Practice Golf Indoors with Your Simulator
Updated 11/7/2024 by Clint McCormick

golf practice

Practice Golf Anytime: Master Your Golf Game Indoors

Want to improve your golf swing without being limited by weather or time constraints? Indoor golf practice offers a convenient and effective way to hone your skills year-round. Whether you're a seasoned golfer looking to maintain your game during the winter months or a beginner eager to learn the fundamentals, indoor practice can help you achieve your golfing goals.

In this article, we'll explore the benefits of indoor golf practice, provide tips for setting up your own indoor practice space, and recommend effective drills to improve your swing and putting. By dedicating time to indoor practice, you can enhance your golf game and be ready to dominate the course when the weather permits.

​The best sim practice routine to lower your scores is the shirt buttons and belt buckle drill. Anyone can do this, and it will add distance to your drives while minimizing your effort and risk of injury. The sim can also be used to improve many other aspects of your game. 

Using a sim to lower scores is nothing new, but you need a well-thought-out golf practice routine to make progress easier to come by. Many of my students attribute their success to the time they spend in the simulator during winter months. But they use it for more than just adding yards to their tee shots. If you don't have a simulator, you can use these practice balls in any space.

Take this guide with you to your next indoor golf practice session to see how your game stacks up and what areas you need to improve before you return to the real thing. 
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  • Shirt Buttons & Belt Buckle--Add Distance To Your Driver
  • Pressure Packed Tee Shot--Improve Driver Accuracy
  • Ball Position & Setup--Improve Hybrid Ball Striking
  • Work The Ball--Improve Shot Shaping with Irons

1. Shirt Buttons & Belt Buckle—Add Distance To Your Driver

Club: Driver
Sim Setting: Driving Range, Normal Conditions
Frequency: 25-50 balls once a week

Hit Longer Drives with this Indoor Golf Practice Drill

Gaining extra yards off the tee is a common goal for golfers of all skill levels. More distance translates to shorter approach shots and lower scores. While raw power is important, true distance comes from a combination of technique, strength, and consistency.

In this article, we'll delve into a variety of drills specifically designed to help you maximize your driving distance. These drills target key areas like swing mechanics, clubhead speed, and power generation. By incorporating these drills into your indoor golf practice routine, you can confidently add more yards to your game.

The Drill

  • Start by adjusting your sim to driving range mode and ensure all conditions are off (no wind or elevation settings). ​
  • Take a few practice swings where your only focus is rotating your shirt buttons and belt buckle in unison. This will result in a much shorter backswing but still a complete follow-through.
  • Let the rotation of your belt buckle and shirt buttons control your arms, wrists, shoulders, hips, etc. Nothing moves unless your buttons and buckle do first. 
  • While you're swinging, always keep your feet flat on the ground and your head perfectly still (until final stages of follow-through). Make adjustments to your posture and ball position to achieve this. 
  • Now you’re ready to start hitting some balls. Adjust the tee height so it’s slightly higher than you normally use. Employ the same practice swings with what will feel like a limited backswing. Within a few shots, your drives should be going almost as far as your usual shots. This is good; you're already creating distance with your body. 
  • As you get more comfortable, you can introduce a slightly longer backswing but do not overextend. The bulk of your power is generated by the rotation of your shirt buttons and belt buckle, so always keep that at the forefront of your thoughts. 
  • Monitor your side spin rates to ensure you are not sacrificing accuracy for distance. Slices are caused by your shirt buttons moving faster than your belt buckle, and vice versa for hooks. 
  • Complete each swing with a full follow-through to encourage acceleration through the impact zone.

2. Pressure Packed Tee Shot—Improve Driver Accuracy


Club: Driver
Sim Setting: Challenging Driving Hole 
Frequency: 3 tee shots per hole for 14 holes once every 2 months

Improve Driver Accuracy with this Indoor Golf Practice Drill
Even the longest drives are wasted if you can't find the fairway. And what's the point of practicing your driver if it doesn't translate to better scores on the course? This drill is perfect for golfers who excel on the range but struggle to perform under pressure.

Leverage the power of your golf simulator by challenging yourself with the most demanding tee shots imaginable. When you return to your home course, the fairways will seem wide open compared to the virtual hazards you've conquered. Let's explore a strategic practice plan to implement this drill effectively.

The Drill

  • Before arriving at the sim, write down 14 of the most nerve-wracking tee shots you’ve seen. Here are some examples;​ 
    • 18th at Augusta
    • 18th at TPC Sawgrass
    • 17th at St. Andrews
    • 8th at Pebble Beach
    • 5th at Bethpage Black
  • Before each shot, go through your entire pre-shot routine. One of the most tempting features of simulator golf is hitting a lot of balls in a short amount of time. Resist this urge. 
  • Only hit three shots per hole to prevent your body from getting too familiar with the shot; you want to keep your swing on its toes. 
  • Record your results across the 14 holes/42 shots and try to improve each week. You hit the fairway or not, there’s nothing in between.

3. Ball Position & Setup—Improve Hybrid Ball Striking


Club: 2, 3, 4, or 5 Hybrid
Sim Setting: Driving Range
Frequency: 15 balls per club once a week

Master Hybrids with this Indoor Golf Practice Drill

Hybrid clubs are a game-changer for mid-to-high handicappers who struggle with long irons. To improve your ball-striking with hybrids, it's crucial to have complete confidence in your ball position and stance. Always maintain a consistent ball position, or even slightly forward, compared to your long irons. For example, if your 4-iron is positioned at your front heel, place your hybrid there or slightly closer to your toe.

While alignment sticks are a popular tool, they often require constant readjustment on the range. With indoor golf simulators, you can eliminate this hassle and focus solely on your swing. By practicing in a controlled environment, you can perfect your hybrid shots and improve your overall game.

The Drill

  • Using the driving range function on your sim, ensure the centerline is aligned with where you’ll be hitting the ball.
  • Lay down an alignment stick 2 inches on the outside of your ball; this represents your target line.
  • Lay a second alignment stick parallel to that along your toes; this represents your body line.
  • Lay a third alignment stick perpendicular to your body line to represent your ball position. Close to your front toe for 2-4 hybrid and closer to your heel for 5-7 hybrid. 
  • This setup makes it easy to determine your optimal ball position for each hybrid. The longer the club, the further forward your ball will be. 
  • If you have chalk, you can mark where your position was for each club on the mat to compare. (Get permission from sim owner first, if not yours).
  • Take note of your distance and side spin via the sim to ensure you are optimizing each shot.
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4. Work The Ball—Improve Shot Shaping with Irons


Club: 7, 6, 5, or 4 iron
Sim Setting: Courses with lots of trees
Frequency: 5 balls per hole, once a month

Indoor Golf Practice Drills to Improve Your Ball-Striking

To confidently shape your shots, you need a deep feel for your swing. This drill prioritizes comfort and execution over rigid mechanics. The goal is to develop the ability to produce the desired shot, regardless of your swing's appearance.

Practicing these shots on a golf simulator offers a significant advantage. You can challenge yourself with demanding holes without the risk of losing balls. If you tend to slice the ball, focus on converting that slice into a fade. Instead of trying to completely reverse your swing path, it's often more effective to build on your natural tendencies.

The Drill

  • Choose holes on your sim where you are forced to shape a shot from your desired distance. If you’re working on controlling your fade, choose holes that bend from left to right. Examples for left-to-right holes;
    • 18th at Riviera CC
    • 11th at Tobacco Road
    • 16th at Pacific Dunes
  • Once there, drop your ball at the appropriate yardage for the club you’re working with and ensure you’re far enough right to be able to activate a nice fade. 
  • Monitor your side spin rate here and try to relate it to your feeling with that shot. Don’t get too technical, but the beauty of the sim is having this information to ensure your efforts bear fruit. 
  • Feel free to practice the first one a few times (10-15 shots), but after that, limit yourself to no more than three shots per hole. This will improve your reactionary muscles so you can call upon the perfect shot shape no matter the scenario. ​
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More Indoor Golf Practice Recommendations

Elevate Your Golf Game with Indoor Practice

Indoor golf simulators offer a powerful tool for golfers to improve their skills year-round. By using these simulators, you can practice in a controlled environment, analyze your swing, and work on specific areas of your game.

Here are some tips to maximize your indoor practice sessions:

  • Set Clear Goals: Identify specific areas you want to improve, such as driving distance, iron accuracy, or putting.
  • Create a Structured Practice Plan: Develop a routine that includes a warm-up, skill-specific drills, and simulated course play.
  • Utilize Data and Analytics: Track your performance metrics to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
  • Seek Professional Guidance: Consider consulting with a golf instructor to receive personalized feedback and advice.

By incorporating these strategies into your indoor practice routine, you can enhance your golf game and achieve your golfing goals.

About Clint

Clin​t grew up playing golf in Toronto, Canada, so he is very familiar with indoor golf and all its intricacies. Spending half the season using a sim over the past 20 years has taught him a lot, and he considers himself lucky to have seen such advancement in the industry. As a young pro, Clint didn’t have Trackman available while he was competing in tournaments. It was only when he became a full-time teaching professional that the technology really started to take off. Clint has seen the growth of simulator golf since its inception, and we are happy to have him on the team here at Yardstick Golf. 
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