21
Oct '11
Tip of the Week: Dealing with cold weather
By Vikki Vanderpool, Swingpal instructor
Here in Middle Tennessee, where I teach and live, we had a freeze warning last night and another one has been issued for tonight.
The leaves are also changing colors, providing a clear indication that we’re in the middle of fall and unfortunately winter is soon to follow.And with winter comes cold weather, and not just here in Tennessee but in so many places around the country.
Cold weather doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll have to put your golf clubs away for a few months.
Many golfers will brave the cold and continue to play throughout the winter months, and if you’re someone who falls into that category here are four quick tips for you.
1. Make sure that when the weather turns cold where you live that you store your clubs inside, away from the cold elements. Many of us leave our clubs in the trunks of our car, but that’s a mistake when it gets cold, especially when it comes to the golf ball you play, which won’t perform as well when it’s cold.
2. It’s important to remember that the ball will not compress as easily as it does in the summer months. Be sure to take one or sometimes even two or three extra clubs for approach shots, especially considering that, it's more difficult to swing freely due to the heavier clothes you will most likely be wearing.
3. One of the worst things about cold-weather golf is hitting one of those shots that leaves your hands stinging. This is caused by using your smaller muscles to swing the club, rather than using your back, shoulders and legs to give you the distance and power you might be loosing as a result of the cold temperatures. During the winter months it's easy to not do as much physically due to the cold weather, but this is the perfect time to start stretching a lot more often. You need to get your big muscles warmed up and your circulation moving even more in the winter. Before playing, make sure to try to stretch for at least for 20 minutes, and it’s important to focus on your hamstrings, as this will take the bluntness of the swing away from your lower back.
4. Don’t forget that winter is a good time to make changes and/or continue working on your swing. During my five years of teaching in the PGA’s Metropolitan Section, I would see so many students completely take the winter off. Come spring, it was as if we were starting all over again. Most had made such good progress for the entire summer and fall, which made it frustrating to watch. Practicing indoors is one of the the best ways to see and feel what happens with your body during the proper motion of the golf swing, so keep playing if you can and continue working on your game throughout the year.
Take a lesson with Vikki Vanderpool.