Practice swing?

[bobmac]

I know you've probably seen golfers out there swinging away on the fairways waiting for the group in front to get out of the way (300 yds min of course)
But what are they actually doing and is it of any use?

I think the name should be changed for a start.
"The Practice Swing" is surely used on the driving range where you do your practice.

I'd like to re-name it
"The Rehearsal Swing"
After all, thats what you're doing.
You should stand near the ball and rehearse the swing you are about to use to hit the ball with. Then step up quickly to the ball and try and make the same swing.
Any hesitation or freezing over the ball will just let other thoughts sneak in.

for example

Did I lock the back door?
Wonder what's for tea?
Wonder if that barmaid/barman will still be working when we finish
etc etc.

So, do your practice on the range, rehearse the swing on the course and quickly pull the trigger.

 

[chris661]

So, do your practice on the range, rehearse the swing on the course and quickly pull the trigger.

The last pro I went advocated a 5 second thing. Once you had sorted everything out you addressed the ball and "went" within 5 seconds otherwise you stood off and started again.

 

[DaveM]

Dont do a practice swing its never the one I hit the ball with. I stand behind the ball visulise the ball flight etc. With this fixed in my mind, walk up to the ball check address is ok. Then try and put a smooth swing on it.(note the word try).

 

[GB72]

Yes, quick swing near the ball just to check everything is in working order then step up to the mark and fire.

Not one for a long drawn out routine, I have seen people take a 'rehearsal' swing without a club in their hand before then get the club and do it again. What is that about?

 

[One Planer]

I take 3 'rehersal' swings, step behind the ball, choose my line and landing zone, adress the ball and fire.

Whole thing takes around 25 seconds.

 

[Imurg]

I have to say I've taken to not having a practice/rehersal swing. It doesn't seem to be doing me any harm...

Exception is a chip shot. I'll do about 3 or 4 to get the right pace of the club through the ball.

 

[BoadieBroadus]

i've recently been struggling with a total freeze over the ball, standing stock still like a numpty for 20-30 secs at address.

trying to use the hit within 5 secs approach noted above. worse at the range than on the course, but don't want it creeping in...

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I have to say I've taken to not having a practice/rehersal swing. It doesn't seem to be doing me any harm...

Exception is a chip shot. I'll do about 3 or 4 to get the right pace of the club through the ball.

Pretty much the same as me.

 

[Crawfy]

Step up & check alignment (I straighten my left arm to check where clubhead is aimed)
One practice swing to visualise the shot
Address the ball and pull the trigger

Doing that for all shots on tee & f'way

Prob along the lines of the "5 sec rule"

 

[bladeplayer]

i call it a pre shot routine , it does include a practice/rehersal swing in which i visualise the shot to come , convince myself have the right/enough club & fire away . i think a preshot routine is important to have , helps when things aint going well ,

 

[Hobbit]

I have a gentle 3/4 practice swing, more to take the tension out of the swing then it's SMACK. I'm not into a regimented routine as such... probably why I'm struggling off 5.

 

[G_Mulligan]

I'd like to re-name it
"The Rehearsal Swing"
After all, thats what you're doing.
You should stand near the ball and rehearse the swing you are about to use to hit the ball with. Then step up quickly to the ball and try and make the same swing.
Any hesitation or freezing over the ball will just let other thoughts sneak in.

Bob what are your thoughts on a rehearsal swing that does not take a divot? If in your normal swing you want a divot just after the ball can a rehearsal swing that is slightly different in not taking a divot be useful?

For me I only usually make a rehearsal/practice swing with my tee shots and as others have mentioned with my chips and pitches.

 

[Crawfy]

I have a gentle 3/4 practice swing, more to take the tension out of the swing then it's SMACK. I'm not into a regimented routine as such... probably why I'm struggling off 5.

I wouldn't mind struggling off 5.....

 

[Khamelion]

I generally take a few practice/rehersal swings before starting a round, after that it's just on to the tee box to play, unless of course we are waiting for a group in front to clear and I might then take a few prahersals or rehactices.

But otherwise I stand behind the ball, look at where I want the ball to go, line up and address the ball and boosh of she flies in the opposite direction and flight of what was in my mind.

 

[Monty_Brown]

Mine is more of a tension reliever to just get used to the weight and feel of whichever club is in my hand, more of a 3/4 swing as was mentioned above. That's when I'm hitting it fairly well.

If I'm not playing well, I have to say I end up taking a lot of swings (not as part of pre-shot routine though) in a hopelessly misguided attempt to iron out faults. Pointless I think... but at least it feels like I'm doing something to sort out whatever's going wrong

 

[Snelly]

I have to say I've taken to not having a practice/rehersal swing. It doesn't seem to be doing me any harm...

Exception is a chip shot. I'll do about 3 or 4 to get the right pace of the club through the ball.

Pretty much the same as me.

Me too. I used to take a couple but as my grandfather used to say, "no-one has ever hit a good shot with a practice swing!"

Can't see the point of having one to be honest. Means nowt.

 

[timchump]

interesting..
i do a number of practice swings, i guess just to give me some confidence before i strike the ball, though bob has planted the seed, do i really need to do it

taking time over the alignment is probably the most importrant thing for me, i know the majority of my bad shots are caused by poor alignment.

 

[TonyN]

I use my 1 or 2 rehearsal swings to get the feel for what I need to do, sometimes it taking it away wide, other times its getting it on the in to out path, other times its just to remind me to break the wrists late.

A lot of the time though, there are no thoughts and I'm not rehearsing anything, I am getting a feel for distance to apply the right swing lentgh.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend not to take a pracirce swing anymore as I was filling my mind with too many technical thoughts. I use my glove as a mental trigger to start the thought process, take my address, final look at the target and swing.

 

[Redwing]

I step behind the ball to get lined up, get into my hitting posture, take one rehearsal swing, move into the ball and go.
That doesn't take long but gets me prepared.