In this video, in association with Ping, Kit Alexander talks through his 10 top winter golf hacks
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00:00 Welcome to this golf monthly video in association with Ping. I've come down to Peterborough Milton Golf Club and today
00:07 I'm going to be sharing with you 10 awesome winter golf hacks. You can use these to keep playing through the winter
00:13 Keep enjoying your golf and maybe even shoot a few good scores as well
00:18 [Music]
00:30 Balls of course a vital bit of equipment
00:34 We've all got our favorites that we like to play with throughout the summer
00:37 But it's worth re-examining that in the winter something a little bit harder can really help you
00:42 It might fly a little bit further and when it is softer you don't need quite so much finesse and spin around the greens
00:49 The color as well another important thing yellow balls or other brightly colored balls as well can be really really helpful
00:56 If you play in a little bit of frost or generally have trouble seeing the balls
01:00 Especially as the leaves start coming down get something a little bit differently colored
01:03 Something a little bit firmer and getting the right ball for winter could really help your scores
01:10 When it comes to putting it's vital that you change your perception of putts in the winter
01:16 Now there's going to be more grass on the green and more moisture as well
01:19 So what that means is there's more friction
01:22 So putts run slower and they break less if you're used to playing on really quick greens through the summer
01:29 You have to get used to the fact that they're going to be a lot slower and they're going to break less
01:34 So take time to calibrate yourself to winter greens
01:37 Go and spend some time on the practice putting green and when you're out on the course
01:41 If you do like to visualize an aim point or a false hole that you're aiming for
01:46 Make sure you adjust that appropriately play for slower speeds and less break
01:51 My next tip concerns the one item of clothing that I will never go on to a golf course without wearing the moment
01:58 It gets below about 10 degrees centigrade and that's one of these things here a base layer. They're absolutely brilliant
02:05 Stick it on underneath whatever you're wearing. It's skin tight super comfortable and it's amazing how much of a difference
02:12 Just that one relatively thin layer makes to your temperature throughout around
02:16 So the moment those temperatures start to plummet get yourself a base layer
02:21 If you're able to it's a really good idea to carry your clubs in winter
02:26 Even if you like to use a buggy or a trolley the rest of the year
02:29 We know that can really churn up courses as they get wetter and softer underfoot
02:34 So get yourself a small little bag, maybe even play with a half set and a pencil bag
02:39 But it avoids having to go around all the little signpost areas churning up the course with a trolley or a buggy
02:44 Get the clubs on your back and go out for a nice winter stroll
02:48 There's nothing worse than playing golf with cold hands once the freeze sets in there's no going back
02:56 So it's absolutely vital that you keep them warm and toasty throughout the round
03:01 Traditional way of doing that a nice big old pair of mitts that you can chuck on over the top of everything else
03:07 Alternatively you can get yourself one of these a little wearable hand warmer
03:12 Now I am fully channeling my inner Tom Brady here look like an NFL quarterback
03:17 But actually they're really really handy as well with mitts
03:21 You've got to find somewhere to store them with a wearable hand warmer like this
03:25 You just wear it the whole time as you're walking down the fairways in between shots out in front keeping your hands nice and
03:31 Toasty the moment it's time to play just whip it round the back
03:35 It's totally out of the way and you can play your golf shot without messing about
03:39 As golfers we all suffer from a little bit of ego. So this next bit of advice
03:44 Well, it works all year round, but especially in winter and that's take one more club
03:50 You'd be amazed how much winter conditions can knock off your carry yardages into greens
03:56 Whether that's simply just the colder temperatures going into a stiff breeze or even rain knocking your ball out of the air
04:03 So when you're working out your yardages and what club you're going to hit
04:06 Remember it's not going to carry as far and it's not going to release as far when it lands as well in winter
04:12 Most of your approach shots are all carry so club up at least one and in some conditions
04:18 Maybe even two or three clubs. Make sure you get your approaches back to the hole
04:24 It's brilliant having adjustable clubs and coming into winter is the perfect time to take
04:29 Advantage of that right now the courses well, they're softer
04:33 You want as much carry as possible so you can crank up the loft on your driver
04:38 Even move the weight back a little bit as well
04:41 That will help higher launch and a little bit more backspin which will keep the ball in the air for a touch longer
04:47 Don't go too far. You don't want to be ballooning it
04:50 But if you just make a few little tweaks to give you a few extra yards of carry off the tee
04:55 That'll really help you drive the ball further in winter
04:57 It's really important to make sure that the soles of your shoes are clean and clear of debris
05:02 Before you play any shots if they're not and in winter
05:07 It's easy to get grass and mud leaves and if you're playing in really cold conditions
05:12 The ice can get compacted under there pretty quickly as well
05:15 The last thing you want is to lose your grip in your feet when you're hitting a golf shot
05:20 So make sure before every shot you check the soles clean out your cleats
05:24 You can use a tee or a pitchfork
05:26 But also don't do it on the green or near the apron or on a tee go to a quiet area of the course somewhere
05:32 Where balls are less likely to find and you're not likely to cause too many issues by leaving a little patch of mud
05:38 So just get your tee out and give them a quick clean before you hit
05:43 It's well worth investing in some really high quality outerwear
05:48 Not like it used to be these days. The technology involved is absolutely fantastic
05:53 It's all breathable windproof waterproof
05:56 Stretches in all the right areas so you can swing as well
06:00 I've already got my waterproof trousers on as you can see reasonably slim fitting
06:05 Nothing too baggy like you used to get also a top like this that really stops the wind absolutely vital and of course
06:12 Everyone needs a waterproof as much as we'd like to play in Sun all day long all around the year
06:18 We know that doesn't happen, especially if you're playing in the UK to get yourself a really good set of waterproofs as well
06:24 Yes, they can be expensive
06:26 But believe me if you do play golf year-round good outer layers will more than pay back your outlay on them
06:33 The short game it's an area that we all know we need to practice and just because it's winter
06:39 You don't need to neglect it either and the reasons for that are twofold firstly winter golf often more difficult
06:46 So you might find yourself needing to recover more often and secondly
06:51 Well the type of shots you're going to play around the greens could be totally different in winter as opposed to in the summer
06:58 You can get some very different lives
06:59 Perhaps you've all even lying on mud
07:01 Softer greens enable you to play with a little bit less loft or do even different things
07:06 So make sure you get down to the practice area the short game area and see what you can and can't do in winter
07:13 And if there are shots you're not quite confident on perhaps playing off of a more bear lie
07:17 Give yourself a bit of confidence by practicing them. You've got a razor-sharp short game through the winter as well
07:23 It'll keep you scoring well, and actually it'll feel a lot easier when the summer comes around off of slightly better turf
07:30 There we go
07:32 That is your 10 winter golf hacks in association with ping
07:36 I hope you're going to find those helpful. If you've got any yourselves add them into the comments below as well
07:42 Please remember like and share this video because we have got loads more great content coming your way from the golf monthly YouTube channel
07:50 [Outro Music]
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