I grew up in Southern California where golf is a year round activity and, not unreasonably, I

came to believe that the only way to improve one's game was to hit balls and play as much as

possible. But I always wondered how golfers from cold winter climates became good players

considering they couldn't practice on the range or play for four or five months out of the year.

I now know the answer—practice doesn't necessarily mean hitting balls. When learning something

new it is actually better to limit the hitting of balls, or avoid it altogether, until the new

movement can be performed comfortably with practice swings.

When learning something new, the best form of practice is to swing in slow motion in front of a

mirror or window. Try to make the movement as perfectly as you can and gradually bring it up to

speed (over a number of days) while maintaining quality. Once at full speed, the emphasis should

change to hitting balls, preferably into a net so the focus is on the swing movement rather than

on where the ball goes. This procedure can be maintained throughout winter so that when spring

arrives you'll be a better golfer after a month or two of getting acclimated to playing again.

Golfers who live in the colder climates can take advantage of their situation when they continue

to work on their swings through winter. During the cold, they can train their muscles to swing

properly without the distraction and frustration of trying to hit a ball with a swing that is

unfamiliar to them. People in warmer climates can, and should, take advantage of this type of

practice as well!

Remember, right now is always the best time to start improving your swing, and if it happens to

be winter, that's all the more reason to begin your improvement program.