Winter is the time to concentrate on improvement

I know it’s winter.  I know its cold and wet.  I also know, the winter months are a great time to improve our golf game and get ready for the 2026 season.

Whether we work on our ball striking technique; the mental side of golf; wedge play; pitching; bunker play or putting. 

The winter months are a great time to improve so you can come out flying in the spring.  I know it has worked for me and my students. 

I did a segment on my website a while back with my friend, Tom Lehman, called “5 Questions.”  Tom is a past British Open Champion and a past PGA Tour Player of the Year.  Tom has always been known as a tremendous ball striker.

Tom talks about striking the ball solidly; coming in on a shallow approach to the golf ball; and little rotation of the club face through the hitting area.  We are definitely on the same page. Let’s focus on solid strikes of the golf ball.  Like Tom Lehman, I have seen so much success in my own game and that of my students from swinging on the proper swing plane!  Most golfers approach the golf ball on a steep path. 

Successful ball strikers have a shallow approach or on-plane approach to the golf ball, which leads to a proper more solid strike!  It is also true that with a shallow on plane approach there is less call for over release or rotation of the club head.  There is less curve and less timing involved.  It is also not true that a shallow on plane path and approach produces only a draw.  Although most golfers would die for a draw.

Secondly, if golfers would have a more stable or centered turn with less weight shift off the ball they would hit more solid strikes. (Rickie Fowler photo 1) When I grew up shifting one’s weight was taught to everyone. 

True physics says movement of your axis and fulcrum not only changes the arc of the swing; it also slows it down.  I wish I was smart enough to have figured this out years ago.  I would have less gray hair and won more tournaments.

Thirdly; here is a revealing and a super drill.  Place a piece of plywood 2 1/2 clubheads behind the golf ball. 

Paint a line where the ball sits and another line six inches in front of the ball. Make solid strikes without hitting the plywood and create a divot between the two lines. You can also hit shots in this station.

Photo 2 gives you an idea about how it all comes together when all the pieces are in place for the swing.

  Jeff Coston has played the PGA Tour, Web.com and Champions Tour.  He is a multiple Pacific Northwest PGA Player of the Year and is in the PGA Hall of Fame.  Jeff can be reached for appointment year round by calling S360.201.4590. See  www.jeffcoston.com for more.