How To Knock Off the Rust After a Layoff

24 snips

Apr 27, 2026

Practical tips for shaking off rust after a long layoff, from warmups and injury prevention to adapting swings from simulators to real turf. They cover managing expectations, simplifying strategy, and dialing in equipment and distances early. Short game and putting quirks get special attention, plus practice methods—when to use block reps vs random reps—to rebuild reliable on-course feel.

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INSIGHT

Layoffs Can Create Fool's Gold Rounds

A layoff can create a 'clean slate' where technical worries drop and swings feel free, producing occasional fool's gold rounds.
Jon Sherman cautions that freedom can vanish after a few rounds when bad patterns reappear.

ADVICE

Prioritize Short Game And Use Random Practice

Overdose on short game and putting early in the season because speed control and greenside feel degrade fastest.
Adam Young recommends random practice for feel: vary distance, speed, and breaks rather than repeating identical shots.

ADVICE

Fix Then Randomize Your Short Game Work

Use block practice to fix a specific contact problem, then switch to random practice to access that skill under course-like variability.
Adam Young explains block for technique, random for recall and predictive access during play.

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This episode focuses on how to manage your game after a long layoff, particularly an offseason.

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