Ava Romero
Golf courses have been subject to various restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, with many closing their facilities except for employees. However, golf is considered a sport that can be played while social distancing, and courses have implemented safety measures to reduce the risk of infection. Golfers can also practice at home to keep their skills sharp.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Golf drills at home | Driving net, Chipping net, Lounge putting, Keepy-up with wedge, Copy pro swings on TV or YouTube |
| Golf courses | Implement safety measures, Pre-paid tee times, Remote check-in, Sanitize golf carts, Provide hand sanitizers, Prioritize online services, Contactless payments |
| Golfers | Practice social distancing, Avoid crowded spaces, Use personal equipment, Sanitize hands and club handles, Avoid touching surfaces |
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What You'll Learn
- Indoor drills: Fine-tune your swing, master your short game and build confidence
- Chipping net: Practice gauging distance and landing the ball on the green
- Lounge putting: Improve your putting to reach scoring objectives
- Driving net: Practice your swing in your garden
- Golf during COVID-19: Sanitize equipment, avoid touching your face, and maintain social distancing
Indoor drills: Fine-tune your swing, master your short game and build confidence
While you might not be able to practice driving the ball unless you have a large garden, there are plenty of indoor golf drills to help you fine-tune your swing, master your short game, and build confidence.
Chipping Net Drill
While chipping is about gauging distance and feel, the chipping net drill is perfect for target practice. Set up a net and practice chipping into it, focusing on your technique and accuracy.
Lounge Putting
Buy an imitation putting surface and lay it on a hard surface, or simply use your carpet. Practice putting towards a target, such as a cup or chair leg. This helps you gain feel and confidence and is especially useful if you're trying out a new putter. You can also putt along the skirting boards or the line of a rug to ensure you're taking the club straight back and through.
Gate Drill
Create a "gate" with two objects just wider than your putter head. Stroke through the gate to ensure a straight-back, straight-through movement. This helps with consistency and alignment.
3-6-9 Drill
Set up three markers at 3, 6, and 9 feet from the hole. Challenge yourself to make a certain number of putts in a row from each distance. This helps with accuracy and builds pressure-handling skills.
Circle Drill
Place balls in a circle around the hole at a set distance and rotate around, sinking each putt. This drill helps build confidence in making challenging putts under pressure.
Pitching Ladder Drill
Set up a series of markers or tees on a practice green, starting from a short distance and gradually increasing the length between each marker. Hit shots at these targets, adjusting the length of your swing to match the desired outcome. This helps improve your pitching accuracy and distance control.
Bunker Drill
Bunker shots can be challenging, but with practice, you can gain confidence in this area. Find a practice bunker and work on your technique, focusing on following through with your swing to ensure clean and accurate shots.
Keepy-Up with Wedge
While this won't directly help your golf swing, it does promote good hand-eye coordination, which is essential for a solid swing. Try doing keepy-uppies with a toilet roll, as Joost Luiten did during the coronavirus outbreak.
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Chipping net: Practice gauging distance and landing the ball on the green
Chipping is all about gauging distance, feel, and knowing where to land the ball on the green. The chipping net drill is perfect for target practice and can be set up at home.
To start, set up your chipping net in a space where you have room to chip balls towards it. If you're chipping from the bedroom to the bathroom, for example, make sure there's a clear path for the balls to fly.
The next step is to determine your landing spot. Walk off the distance from your ball to a spot 1-yard deep on the green. This is your landing spot. Let's say the distance is 2 yards. Divide the larger number (the total distance) by the smaller number (the distance to your landing spot). This gives you your roll/carry ratio. In this case, it's 5.
Now that you have your ratio, subtract it from 12, which is a constant in this chip trajectory distance formula. This will give you your chipping club. Using the previous example, you would use a 7-iron.
Finally, hit your chip towards the net, focusing on making your landing spot with the right club. With practice, you'll be able to hit your landing spot consistently and improve your accuracy and control.
You can also involve your family in this drill to make it more fun and engaging.
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Lounge putting: Improve your putting to reach scoring objectives
If you're looking to improve your putting and reach scoring objectives, lounge putting is a great way to practice during the coronavirus outbreak. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your lounge putting sessions:
Create a Putting Surface
If you don't have a putting mat, you can create a makeshift putting surface at home. Buy an imitation putting surface with a raised hole and bunkers, and lay it onto a hard, flat surface like your kitchen floor. Alternatively, you can simply use your carpet and aim towards a chair leg or cup. While the carpet may run slower than a typical green, it can still help you gain feel and confidence, especially if you're trying out a new putter.
Alignment and Stance
Proper alignment is crucial to making successful putts. Set up your ball with your eyes directly over the target line, and narrow your line of sight. Keep your body absolutely still, with your shoulders squared and arms relaxed. Any instability or lack of centred balance will cause inconsistencies in your putter path.
Reading the Green
Before putting, take the time to survey the land and terrain to understand the surrounding area. Get a feel for the slope by scanning the green horizontally from side to side, as this will give you a more accurate sense of the terrain than a vertical scan. This close familiarity with the ground will help you align your body and prepare for the putt.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Lounge putting is all about repetition and gaining confidence in your short game. The more you practice, the better you'll become at controlling your speed and improving your posture. Turning three-putts into single strokes will significantly improve your score, so keep at it!
Remember, even if you can't make it to the golf course or driving range, lounge putting is a great way to sharpen your skills and work towards those scoring objectives.
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Driving net: Practice your swing in your garden
If you have access to a garden, you can use a driving net to practice your swing during the coronavirus outbreak. You can set up a golf practice net in your garden to work on your swing without having to drive to your golf club or visit a local driving range.
When choosing a net, consider selecting one that is both strong and durable, as it will need to withstand the impact of receiving ball after ball. It should also be easy to assemble and store, especially if you plan on packing it away after each session. The size of the net depends on what you want to use it for. If you want to hit full shots with all the clubs in your bag, you will need a larger net in terms of height and width. If you only want to work on your chipping and pitching, you can opt for a smaller net, which is simpler to put up and pack away.
Before setting up your net, measure the space you have available in your garden, taking into account the height, width, and depth required. Some brands give their measurements in feet, while others use meters, so be mindful of this when shopping for a net. Additionally, follow the instructions properly when setting up the net, ensuring that everything is fastened correctly. Place the net away from your house or anything valuable, and make sure you have enough room to swing the club freely.
There are various golf practice nets available on the market, such as the Gagalileo 10' x 7' x 6' golf net, the Forb Golf Pro Pop-Up golf net, and the Spornia SPG-8 net, which vary in price and features. The Spornia SPG-8 net, for example, has a sloped bottom section that conveniently returns the balls closer to you. It also includes side netting to catch any unexpected shanks and comes with a sturdy travel bag for easy mobility.
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Golf during COVID-19: Sanitize equipment, avoid touching your face, and maintain social distancing
Golf during the COVID-19 pandemic has been subject to various restrictions and safety measures. While golf courses have been closed in some areas, the sport has been deemed safe in others, provided that social distancing and sanitization guidelines are followed. Golf's three professional bodies—The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA), Golf Club Managers' Association (GCMA), and British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA)—have issued guidance on how to play golf safely during the pandemic. Here are some essential tips to remember:
Sanitize your equipment
It is crucial to prioritize sanitization when handling golf equipment. This includes regularly cleaning club handles and avoiding touching or handling anyone else's equipment. If you are using a rented set, ensure that all clubs, bag handles, and headcovers have been sanitized before use. Golf carts should also be wiped down with disinfectant sprays or wipes after each use, focusing on areas such as steering wheels, seats, and drink holders.
Avoid touching your face
Touching your face with unwashed hands can increase the risk of infection. Make sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after handling any equipment or coming into contact with high-touch surfaces. Avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes, or nose with unclean hands.
Maintain social distancing
Golf is considered a sport that can facilitate social distancing due to the open space and use of individual equipment. However, golfers should be cautious on greens and tee boxes, as these areas can become crowded. It is recommended to follow state and county guidelines on social distancing and respect the space of other golfers. Golf courses can also encourage golfers to walk instead of riding in golf carts to minimize close contact.
By following these guidelines and staying informed about local regulations, golfers can help ensure their safety and the safety of those around them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf courses are still open and seeing steady attendance, but it is recommended that you limit your public activities and movements as much as possible. Golf is a great way to practice social distancing, but greens and tee boxes can become crowded.
Golfers should bring hand sanitiser and wash their hands regularly. Golf clubs should also provide hand sanitiser and sanitise club handles, golf carts, pencils, scorecards, and other equipment.
There are plenty of simple indoor and outdoor drills you can do at home to keep your skills sharp. You can practice your swing using a driving net in your garden, or try lounge putting on a carpet or imitation putting surface.
You can try chipping nets for target practice or keepy-uppies with a toilet roll to improve your hand-eye coordination. You can also copy pro swings by watching Sky Sports Golf or YouTube videos.
Golf’s three professional bodies – The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA), and British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) – have issued guidance on how to play safely. This includes prioritising online services, contactless payments, and asking players with any Covid-19 symptoms not to play.
