The Best Practice Drills for a Simulator Session
Simple, data-backed drills that use what a simulator does best — instant feedback — to build contact, distance control and shot shape.
The best simulator drills all share one trait: they use the screen's instant feedback to give every shot a clear target and a number to chase. That turns aimless ball-beating into focused practice you can measure from rep to rep, which is exactly what a simulator does better than a traditional range. Each drill below pairs a simple goal with a single number so you always know whether you are improving.
You do not need a complicated routine to get better indoors — you need a handful of repeatable drills and the discipline to react to the feedback. The drills here cover contact, distance control, shot shape, the short game and playing under pressure, so you can mix and match to suit the session in front of you. Rotate through them and practice stays fresh while still building real, transferable skills.
- Good drills give every shot a target and a number to chase.
- A smash-factor ladder builds clean, centered contact.
- A gapping test turns guesswork into a yardage chart you can trust.
- A draw-and-fade game trains shot shape with on-screen proof.
- Adding a score keeps drills sharp, competitive and repeatable.
What makes a good simulator drill?
A good drill has a clear target, a single number to watch, and a way to keep score so you can compare today with last time. The screen supplies all three, which is why the best drills lean on its feedback rather than fighting it. Vague intentions like hitting it better do not stick, but a defined task — keep this number steady across a set of shots — gives your brain something concrete to solve. Repeatability matters too: a drill you can run the same way every visit lets you actually track progress. Our framework for practicing effectively explains how to build a session around drills like these.
What is a good drill for solid contact?
Try a smash-factor ladder. Hit one club and aim to keep smash factor consistent across a set of shots, slowing down if it drops. Because the number reflects how centered your strike is, you get immediate feedback on quality of contact rather than guessing from the sound or the feel. Start with a comfortable club, find a swing speed that produces clean numbers, and only add effort once the strike stays consistent. It is one of the most transferable things you can train indoors, since centeredness adds distance and accuracy at the same time. When the number holds steady, step up a club and start the ladder again.
What is a good drill for distance control?
Run a gapping test. Hit several shots with each club from wedge to driver and record the average carry distance, then look at the spacing between clubs. The goal is not maximum distance but reliable, evenly spaced gaps, so you are never stuck between clubs on the course. Many systems have a built-in club-gapping mode that does the math for you, leaving you a yardage chart you can trust. Pay attention to averages rather than your single best strike, since the average is what you will actually reproduce under pressure. This one drill quietly fixes more scoring problems than most swing changes ever will.
What is a good drill for shaping shots?
Play a draw-and-fade game. Pick a target and try to curve the ball both ways on command, using spin axis to confirm each shot actually bent the way you intended. Working both shapes around a single target trains control far better than hitting the same stock shot over and over. Call your shape out loud before each swing, then check the screen to see whether you delivered it. The on-screen proof is the magic here, because feel can lie but the number does not. Over time you build the ability to move the ball on demand, which is one of the most satisfying skills a golfer can own.
What is a good drill for the short game and wedges?
Build a wedge distance ladder. Pick a wedge and try to land controlled shots at a series of different targets, watching carry distance and landing angle to see how each one would behave on a real green. Partial wedge shots are where a lot of strokes hide, and the simulator lets you rehearse them with feedback you simply cannot get on a range. Focus on hitting your numbers rather than your hardest swing, and treat consistency as the win. Dialing in these in-between yardages pays off every single round, since most approach shots are not full swings.
What is a good drill for playing under pressure?
Give yourself a score and some consequences. Built-in skills challenges and closest-to-the-pin style games turn a drill into something to beat, which forces you to commit the way you must on the course. Set a personal best and try to top it, or play a one-ball-per-target game where every shot counts. Pressure changes your swing, so practicing with a little of it is how you make changes hold up when it matters. Bring a friend and a multiplayer game raises the stakes even more. The goal is to blur the line between practice and real play.
How do I put these drills into a session?
Warm up first, then pick one or two drills tied to your weakest area and spend the bulk of your time there before finishing with a few holes. Cramming every drill into one visit spreads your attention too thin, so rotate them across sessions instead. End on a virtual round so you test whatever you drilled under real decisions and a target that matters. Keeping a quick note of which drill you ran and the number you chased lets the next session build on this one. Our guide on using your data to fix your swing helps you choose which number each drill should watch.
How often should I change drills?
Change them when a drill stops challenging you, not before. There is value in repeating the same task across several visits, because that is how you see a number improve and learn to trust the change. Once a drill becomes easy and the number sits where you want it, swap in a harder version or a different skill to keep your attention engaged. Boredom is the enemy of good practice, but so is constant novelty that never lets anything stick. A handful of trusted drills you rotate through, tightening the targets as you improve, is the sweet spot. When you want a fresh room to try them in, browse venues near you.
The right drills make an indoor hour the most efficient practice in your week. Pick one for your weakest area, bring a number to chase, and find a simulator near you to put it into action.