Time away from the course at Christmas can really throw your golf swing out of rhythm. The festive period is a time for getting cosy by the fire and staying inside with your loved ones, not escaping to the golf club. Unfortunately.

The more you snack on mince pies and mulled wine, the harder it is to leave the warming comfort of your home. Plus, with so many visitors arriving, sneaking out for a quick round of golf is rarely an option.

You have no choice, then, but to find alternative methods of keeping your swing in shape at this time of the year.

Fortunately, indoor golf aids have progressed through the years and they let you find your rhythm from the comfort of your home. Let’s get out of the bunker and onto the fairway with the best indoor golf products for Christmas.

Golf mat and practice net

Of course, you can have one without the other but we wouldn’t recommend it in your home. Hitting golf balls off your kitchen tiles without a mat is going to leave a mark and bouncing them off the wall without a net could chip a tooth or two.

Golf mats help to simulate the feeling of standing on the tee box ready to unleash your drive down the fairway. Or, in most cases, shank it right into the bushes. That’s where the practice net comes in!

There’s no better way to gauge how you’re swinging the club than hitting balls. Golf nets require some space but they are perfect for tucking away in your garage. They are also great for the garden, it just depends if you can stand the cold or not.

Golf simulators

As many of us know, golf is an incredibly difficult game only made easier through practice. The great Gary Player put it best when he said: “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”

With that sentiment in mind, a SkyTrak golf simulator will help you practise many elements of your game from your home. After all, if you can’t get to the course at Christmas then bring the course to you with a golf simulator. Although an investment, a golf simulator can ensure you stay at the top of your game and squeeze in as much practice as possible.

Christmas is a time to share with family, and that’s precisely why a simulator is an ideal practice tool. You can bring your friends and family over to your simulator so you don’t have to worry about the course being closed.

Quality time at Christmas doesn’t have to be lost and you can use your simulator as an added source of entertainment. Especially if the only alternative is another round of charades.

Indoor putting greens

Keeping your swing in rhythm is great but if you forget how to put the ball in the hole it has all been for nothing. Avoiding the January blues is hard enough without your golf game taking a nosedive too.

To ensure your muscle memory is retained, aids like indoor putting greens or the PuttOUT Academy Putting aid retain your feel for your putter. Rolling out a mat and keeping your putting stroke feeling good is all-important to ensure your scores don’t skyrocket when you return to the course in January.

The PuttOUT Academy Putting aid levels up the putting mat by adding a pressure putt receptacle and obstacles to negotiate. The pressure putt trainer might seem like the golfing equivalent of the cup and ball game but once you crack it you’ll have a greater understanding of putting power. Other indoor putting options include the Laser Putt Golf Putting Aid, Perfect Putting Gates and Laser Putting Glasses.

Indoor chipping net

Smashing balls into a net from pretty close is satisfying but there’s not much testing of your touch and feel around the green. The indoor chipping net is a solution to that problem and allows you to chip with purpose.

Chipping nets like the SKLZ Quickster offer targets for your shots to increase the difficulty. Other chipping nets simply catch your ball and can be moved as close or far away as you would like.

Swing plate

The swing plate is one of the most versatile golf practice aids around. It can be used on any surface, which means it’s perfect for setting up in the garden or the garage.

Swing plates hold your alignment sticks, allowing you to practise multiple drills from the same spot. They can be set to any angle, allowing you to hit the same swing over and over again. This repetition will ensure that when you’re on the course again you have a great swing locked into your muscle memory.

Equipment-free golf workout routine

As well as keeping your swing in shape, it’s important to keep yourself in good working order throughout the festive period. To save you swinging your clubs around the house and smashing everything in sight, an equipment-free golf workout routine is a great option.

Ever since Joe Wicks graced our laptop and tablet screens during lockdown, home workouts have been a popular alternative to going to the gym. Try incorporating a golf-themed workout routine into your festive period to keep the cobwebs at bay.

Some exercises that work your swing muscle groups include:

• Standard push-ups
• Russian twists
• Sumo squats
• Goblet squats
• Lunges (everyone’s favourite)

Practising at home

There was once no substitute for getting out onto the golf course and hitting some shots. Today, that’s not necessarily the case and there are many alternative ways to practise golf at home.

Here at Golf Swing Systems we have a range of at-home golf aids and equipment that will keep you swinging well throughout Christmas and beyond. If you would like to find out more, or consult one of our experts to see which equipment is best for you, get in touch!