How Effective Is It to Play Golf Indoors?

Most of us can only play golf indoors right now because the courses are closed for the season.

The good news is that there have been a huge increase in business and home indoor golf simulators over the last five years.

Is it true that training inside makes things better? Is it really making you feel better about yourself, though?

We need to check it out.

Problems with practicing inside

There aren’t many golfers who would say that training inside is better than playing the game outside.

That being said, golfers can’t practice as often as other sports, no matter what the weather is like:

1. Artificial turf, no variation of lies
2. Lack of environmental factors
3. Accuracy of simulation technology

Limitation #1: Artificial Turf

Indoor golf mats, such as the Fiberbuilt series , have improved the game’s realism and decreased the likelihood of overuse injuries, but they still can’t compare to playing on actual grass.

Golfers face an endless amount of lie that test our skills, in addition to various kinds of grass (such as Bermuda).

We become used to getting flawless lays on every shot when we hit off artificial turf since we don’t get these fluctuations.

Limitation #2: Lack of environmental factors

Even though golf simulators often include weather conditions like wind, temperature, and elevation, nothing can really match dealing with these things in real life.

In a model inside, if the “wind” is 25 mph from left to right, you can just aim left and fire a normal shot.

In the real world, you will have to deal with these extra things:

1. As you swing, you should take a wider stance to keep your balance and steadiness. This is because the wind could easily knock you off your feet.
2. Having strong winds for a long time can really mess with a golfer’s mind during a round.

Limitation #3: Accuracy of simulation technology

In our fully-equipped basement golf simulator, it would be great if we could all have Trackman launch trackers, right?

Most of us have to work with launch monitors that cost less than $2,000, so the data we get will not be perfect.

Most consumer-level launch trackers, like the Garmin R10, are pretty good at measuring distance, but they’re not always good at measuring shot shapes.

If you put too much stock in these numbers, you could work on that “5-yard baby draw” all winter only to find out during your first round of the spring that it was really a 20-yard hook the whole time. Oh no! You worked on a bad habit all winter.

Tips for making indoor practice more effective

I have spent a huge amount of time practicing inside.

It took me a long time to get good at golf, but I hit thousands of shots on a golf mat I made out of plywood and foam in my parents’ shed. There was something wrong with it.

Even when we moved to a 50-yard indoor hitting and putting course in college, we still couldn’t see where our balls were going.

I have tried everything and these ideas will help you get more out of your indoor practice.

Idea #1: Focus on swing mechanics, not outcomes

Stop assuming things when you practice inside. That’s the most important thing I can say.

I’m sorry to say it again, but you should really record your golf move on video. To put it briefly.

If you don’t have a Trackman in your living room that can measure your movements to the millimeter, video analysis is the only accurate form of feedback.

If you know how to read the video, you can look at your swing anywhere and figure out what you’re doing wrong. To learn more about this, the DIY Academy is a good spot.

Idea #2: Get your own launch watch.

What’s even better than filming your swing?

Seeing footage and data related to your swing in tandem.

Modern innovations in launch monitor technology have made it possible to purchase one for less $1,000. I highly recommend the Rapsodo MLM2 Pro and the Garmin R10. The Mevo+  is an excellent alternative for those with more disposable income; it also has a camera integrated into it for the purpose of video analysis.

Remember what I mentioned earlier? It’s not a good idea to rely just on a launch monitor. However, when combined with video analysis and kept in perspective, these small devices may truly elevate your game:

• You will have a better understanding of the distances on your clubs.
• Shot patterns will be visible to you.
• You will have a better time (and keep practicing for longer)!

Idea #3: Invest in a good mat

The main idea behind this is to keep people from getting hurt.

People who try to hit thousands of shots on hard, low-quality artificial grass will fail.

Even though it costs more, buying a Fiberbuilt mat will save you hundreds of dollars in medical bills from problems like “tennis elbow” and hand strains.

Let me tell you something: overuse accidents are very bad. They might not throw off your life, but they will definitely throw off your golf game!

My Final Thought

Here are some of the things that you should take away from this newsletter, if you manage to do so:

When you are practicing indoors, you should avoid assuming and instead seek input from many sources.
Make an investment in a high-quality indoor setup (launch monitor and a fantastic mat) I’ll see you in the next issue in a moment!