Typical! The last two Saturdays, rain has stopped play. At least last week, I got to the range before meeting my friends for lunch at the club. Mind you, it was only 25 balls with a 7-iron, so I can't call that a very effective practice session! I don't get many chances to play during the week, and with the likelihood of poor winter weather plus December's Christmas chaos, I really need to plan some quality range time if I'm serious about improving for next season.
My winter golf approach has always been a bit ad-hoc. I just play when the weather permits and only go to the range on a whim. Of course, I try things out, like last weekend, I tested if the bunker grip tweak Sarah Bennett showed me worked for my irons – and it seems to! But often I just rattle through a basket of balls quickly to keep my swing ticking over. I'm probably like most people, but since my golf was pretty poor this year, I'm determined not to let 2026 be the same.
That means I need a proper plan, just like single figure golfer Jess Ratcliffe suggests in this article. We all start off with the best intentions, my friends and I are already suggesting a weekly night at the range, which is a great idea. It’s always easier to drag yourself out in the cold as a group with the incentive of a glass of wine afterwards, but will it happen, and if it does, will we stick to it?
I’ve got different areas of my game that need working on, but as Jess advises, it’s no point trying to work on a bit of everything. Instead, split your winter practice into two-week mini blocks. Choose one area that needs attention and then commit to improving it. You’ve then got a clear focus and remember for each block define two things: the change you’re working on and the goal you want to achieve. You’ll have clear milestones every couple of weeks and will feel far more productive than aimlessly whacking balls!
I believe her best advice is to film your swing. Yes, you might feel a little self-conscious at first when you set up your tripod, but you can see exactly what you’re doing and it takes the guesswork out of practice. If you’re making a technical change, it’s no good practicing the wrong thing, as you’ll never see progress. You might also notice other bad habits that have crept in. As I mentioned recently, I learnt during my bunker lesson that what you feel you’re doing is very different to the reality!
Like any goals, whether it’s losing weight, getting fit or improving your golf swing, if you can see progress, you’ll stay motivated no matter the weather. Now I need to heed Jess’s advice. I’ll keep you posted!
Alison Root
Women's Editor
Golf Monthly
