All of the rain we’ve been experiencing here in Southern California has left many golfers with mixed feelings. Sure, the rain has certainly been needed and will help golf courses look incredibly lush in the coming months. However, all of this rain has also made it extremely difficult for many of you to keep your games in top shape. Fortunately, even with all of this rain, there are ways to work on your game while hanging out at home. Whether you are working on your grip, working on your posture, or working on your putting, there are plenty of ways to improve your golf game from the comforts of your home.
Perhaps nothing influences a player’s feel for their golf swing more than their hands. They are, after all, the only link between you and your golf club. When your hands feel comfortable on the grip, you feel more confident and committed to your swing. One way to improve the feeling in your hands is to practice gripping your golf club while watching television. Just by sitting on your sofa while holding a golf club, you will be able to focus on the pressure in your hands and the ability to feel the weight of the club head at the end of the shaft.
Another critical element of your game to work on during the rainy days is posture. Proper posture in your golf swing leads to more consistency, which will ultimately lead to lower scores. A great exercise to improve your posture while at home is to stand with your back to a wall. While pushing your tailbone into the wall, lean your shoulders out over your toes. This helps you to establish the proper spine angle in your swing. While continuing to push your tailbone into the wall, practice a backswing and a forward swing while maintaining that pressure point. Learn to do this, and your posture will be improved once you return to regular swings on the golf course.
Finally, there is nothing easier to work on at home than your putting. Let’s face it, most of you have a spare putter sitting around your house somewhere. Most of you also probably have tile on at least a portion of your floor at home. By using the tile as a straight edge, you can practice swinging your putter back and through in a straight line. This is a great tip to develop proper muscle memory for the path of your putting stroke. If you do this enough, you will be amazed at how many short putts you begin to make the next time you are out at the course.
The next time the rain disrupts your plan to play a round of golf, learn to take advantage of the moment by rehearsing these drills at home. Your game will improve, and you’ll be better prepared to conquer the lush golf course that awaits you once the sun comes back out.
PGA Golf Tour Schedule
MAR 2 – 5
World Golf Championships-Mexico
Championship Club de Golf
Chapultepec, Mexico City, MEX •
Purse: $9,750,000. Defending Champion:
Adam Scott $1,620,000
MAR 9 – 12
Valspar Championship Innisbrook
Resort (Copperhead), Palm Harbor,
FL • Purse: $6,300,000 Defending
Champion: Charl Schwartzel
$1,098,000
MAR 16 – 19
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented
by Mastercard Bay Hill Club
& Lodge, Orlando, FL • Purse:
$8,700,000. Defending Champion:
Jason Day $1,134,000
MAR 22 – 26
World Golf Championships-Dell
Technologies Match Play Austin
Country Club, Austin, TX • Purse:
$9,750,000. Defending Champion:
Jason Day $1,620,000
MAR 23 – 26
Puerto Rico Open Coco Beach Golf
& CC, Rio Grande, PUR • Purse:
$3,000,000. Defending Champion:
Tony Finau $540,000
MAR 30 – APR 2
Shell Houston Open GC of Houston,
Humble, TX • Purse: $7,000,000.
Defending Champion: Jim Herman
$1,224,000
APR 6 – 9
Masters Tournament Augusta National
GC, Augusta, GA • Purse:
$10,000,000 Defending Champion:
Danny Willett $1,800,000
APR 13 – 16
RBC Heritage Harbour Town GL,
Hilton Head, SC • Purse: $6,500,000.
Defending Champion: Branden Grace
$1,062,000
APR 20 – 23
Valero Texas Open TPC San Antonio
– AT&T Oaks, San Antonio, TX •
Purse: $6,200,000. Defending Champion:
Charley Hoffman $1,116,000
APR 27 – 30
Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC
Louisiana, Avondale, LA • Purse:
$7,100,000 Defending Champion:
Brian Stuard $1,260,000
MAY 4 – 7
Wells Fargo Championship Eagle
Point Golf Club, Wilmington, NC •
Purse: $7,500,000. Defending Champion:
James Hahn $1,314,000
MAY 11 – 14
THE PLAYERS Championship TPC
Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
• Purse: $10,500,000. Defending
Champion: Jason Day $1,890,000
MAY 18 – 21
AT&T Byron Nelson TPC Four
Seasons Resort, Irving, TX • Purse:
$7,500,000. Defending Champion:
Sergio Garcia $1,314,000
MAY 25 – 28
DEAN & DELUCA Invitational
Colonial CC, Fort Worth, TX • Purse:
$6,900,000. Defending Champion:
Jordan Spieth $1,206,000
JUN 1 – 4
the Memorial Tournament presented
by Nationwide Muirfield Village GC,
Dublin, OH • Purse: $8,700,000. Defending
Champion: William McGirt
$1,530,000
JUN 8 – 11
FedEx St. Jude Classic TPC Southwind,
Memphis, TN • Purse:
$6,400,000. Defending Champion:
Daniel Berger $1,116,000
JUN 15 – 18
U.S. Open Erin Hills, Erin, WI • Purse:
$10,000,000. Defending Champion:
Dustin Johnson $1,800,000
JUN 19 – 20
CVS Health Charity Classic
Rhode Island CC, Barrington, RI. Defending
Champion: Keegan Bradley,
Jon Curran $150,000
JUN 22 – 25
Travelers Championship TPC River
Highlands, Cromwell, CT • Purse:
$6,800,000. Defending Champion:
Russell Knox $1,188,000
JUN 29 – JUL 2
Quicken Loans National TPC Potomac
at Avenel Farm, Potomac, MD
• Purse: $7,100,000. Defending Champion:
Billy Hurley III $1,242,000
