 15 to 20 yards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnzxz4FTNvI
Hitting into a net does not give you quite as much feedback because you can’t look at things like ball flight and spin.
This drill helps you learn exactly how far each wedge carries the ball in the air.
Once you can control carry distance, this drill helps you dial in stopping power.
This drill teaches you how wrist motion affects wedge shot height and distance, ideal for dialing in your short game indoors or on the range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpN1VuiAwPc
Golf putting practice is the easiest thing to work on at home. With golf putting practice you can use a putting mat or a carpet.
Golfers who struggle with radial and ulnar deviation control in their putting stroke will love this drill. If you have a hard time keeping the putter on the proper path as you swing it back your wrists could be the culprit.
You’ll need a chopstick and a coin for this drill and if you have the HackMotion you’ll be able to record some valuable data.
For this drill you’ll need to be able to get an alignment stick to stand up.
Alignment stick holders are a great investment for indoor golf practice.
Your alignment stick will work as your reference point ensuring you have a consistent setup and you can return the putter to the correct impact position each time.
Steering is a common issue for golfers. Instead of allowing for the natural rotation of the putter head, some golfers second guess themselves and steer to get the putter started on the right line.
You can use a laser or even just an aiming point, in addition to your HackMotion to learn to avoid steering and let the putter head naturally rotate.
If you have two alignment sticks and a rubber band, you have all you need to create a unique golf putting aid.
To keep a consistent and pendulum-like stroke, tie a rubber band around the end of two alignment sticks.
Put the alignment sticks under each of your arms and then grip them and take your putting stroke. You’ll feel how simple the motion is and how little wrist action there is.
Timing is a crucial (but often overlooked) part of putting distance control. Great putters tend to have a consistent backswing-to-downswing ratio, often around 2:1.
Use the HackMotion wrist sensor to track the tempo of your putting stroke.
Practice making strokes with a consistent ratio and use the HackMotion metronome feature set to around 80 BPM to develop a repeatable feel.
Try it without a ball first, then add tees on either side of the ball to encourage a symmetrical stroke length as you match the metronome timing.
If you have no room to take full swings with a golf club in your winter practice space you can still work on positions of your hands and wrists throughout the winter.
In addition, you should be able to work on your putting routine.
Here are some great drills to practice. You can take slow-motion swings, use just your hands and no club, and develop some awareness of where the club is. You can also head outside and use some of these, even with no net to hit golf balls into.
Creating some muscle memory is a great way to get through the winter golf season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCXlX6A3F1k
Another great thing to work on is your train arm and wrist position. The trail arm takes a backseat to the lead wrist and lead arm but the positioning is very important.
If you’ve always wondered exactly what that trail elbow is supposed to do this Rob Cheney video will straighten things out for you.
Even if you don’t have room to swing a club, here are some core-strengthening exercises you can try.
Start slow with these and eventually increase difficulty.
Start in a plank position with your forearms on the ground. Engage your core and slowly lift one arm straight out in front of you. Hold for a few seconds and then return the arm to the ground and repeat with the other arm.
Try three sets of 10-12 reps per arm.
Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat. Lean slightly back and hold a weight. Rotate your torso to one side than the other while keeping your core engaged. You’ll build rotational strength and be able to generate more power.
Try three sets of 15–20 reps per side.
Lie on your back with your arms extended toward the ceiling and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Lower your right arm and left leg towards the floor, return to the start and do it again. This is a great exercise for creating stability in the core.
Try three sets of 10–12 reps per side.
If you have not started to train your wrists in your golf game, the winter is a perfect time to start.
Your wrists control the clubface, and inconsistencies in your wrist action can lead to ball flight, distance, and direction mistakes.
Here are three interactive wrist control drills you can practice at home without a simulator.
The release drill is ideal for golfers who struggle with a weak or inconsistent impact position.
It helps you train proper wrist angles and shaft lean in a controlled, short swing.
With the release drill, you’ll groove the correct hand and wrist position from club parallel to impact. Using HackMotion allows you to confirm that your release remains in the correct zone.
The Faldo drill is perfect for golfers who tend to overswing or lose control at the top of the backswing.
It helps build a more compact, repeatable top position by presetting the wrist hinge early.
With the Faldo drill, you’ll learn how to combine wrist hinge and shoulder turn while keeping your arms quiet.
HackMotion will show you if you’re holding structure or over-hinging at the top.
The Transition Drill helps improve sequencing, pivot, and wrist control through a slightly longer swing.
It’s great for learning to compress the ball and hit controlled wedge or punch shots.
Here is what a guided drill sequence looks like in the HackMotion app.
Level 1
Release drill
Train your release before working on other aspects of your swing
Level 2
Dynamic transition drill
Train your sequencing and pivot, as well as punch shots or your wedge game
Level 3
Impact full swing challenge
Train your maximum power swing
If you are looking for additional ways to work on your swing without even having to hit golf balls, take a look at some of these from Rob Cheney.
He walks through how to use alignment sticks and even a Divot Board to improve your ball striking and consistency, all while practicing at home.
Golf putting practice is the easiest thing to work on at home.
With golf putting practice you can use a putting mat or a carpet.
Golfers who struggle with radial and ulnar deviation control in their putting stroke will love this drill. If you have a hard time keeping the putter on the proper path as you swing it back your wrists could be the culprit.
You’ll need a chopstick and a coin for this drill and if you have the HackMotion you’ll be able to record some valuable data.
For this drill you’ll need to be able to get an alignment stick to stand up. Alignment stick holders are a great investment for indoor golf practice.
Your alignment stick will work as your reference point ensuring you have a consistent setup and you can return the putter to the correct impact position each time.
Steering is a common issue for golfers. Instead of allowing for the natural rotation of the putter head, some golfers second guess themselves and steer to get the putter started on the right line.
You can use a laser or even just an aiming point, in addition to your HackMotion to learn to avoid steering and let the putter head naturally rotate.
If you have two alignment sticks and a rubber band you have all you need to create a unique golf putting aid. To keep a consistent and pendulum-like stroke, tie a rubber band around the end of two alignment sticks.
Put the alignment sticks under each of your arms and then grip them and take your putting stroke. You’ll feel how simple the motion is and how little wrist action there is.
Many golfers think they shouldn’t use their wrists when putting—but the truth is, wrist movement is always present.
The key is learning to control it. This drill uses the HackMotion sensor to help you manage flexion and extension and deliver consistent loft through impact.
Start by hitting a few putts with the HackMotion sensor on to get baseline wrist data.
Focus on maintaining a stable wrist angle throughout your stroke, avoiding excessive flexion or extension. Use the vibration feedback from the sensor to know when you’re out of range.
Now that you have some basics of what to do for your at home golf practice, here are some ways to break this practice down a bit more based on your handicap level.
If your goal is to come out of a winter or off-season with a lower handicap, here are the things you can focus on.
Choose your handicap level below, and we'll generate additional drills for you to work on this off-season.Higher handicap golfers need to prioritize consistency.
Working on drills that help promote stability in the wrists and improved balance will have the greatest impact on your game.
This drill helps eliminate fat shots by teaching proper wrist mechanics and encouraging forward shaft lean through impact.
It trains you to avoid flipping and manage the club’s radius effectively.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxDKLWUGYeE
This drill teaches you to control where the club bottoms out in your swing—critical for crisp contact and ball-first strikes.
It’s especially effective for indoor practice on mats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py4C4ttTc3I&t=702s
This drill improves your ability to control the clubface without needing a launch monitor by teaching you how to manipulate your shot start direction based on wrist and face awareness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py4C4ttTc3I&t=805s
This drill builds touch and feel for chipping by mimicking the motion and intent of tossing a ball to a landing spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwEkc3eKCWw&t=130s
This drill develops distance control and touch on longer putts by using a towel as a target zone instead of a hole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwEkc3eKCWw&t=339s
Mid handicap golfers should work on learning to shape their shots, refining distance control, and building speed.
Instead of worrying so much about hitting the golf ball straight or repeating your swing, you want to learn to control what the golf ball does. You’ve reached this level!
This drill teaches golfers how to control the clubface and generate a draw by training the correct wrist motion at the top of the backswing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPPZcv9AVWM
This drill helps you establish consistent ball position and spacing from the golf ball for every club, improving setup and strike quality.
https://youtu.be/Py4C4ttTc3I?si=x2MSbbY1H28efvfZ&t=38
This drill trains proper impact position by helping you feel the difference between the setup and a dynamic strike position.
It’s perfect for indoor practice without a ball.
https://youtu.be/Py4C4ttTc3I?si=x2MSbbY1H28efvfZ&t=344
This drill helps train an on-plane chipping motion by using visual barriers to keep your takeaway and follow-through in check.
It improves consistency and strike by eliminating over-the-top or inside takeaways.
https://youtu.be/HwEkc3eKCWw?si=atElUQyIPeVKHAUf&t=24
This drill trains you to consistently strike the sweet spot on your putter, improving distance control and roll quality, especially important for indoor or off-season practice.
https://youtu.be/HwEkc3eKCWw?si=KlQ6o9XhmKewwyxX&t=253
As a low handicap golfer you probably have a very good idea as to what you need to work on in your golf game.
Data becomes even more important for low handicap players.
Advanced data analysis using tools like HackMotion can give valuable insights into the club path, face angle, and ball flight of your golf shots.
Here are a few additional drills to work on:
Designed to train trail wrist extension for better shaft lean and compressed iron shots.
Helps players delay the release and avoid early extension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPPZcv9AVWM
This drill helps you build awareness of where you’re striking the ball on the clubface and trains your ability to adjust strike location intentionally.
This drill helps you build awareness of where you’re striking the ball on the clubface and trains your ability to intentionally adjust strike location.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py4C4ttTc3I&t=511s
This drill improves your ability to control the clubface without needing a launch monitor by teaching you how to manipulate your shot start direction based on wrist and face awareness.
https://youtu.be/Py4C4ttTc3I?si=x2MSbbY1H28efvfZ&t=807
Mid- to high handicappers need to work more on consistent contact, but as a low handicap player, you can start to play around with wrist action to produce different shot results.
If your short game should be more diverse with different types of shot outcomes, try learning some of these concepts like:
This drill is designed to eliminate excess wrist movement during the putting stroke and improve face control and consistency.
You can do it at home with or without HackMotion.
https://youtu.be/Py4C4ttTc3I?si=x2MSbbY1H28efvfZ&t=420
If this is your first year committing to winter golf practice, take these tips from the seasoned veterans.
Here are the biggest mistakes golfers make in winter golf practice.
So many golfers who want to start an at-home practice plan don’t know where to start. Are you aware of your swing flaws and where the issues are in your game?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPCfu7BC6fI
Here are a few tips to make sure you are diagnosing your swing faults correctly.
Hopefully, this complete guide on at-home and winter golf practice has left you in a better position to work on your golf game.
You’ll find you don’t need a real offseason when you play golf.
Simply take advantage of the opportunities you have at home and be smart about incorporating the right tools, like HackMotion, into your at-home practice routine.
Looking for more content on how to structure your practice sessions?
Go here for an Interactive Driving Range Practice Plan and an 8-Week Golf Tournament Practice Plan.
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