Shaking Off the Rust: Getting Your Game Ready for Spring
By Patrick Stephenson
Bethpage Practice Green
As the days get longer and the temperatures start to rise, golfers everywhere are itching to get back on the course. But after a long winter away from the game, it’s easy to feel a little rusty. Your swing might feel out of sync, your putting stroke might lack its usual confidence, and your feel might not be quite what it was in the fall.
Instead of expecting to pick up right where you left off, the key to a smooth transition into the new season is preparation. Before you dive into full rounds, take time to sharpen the fundamentals, dial in your putting, and get your body moving again. With a structured approach, you’ll quickly regain your rhythm and set yourself up for a successful golf season.
In this guide, we’ll cover two essential areas to focus on:
- Locking in the fundamentals of your swing.
- Mastering short putts to rebuild confidence on the greens.
By honing these areas early, you’ll shake off the rust and start the season feeling sharp, confident, and ready to play your best golf.
Focus on the Fundamentals
After a long winter, your golf swing might not feel as natural as it did at the end of last season. That’s why the first step in getting your game back in shape is refocusing on the fundamentals. Small details like alignment, tempo, and ball striking can make a huge difference in how quickly you regain consistency.
Alignment
One of the most overlooked fundamentals is alignment. If your body isn’t set up correctly, your body will naturally start to make compensations to hit the ball straight. This can create bad habits that will take all year to fix.
Start each practice session with an alignment rod on the ground to ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are aimed properly. Take this a step further by using an alignment rod during casual rounds early in the season. Doing so will reinforce correct alignment habits, setting a strong foundation for the rest of the year.
Tempo: Smooth and Controlled
Many golfers struggle with tempo early in the season, either rushing their swings or feeling sluggish. The key is to find a balanced rhythm. Think of legendary ball strikers like Ernie Els or Adam Scott—smooth, effortless, and repeatable. Try making a few swings at 75% speed to reset your feel before ramping up to full speed.
Feeling this smooth rhythm will help reinforce proper swing positions and prevent bad habits from creeping in early. This time of year is all about laying a solid foundation that will set you up for success throughout the season. Taking a deliberate approach to your range sessions—hitting a few buckets of balls with clear intent—can make the return to golf feel less overwhelming and help you find the center of the clubface more consistently.
Grip: Double-Check Your Connection to the Club
It’s common for grip pressure and positioning to change subtly over time. Check that your hands are in a neutral position and that your grip hasn’t gotten too strong or too weak which once again can cause compensation and bad habits to creep in.
To take this a step further, consider investing in a clip-on grip trainer like the one Scottie Scheffler uses during his practice sessions. If checking his grip daily is a priority for the world’s top player, it’s certainly a smart habit for the rest of us—especially at the start of the season when fundamentals need extra attention.
Work the Ball One Way to Eliminate One Side of the Course
Trying to hit both fades and draws early in the season can create inconsistency. Instead, commit to one shot shape—whether it’s a slight fade or a small draw—and build your game around it. By doing so, you take one side of the course out of play, making your misses more predictable and your strategy more effective.
Drill Down on Putts Inside of 5 Feet
Rory Mcilroy practicing at Bethpage
One of the quickest ways to shake off the rust and regain confidence on the course is by sharpening your short putting. Putts inside of five feet can make or break your round, and after a winter layoff, it’s easy to lose the feel and consistency needed to make them with confidence. Focusing on three key fundamentals—keeping your head still, striking the center of the putter face, and controlling pace—will help you get back into a rhythm on the greens.
Keep Your Head Still for More Consistency
One of the main reasons short putts are missed is unnecessary head movement. Lifting your head too soon to watch the ball can throw off your stroke and lead to inconsistent results.
The solution? Keep your head still until the ball is well on its way to the hole. A great drill to reinforce this is the “coin drill”—place a coin on the ground and keep your eyes on it after impact instead of following the ball. This trains you to stay steady, improving both contact and accuracy on short putts.
Strike the Putter in the Center of the Face
A putt struck off-center can skid, lose speed, and veer offline, even on a perfect read. To improve your strike, practice with a small gate drill by placing two tees just slightly wider than your putter’s face. If you make a clean stroke and hit the center, the putter will pass through cleanly. If you hit off-center, you’ll make contact with the tees, giving you instant feedback.
Control Your Pace for a Repeatable Stroke
To really regain confidence, focus on making every putt roll into the hole at the same speed. Whether you prefer the ball to die into the cup or hit the back with a bit of speed, the goal is consistency. A great drill is to putt 3-6 footers witht the goal of having each putt hit the bottom of the hole in the exact same place
Repetition Builds Confidence
The more you see the ball drop, the more comfortable you’ll feel standing over putts when it matters. Start each practice session with a simple drill—make 25 consecutive putts from three feet. If you miss, start over. This creates a pressure situation and forces you to develop a repeatable stroke, which will pay off when you’re on the course.
Key Takeaways
Sharpen Fundamentals: Focus on alignment, tempo, and grip to quickly regain consistency in your swing. Small adjustments now prevent bad habits later.
Commit to One Shot Shape: Early in the season, stick to either a fade or a draw to eliminate one side of the course and improve control.
Master Short Putts: Confidence on putts inside five feet can make or break your round. Prioritize keeping your head still, striking the center of the putter face, and controlling pace.
Drills for Improvement: Use alignment rods, tempo swings at 75% speed, and putting drills like the “coin drill” and gate drill to build repeatable mechanics.
