How long do you take addressing the ball?

[Imurg]

I call it having a Golfing Experience!

I take about 5-10 seconds once I'm settled. Can't take too long - I start thinking about things

 

[terryb]

No more than 10 seconds as any longer allows me to think - a fatal problem

 

[viscount17]

my address to a ball can vary from 'oh, you little beaut' (or some variation thereof) to a long, sometimes loud, perjorative declamation.

seriously, I honestly have no idea how long I take. I know, pretty much the actions I will take, and have known myself to stop and start again. I think the time is shorter if I'm confident of what I'm doing, longer if not but I doubt I could approach 30 secs - my attention span isn't that long!

 

[Parmo]

Usually 20-30 seconds maybe more on the type of shot I need, I as a rule stand behind the ball, visualise the shot, go through my address routine, one more look to visualise the shot I want and pray to god.

This all depends on if I am being rushed or playing poorly.

 

[ricardodaintino]

I stand behind the ball and try to see the shape of shot I need. Choose my target (be it the flag or a patch on the fairway).

Address the ball, take another sideways look to find the target, then start my swing with a little forward push (Penick's bucket technique).

The whole process probably takes about 20 seconds.

 

[OldWindy]

I often see people take what appears to be a long time over the ball and it does seem to me that they don't practice enough off the course. That said, I know of a scratch player who takes a little while but he's forgiven cos there's effall deviation from tee to hole!

 

[HogansAlley]

Interesting point from CliveW

While spectating at Euro Tour events I was surprised at how little time is spent over the ball (major exception being Westwood). Yes, many of them spend hours pissing about deciding on the club but once over the ball, very quick indeed. I saw Tiger at Wentworth once, he was incredibily fast. I think Monty advocates as little time as possible over the ball - less time for negative thoughts to creep in.

 

[andiritchie]

Once the club is behind the ball i go for it,and i never do full practise swings just halfway back to get the arms loose

Why waste a perfectly good swing by hitting thin air

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Once you have got into the address position and maybe checked the target what else is there todo but pull the trigger. It is only delaying the inevitable - DOH!!

 

[andiritchie]

Westwood takes a long time as someone said,ive had the pleasure of watching him live a couple of times and i dont want to move or breath incase i ditract him he is over the ball so long,but boy when he hits it it goes crazy long

 

[ademac]

[/QUOTE]
Sounds like a bob rotella student


[/QUOTE]

I look at my target, see the shot, trust my swing and let it go! UNBELIEVABLE results!
I swear to god I was sinking 5-6 foot putts not even looking at the ball!
Try reading the books, I would definitely recommend them!

 

[USER1999]

I also have no idea. It is not something I consider to be important. I have assumed I am not a slow player, but in reality have no idea. I do walk fast though.

 

[Herbie]

I hope no one misunderstands as I am talking about the actual address after all the prelim shot set up, club choice, practice swing etc, this is just the point where the ball is addressed onwards , try it yourself and time 30secs and more, it is a long long time . I dont know how it can be good for anyones game myself, it wasnt good for this chap .Each to their own. If a 4ball all did this alternately waiting for each to play then the total time a 4 ball would be standing still/motionless would be min of 2 minutes per shot

Now 2mins x 72minimum shots = 2 hrs 24 mins just standing still prior to hitting the ball.

I can play 18 holes in that time alone if no one is in my way

Just imagine if they all took 100 strokes to get round

I hope I never come across a 4 ball of these guys

 

[USER1999]

I still have no idea how long I take, and I would guess the guy you were watching wouldn't either.

It always amuses me when you see someone lift, and ground the club 30 times before hitting too. Why do they think this will help? Have they ever turned on the telly and seen a tour pro do this? A horizontal waggle, ok, a vertical waggle, no. Espcially when the vertical waggle is about a foot off the ground.

 

[Herbie]

That makes me think sometimes too murph, a lot of golfers Ive seen especially good ones have a fiddle or fidget of some sort before hitting but I dont see this lifting up and down malarky with them?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

One of my regular partners takes his address with the club behind the ball and makes his stance and then shuffles his feeet for ages (I'm sure he is actually moving away from square into an open stance particularly the shoulder line). We call him Brucie (after Strictly) as it really looks like a tango or similar.

 

[ricardodaintino]

I play with a guy we used to call p.p, "practice pete", on account of the dozen practice swings! He's proabably play all four rounds of a tournament over the first 18 holes the amount of swings he takes!

However he has since sorted it out and is miles better then me! So maybe there is something in it!

 

[RGuk]

but I dont see this lifting up and down malarky with them?

The old "vertical waggle"....yuk....drives me crazy.

 

[rgs]

I generally stand behind the ball, pick my target then move in to address the ball--no practise swings, A couple of looks at the target then i hit the ball. By my reckoning i stand for about 5 seconds before hitting the ball.

I did know a guy who stood over the ball for 30 seconds--every shot--once during a round we timed him and he was a regualr as clockwork--30 seconds very time and then he hit the ball.