4 keys that every golfer should know to practice smart on a simulator

With today’s technology, everyday golfers have more access to cutting-edge facilities than ever before. Yet many players still don’t know how to get the most out of their indoor training. Sure, swinging a club every now and then can keep the offseason “rust” at bay, but with a focused approach, you’ll not only keep your game on point this winter — you’ll come out of the offseason better than before.

To identify the basics that really impact amateur golfers, I spoke with Joke Plecker, a GOLF Top 100 teacher. According to him, there are four keys you can focus on this season to take your game to the next level.

1. Improve your setup

It may not be the most exciting thing to work on, but setup is the foundation for the golf swing. To develop a consistent swing, start from the same setup position every time.

“I always say that someone should check the tire pressure before the Grand Prix,” says Plecker. “And [for golfers] that’s the same as checking your grip, your ball position, your posture.”

It’s a principle that even the best golfers live by. For example, Brooks Koepka revealed in an episode of Warm up that most of his series sessions focus on “PGA”: posture, grip and alignment.

It’s a simple aspect of your game that’s easy to perfect. All you need are a few alignment rods or even some string to tighten your setup.

2. Focus on face and path

When you practice indoors, there are many data points to track, but two are critical to developing a consistent swing: face angle and club path.

“Anytime you can hit a shot and get feedback on the face and path you’re going to take will do wonders for your game,” he says. “That’s actually one of the first checkpoints we go through [in lessons] is just to make sure you have a good path and good clubface alignment.

Face angle is the horizontal direction your club face points at impact. Your face will be square, open or closed. If your face is square, this will be shown as 0 degrees. If it is open, your number is a positive number (for a right-handed golfer). And if your face is closed, it’s a negative number.

The club path is the direction you swing the club. If the number is positive, you are swinging on a path that goes from inside to outside (for a right-hander). If the number is negative, you swing from the outside in. If your club path number is positive you will typically produce a draw and if it is negative you will produce a fade.

These fundamentals help create a reference point so you can diagnose what’s happening during your swing, for example: where the ball is struck on the clubface, the orientation of the clubface at impact, and even how the ball responds to changes in lie.

3. Experiment with your playing

The off-season is the perfect time to try new things without worrying about ruining a round. Indoors, you can explore both big concepts, like ground force production, and smaller adjustments, like ball position, spinal tilt, or equipment adjustments.

“In a controlled environment like a simulator, you can change things and see how they affect your ball flight,” says Plecker.

When making small changes to your stance and stance, Plecker says to remember the Goldilocks rule: find what’s “just right” for your game. Experiment with your driver by moving it slightly forward and then slightly back, and see how these changes affect launch angle, spin and ball flight. This type of deliberate experimentation increases your understanding of how setting variables affect the results of your shot.

In addition to dialing in your stock shots, this process also teaches you how to control your ball flight. Using a simulator, you can practice hitting low, penetrating shots for windy conditions, or learn how to adjust your formation to shape the ball on command.

4. Don’t neglect your putting

“Almost no one takes the time during the offseason to work on their putting,” Plecker notes.

It’s easy to see why: most standard indoor simulators don’t include putting. But the winter months provide an excellent opportunity to focus on the fundamentals of your stroke.

According to Plecker, three key elements create a consistent, repeatable putting stroke: starting line, alignment and body position. The starting line determines the initial direction of the ball and is perhaps the most important factor in controlling putts. The alignment and body position ensure that the face and body align with the intended line, creating a consistent setup that promotes center face contact and true roll.

You don’t need expensive equipment to practice these basics indoors. A flat surface and a simple alignment tool (string or rod) allow you to check eye position, shoulder alignment and putter face orientation. For more advanced feedback, a putting mirror or mat can help refine stroke path and facial rotation through impact.

The low season does not have to be a period of maintenance. It can be a time to refine fundamentals, explore adjustments and build a consistent game. When spring arrives, you won’t just be ready; you will be a better and more confident golfer than last season.

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