Barney's New Year 2026 Newsletter
- Barney
- Jan 4
- 4 min read
Hi Everyone,
And to begin with I'd like to wish you all Happy New Year with a peaceful one off the golf course and a birdie filled one on it!
The first real pangs of winter weather are now upon us and so I thought I'd cover some ideas that will come in handy as we go out on the course.
These are my five top tips for winter.
1. Adjust your set-up
Wet fairways and muddy lies are more prevalent this time of year, so adjustments must be made to ensure quality of strike. Luckily, most of them can be made at set-up. First, you want to bring your feet a little closer together and move the ball position a fraction back in your stance.
From there, simply feel like you're trying to hit the front of the ball at impact. In winter, pick and place tends to be in operation, so if this is the case, place the ball on the ground so the line is perpendicular to your target as below.
This will mean you can see the front half of the ball, which will make it easier to make proper contact and also acts as a great method if you want to learn how to stop striking your irons heavy.
2. Always use the same ball
So many golfers underestimate the importance of the golf ball. If you looked in the bags of the majority of amateurs, you would see a random mishmash of brands and compressions. But not all golf balls are created equal, and it’s important to find one that suits your game if you want to get a handle on your cold weather yardages. Otherwise, it's a bit of a guessing game.
Getting a golf ball fitting is much easier than it used to be and will be a worthy investment for those who who want to play their best. However, if that isn’t for you, as a general rule in winter, something a little firmer will help you when it comes to distance off the tee, and on approach to the green as it won’t spin as much.
3. Improve your stability
When ground conditions are soggy, stability is vitally important. With that in mind, head to the range and work on narrowing your stance. Doing this also has the benefit of steepening your spine angle a little, which will bring your ball flight down, ideal for when the wind picks up.
Try this simple drill next time you're going to practise. Take your normal stance and place a ball behind either foot as a reference point. Then, using this as a guide, stand slightly inside them and hit some shots to get used to the feeling. It might be uncomfortable to begin with, but stick with it and you’ll have a much more stable base when you need it most.
4. Stay warm
It’s vital to stay warm and dry, and that’s made much easier thanks to improvements in winter golf gear. The best golf base layers work brilliantly to trap heat and allow you to add layers on top without sacrificing swing freedom, no matter the conditions.
Whether you need one of the best golf windbreakers to stave off a stiff breeze or one of the best golf rain jackets if the heavens have opened, you no longer have to worry about losing performance.
5. Carry your clubs
This might not sound like a great idea, but carrying your bag in winter comes with a number of benefits. During the off-season, greenkeepers tend to carry out maintenance programmes in a bid to protect certain areas that are susceptible to weather damage. That means parts of your course might be roped off from electric golf trolleys or push carts.
However, if you are carrying your clubs, you’ll not be hindered by this inconvenience, while you’ll also be doing your bit to ensure your home track is in tip-top shape when the golf season restarts.
If the extra weight puts you off, why not remove some clubs and play with a three-quarter or even a half set. A good exercise is to head out with just seven clubs - two long, two mid and two short clubs, plus a putter. It’s a great way to improve your feel while upping the physicality.
If you would like to view the article with the video, please click here.
Hopefully there are a few thoughts you can use and they will keep you active, as I appreciate there's a temptation to stay on the sofa and scoff Christmas left overs!
Also, do take advantage of the amazing indoor set ups that are available. I have really enjoyed my coaching in our Studio at Mid Herts and even had time for 9 holes at Pebble Beach (which told me I needed some coaching) after I'd finished the other day.
However your golf looks over the next few weeks, enjoy, and good to know the Masters is less than 100 days away!
All the best
Barney
Fellow of the PGA
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