Pre shot routine - do you have one?

[G1BB0]

so following on from the mental thread, I was thinking about pre shot routines. I dont really have one, yes I do certain things but nothing that focusses me for the shot. I feel I need to sort something rather than my current walk up pull club and hit it. I feel its too casual and leads to a lot of poor shots. Yes ability & swing affect this also but when you know you can do it then don't surely its down to focus for the shot in hand!

Do you have one? If so how did you decide on what it should be?

The likes of Bradley, Day, Duffner have very obvious ones & to be honest Bradley and Day take forever!

look forward to the replies......

 

[ScienceBoy]

1. Stand behind the ball

2. Laser the distance if required or choose the shot type

3. Pick the club

4. Pick out a target then pick out a spot in front of the ball along that line.

5. I then follow the GASP procedure: Grip-Aim-Stance-Play

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Assess the shot while walking to my ball, measure the distance, look at wind, slope, ground conditions etc, choose club, choose point in front of ball on aim line, hit it. Doesn't need to be any more complicated than that IMHO

 

[Kellfire]

I've been likened to Bradley and Duffner with the amount of waggling and feet shuffling I do. I can NEVER seem to step into my stance and feel comfortable. I always move back and forth to make sure I'm set.

 

[tsped83]

Stand over the ball, screws eyes tightly shut, cross myself twice, four Hail Marys and two hello dollys, then.....KA-BOOM!.....in to the trees.

But seriously, I set my grip and posture, pick a target line and then swing. At most, ONE practice swing.

 

[Imurg]

Assess the shot while walking to my ball, measure the distance, look at wind, slope, ground conditions etc, choose club, choose point in front of ball on aim line, hit it. Doesn't need to be any more complicated than that IMHO

Me too.......

 

[ventura]

Similar to most, pick the target and a spot a few feet in front of the ball to aim at, couple of practice swings and then play.

What do people do if they're waiting on a group in front to clear? Wait until they've moved before starting or set-up and wait? I tend to do loads of practice swings whilst waiting then chunk it 50 yards further down the fairway, maybe I should start delaying set-up until it's clear.

 

[G1BB0]

Similar to most, pick the target and a spot a few feet in front of the ball to aim at, couple of practice swings and then play.

What do people do if they're waiting on a group in front to clear? Wait until they've moved before starting or set-up and wait? I tend to do loads of practice swings whilst waiting then chunk it 50 yards further down the fairway, maybe I should start delaying set-up until it's clear.

I will have a cig and chat with playing partners.

 

[Hobbit]

Assess which club as I'm walking to my ball. Allow for the wind, then address the ball and hit it.

Rarely even take a practice swing.

 

[CMAC]

...everyone does, some just don't think they have :smirk:

 

[DCB]

Never really had one, but after watching the golf this weekend I think it's time for a change.

I'm going to have to work out the best way to do this but am looking forward to considerably longer rounds and possibly the use of a headtorch to complete my rounds in September and October.

I've read some serious guff on here over the years on preshot routines and being 'in the zone' and 'triggers' etc. It's a simple game really. We hit the ball, walk after it, find it and hit it again. As Hobbit says

Assess which club as I'm walking to my ball. Allow for the wind, then address the ball and hit it.

Rarely even take a practice swing.

Simple really.

 

[Andy]

Assess the shot while walking to my ball, measure the distance, look at wind, slope, ground conditions etc, choose club, choose point in front of ball on aim line, hit it. Doesn't need to be any more complicated than that IMHO

How can you asses your next shot whilst walking to your ball? Until you can see your ball, lie, slope you cannot commit to any proper thoughts on how you will play your next shot.

 

[G1BB0]

I dont really assess until I reach it but as its usually after a 10 yard duff thats not very long between shots anyway

 

[tsped83]

I've read some serious guff on here over the years on preshot routines and being 'in the zone' and 'triggers' etc. It's a simple game really. We hit the ball, walk after it, find it and hit it again.
Simple really.

I applaud you sir, well said.

 

[One Planer]

I used to have one, but over time stopped going through it.

To be honest, and this is just my opinion, I think my game has suffered for the lack of it. I almost feel rushed.

Some people are going to be for and against pre shot routines, pretty much goes the same for anything in golf.

 

[G1BB0]

thats my thinking Gareth, I rush the shot with about 20 swing thoughts. 30 seconds to focus and setup (or less) then hit the ball could make a big difference or at least that is what I intend to find out.

 

[ludders]

My Prescott routine consists of
1 assess lie and check distance
2 select club and stand behind and play the shot through my mind
3 pick an aim point
4 address the ball swing and hope it all works

I don't take a practice swing at address only behind the ball while waiting for those in front to move

 

[Farneyman]

I have also started a pre shot routine and hopefully with time this will become 2 nd nature, however there is no point having a perfect pre shot routine and then thinking about the wrong things to yourself before you hit the ball.

My new routine involves more of this mental aspect in the preparation to hit the ball, and nothing to do with swing details eg club position/patterns.

 

[Hobbit]

How can you asses your next shot whilst walking to your ball? Until you can see your ball, lie, slope you cannot commit to any proper thoughts on how you will play your next shot.

Whilst you're walking to your ball, you assess wind direction, slope, hazards, pin at the back/front. The last thing you do is assess the lie/distance/club as you arrive at your ball - simples, and it saves time. All this in the zone/special triggers wooosahhh cwap just over complicates the game.

 

[CMAC]

It's a simple game really. We hit the ball, walk after it, find it and hit it again.

.

..which is YOUR pre-shot routine

no-one said it had to be complicated :smirk: