4 keys every golfer should know for smart practice on a simulator

With today’s technology, everyday golfers have more access than ever to cutting-edge facilities. Yet, many players still don’t know how to make the most of their indoor practice sessions. Sure, swinging a club now and then might keep off-season “rust” at bay, but with a focused approach, you won’t just maintain your game this winter — you’ll emerge from the offseason better than before.

To identify the fundamentals that truly move the needle for amateur golfers, I spoke with Joke Plecker, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher. According to him, there are four keys you can focus on this off-season to take your game to the next level.

1. Hone in your set up

It might not be the most exciting thing to work on, but the setup is the foundation for the golf swing. To develop a consistent swing you have to start from the same setup position every time.

“I always say, before the Grand Prix, somebody’s gotta check the tire pressure,” Plecker says, “And [for golfers] that’s like checking your grip, your ball position, your posture.”

It’s a principle that even the best golfers live by. Brooks Koepka, for instance, revealed on an episode of Warming Up that most of his range sessions focus on “PGA”: posture, grip and alignment.

It’s a simple aspect of your game that’s easy to perfect. All you need is a couple of alignment rods or even some string to hone in your set up. 

2. Focus on face and path

When practicing indoors, there are many data points you can track, but two are critical for developing a consistent swing: face angle and club path.

“Anytime you can hit a shot and get feedback on the face and the path that you’re gonna do wonders for your game,” he says, “That’s actually one of the first checkpoints that we go through [in lessons] is just to make sure that you’ve got a true path and good club-face alignment.”

Face angle is the horizontal direction your club face points at impact. Your face will either be square, open or closed. If your face is square it will read as 0-degrees. If it’s open, your number will be a positive number (for a right-handed golfer). And if your face is closed, it will be a negative number.

Club path is the direction you swing the club. If the number is positive, you’re swinging on a path that’s in-to-out (for a righty). If the number is negative, you’re swinging out-to-in. Generally, if your club path number is positive, you’ll produce a draw and if it’s negative you’ll produce a fade. 

These fundamentals help to create a reference point so you can diagnose what’s happening in your swing — for example: where it’s struck on the face, the orientation of the clubface at impact, and even how the ball reacts to changes in the lie.

3. Experiment with your game

The off-season is the perfect time to try new things without worrying about ruining a round. Indoors, you can explore both big concepts — like ground force production — and smaller tweaks like ball position, spine tilt or equipment adjustments.

“In a controlled environment like a simulator, you can change things and see how they impact your ball flight,” Plecker says.

When making small changes to your setup and stance, Plecker says to remember the Goldilocks rule: find what’s “just right” for your game. Experiment with your driver by moving it slightly forward in your stance, then slightly back, and observe how these changes affect launch angle, spin and ball flight. This kind of deliberate experimentation builds your understanding of how setup variables influence your shot outcomes.

Beyond dialing in your stock shots, this process teaches you how to control your ball flight. Using a simulator, you can practice hitting low, penetrating shots for windy conditions or learn how to adjust your setup to shape the ball on command.

4. Don’t neglect your putting

“Almost nobody takes the offseason to work on their putting,” Plecker notes.

It’s easy to see why: most standard indoor simulators don’t include putting. But the winter months provide a prime opportunity to focus on the fundamentals of your stroke.

According to Plecker, three key elements drive a consistent, repeatable putting stroke: start line, alignment and body position. Start line governs the ball’s initial direction and is arguably the most important factor in controlling putts. Alignment and body position square the clubface and body to the intended line, creating a consistent setup that promotes center-face contact and a true roll. 

You don’t need expensive equipment to practice these fundamentals indoors. A flat surface and a simple alignment aid — string or rod — allow you to check eye position, shoulder alignment, and putter face orientation. For more advanced feedback, a putting mirror or mat can help refine stroke path and face rotation through impact.

The offseason doesn’t have to be a period of maintenance. It can be a time to refine fundamentals, explore adjustments, and build a consistent game. Now when spring arrives, you won’t just be ready — you’ll be a better, more confident golfer than you were last season.

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