Focus for the winter season

[JayMc]

Here in TN we don't have a full off season. January and February will be pretty cold, but a warm day here and there will allow for a round or two. I don't mind practicing when the temps dip as long as the sun is out.

My intention is to work on a couple things from December through March that seem to be the biggest variances in my game from back when my index was low. I'm still hitting about the same number of greens and fairways as I was when at my best, but my putting and getting up and down are weaker. I think that I can shave four strokes off my game by focusing on these two areas. I can work on chipping and putting more easily when bundled up a bit than I can a full swing so my winter goal is to find three strokes putting (I barely miss a LOT of 8-15' putts) and one stroke chipping. If I can do that I'll be pleased.

What are you working on this winter? Does my goal seem too aggressive?

[Bullitt5339]

Putting and Chipping, Putting and Chipping. It's what's killing my scores right now.

I need to be under 30 putts per round consistantly to continue to improve, I think.

[jamo]

For a 6.9 handicapper, seems possible to me.

[Dave H]

I want to brave the cold temps and get to the range once a week or every two weeks to keep working on my swing consistency and repeatability. Fortunately we have heated stalls so it's not terrible.

I also want to work on putting and chipping in my living room. I spent a lot of time doing that last year and it made a big difference this past season.

[imtomtomim]

I'm trying hard not to make a worse hole in my carpet this winter.

[DaSportsGuy]

I'm gonna try and focus on getting a more consistent putting stroke. Some days my putting is spot on and it seems like everything falls. Other days, I just can't seem to get putts that I need to fall, to fall.

[enis750]

working out, yoga and indoor practice w wedges and putting at least twice a week
last year i didnt touch a club until spring

i lost all touch on the greens and around them.......not making that mistake again

im working with an instructor as well once a month

[wrx_junki]

What are you working on this winter? Does my goal seem too aggressive?

Think your goals are aggressive if you are hitting a lot of greens but doesn't seem crazy if you find yourself just off the green often.

Working on my better ball striking throughout the bag including the putter. I'd like to be more consistent instead of being day to day. Also, I find myself getting lucky on some of my putts since I don't always hit the sweet spot and it still ends up being a good putt.

[Chas]

i lost all touch on the greens and around them.......not making that mistake again

A good attitude. It killed me recently at a certain resort in Monterey. Just pitiful.

Missing a green (dogleg left par 4) by maybe 20 yards after 2 strokes - behind bunker, shortsided pin - and then ending up with a TRIPLE is simply unacceptable and embarassing. Chipped into bunker (tallish wet grass), got out but only into deep grass on fringe, chipped single-handed onto green due to horrible footing, 2-putted. Destroyed my front 9. Maybe I'll do like you and get instruction , as well as the planned practice practice practice around the green.

[SteelCitySlice]

Just purchased a PBS, so I imagine I'll do a lot of swinging the club in the living room, working on the feel of lag and forward shaft lean through impact (currently I'm a bit of a flipper...as you can tell from my avatar ). I'm hoping to get to the range (with heated bays, of course) every now and then through the winter months to actually make contact with a ball. Other than that, I keep an old putter and a coffee mug on the floor in my office. If I need a break from starring at my computer, I get up and hit a few putts!

[JayMc]

Think your goals are aggressive if you are hitting a lot of greens but doesn't seem crazy if you find yourself just off the green often.

That's a good way to look at it. I hit just under 10 greens per round (tracked over time) and have a lot of approach shots that end up on the fringe. That's why I'm looking for 1 stroke from chipping savings. On the greens I do hit I'm a good "almost" putter. I make very few putts in the 8-15' range, but I seem to miss the overwhelming majority of them by a hair. It drives me crazy to have so many lip outs.

Maybe four strokes improvement from that is too much. Maybe 2 is more realistic. If I could pick up one more GIR, make two more putts, and chip one more into gimme range it could get very interesting