5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Ball Striking on Wet Winter Ground

Winter golf brings its own set of challenges. Softer, wetter turf makes the club dig more easily, timing mistakes get punished harder, and even good swings can feel heavy. But with a few small adjustments, you can still strike the ball cleanly and consistently through the colder months.

Here are five simple ways to improve your ball striking on wet winter ground.

1. Control Your Low Point With Better Chest Rotation

When the ground is soft, any small stall in your body rotation causes the club to bottom out too early. That’s when you hit the mud, not the ball.

The key is to keep your chest moving through the strike.

Try this:
As the club meets the ball, feel your chest turning towards the target instead of stopping at impact. A continuous rotation helps move the low point forward and produces a much cleaner strike.

2. Shorten the Final 10% of Your Backswing

Long backswings work in summer when the turf is firm, but in winter they often lead to poor timing and deeper divots.

A slightly shorter, more compact backswing gives you better control and makes it easier to deliver the club before the ground grabs it.

Feel like your lead arm stops just below horizontal. You won’t actually shorten it that much — but the rhythm becomes far more reliable in soft conditions.

3. Train Ball-Then-Turf Contact

On wet lies, even the smallest early dip results in a chunky shot. Good winter strikers make sure the club meets the ball first and the ground second.

A simple drill:
Place a tee, leaf, or coin two inches ahead of the ball. Your task is to hit the ball, then brush the turf where the marker is. This trains forward low-point control and instantly improves strike quality.

4. Maintain Pressure Into the Lead Foot

When the ground is soft, many golfers instinctively lean back to “help” the ball into the air — but this actually makes you hit the ground sooner.

Instead, focus on keeping pressure moving into your lead foot as you start the downswing.

A good feel:
As you transition into the downswing, imagine “stepping into” your lead foot. You won’t physically step, but the sensation encourages the forward pressure you need to keep the strike clean.

5. Keep the Handle Moving Through the Ball

On wet turf, stopping the handle at impact allows the clubhead to flip past you, dig into the ground, and lose structure.

Imagine there’s a torch on the butt end of your club. After impact, try to “shine the torch” towards your lead thigh. This keeps the handle moving, prevents the clubhead from overtaking your hands, and produces a much more solid strike.

Final Thoughts

Winter conditions don’t have to ruin your ball striking. With a few simple adjustments to your rotation, pressure shift and rhythm, you can still hit crisp, confident shots even on the softest ground.

If you enjoyed these tips, look out for our weekly updates or book a winter lesson to sharpen your technique for next season.