Pre Shot Routine... How long

[Slab]

So as not to take the pace thread of on one specific direction...

I mentioned I saw a piece that give these timed average stats for arriving at ball until hitting the shot (excludes tap-ins) so basically its what equals the pre-shot routine. This is what they found:

Pro player
Tee shot 25 seconds
2nd shot 33 seconds
3rd shot 36 seconds
4th shot 26 seconds
5th shot 27 seconds
6th shot 13 seconds

Amateur player
Tee shot 27 seconds
2nd shot 25 seconds
3rd shot 21 seconds
4th shot 14 seconds
5th shot 11 seconds
6th shot 8 seconds

One thought was that as us amateurs get to the short game section of a hole we take half the PSR we did back on the tee while pros are much more consistent at having a repeatable PSR and take more time over their approach shot and 1st putt

So either amateurs are taking too long over the tee shot or not enough time over the short game shots

Thoughts?

 

[Imurg]

Pre-Shot routines should be as short as possible.

Don't forget that the Pros are playing for "real" and we're playing for fun. The shorter shots, although shorter, are more important to the score and will therefore command a bit more deliberation because they have a greater range of shots in those positions.
From 150 out we're mainly looking to hit the green, from green side we have a much more limited choice of shot so it doesn't take as long.
I still think many PSR's put more pressure on the shot. 150 out, little wind, little trouble, fairly flat - it can't take more than 10-15 seconds to get on with it can it? But I see people taking that amount of time putting a glove on.
Then the same again to choose a club - how many different ways are there to hit the ball 150 yards - then another 20 seconds to actually get the ball going.
Best part of a minute for a pretty straightforward shot......too long.

 

[chrisd]

I played in the Ping ProAm with tour player Matthew Nixon and he talked me through the thinking pattern for second shots, what to look for, how to decide on the shot shape, direction, where the smart or sucker shot would go etc. that was about a week before H4H at West Hill. It took a few seconds longer to play my second/third shots but was a fantastic few minutes of tuition from Matt and the shot to the green, as all shots, is definitely not a " walk up and smack it" for me in the future

 

[pokerjoke]

Imo it really comes down to how much is on the shot.
Pros play for millions of dollars,so its understandable sometimes.
Putting to me is so important,so I take a little longer on putts than t-shots.

Has anyone watched Jim Furyk putting against Sergio in the Ryder cup at Medinah.
On the 16th 17th 18th holes I promise you its tough to watch.
All on you-tube

 

[Hammertoe]

I always found a short repeated Pre shot routine to be a good thing, if I have had a bad hole or hit a bad shot a short routine can get the head calmed down again and help me get refocused rather than stepping up and trying to take the skin off it and making things worse.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Walk up, hit it, trot on.....

 

[G_Mulligan]

So as not to take the pace thread of on one specific direction...

I mentioned I saw a piece that give these timed average stats for arriving at ball until hitting the shot (excludes tap-ins) so basically its what equals the pre-shot routine. This is what they found:

Pro player
Tee shot 25 seconds
2nd shot 33 seconds
3rd shot 36 seconds
4th shot 26 seconds
5th shot 27 seconds
6th shot 13 seconds

Amateur player
Tee shot 27 seconds
2nd shot 25 seconds
3rd shot 21 seconds
4th shot 14 seconds
5th shot 11 seconds
6th shot 8 seconds

One thought was that as us amateurs get to the short game section of a hole we take half the PSR we did back on the tee while pros are much more consistent at having a repeatable PSR and take more time over their approach shot and 1st putt

So either amateurs are taking too long over the tee shot or not enough time over the short game shots

Thoughts?

Interesting on the times and thinking of my own games shot 1&2 would be switched with 3&4 I do not as a rule take a practice swing with my tee shot or long irons but take 2 or 3 with my wedges.

I posted in the other thread that a PSR should take no more that 30-60 seconds. This was just what I thought was a reasonable amount of time without really thinking about my routine itself. Quite rightly this got attacked as being too long and made plenty of people voice the opinion that PSRs in general are too time consuming and unnecessary. I have just gone through my set routine with a wedge including 3 practice swings and it took 22 seconds.

I have always considered myself a quick player. I do not freeze over the ball once I see the shot I am pretty much just waggle, waggle, shuffle, look and go. I think the key to a quality (and short) PSR is decisiveness, especially on or around the greens. See the shot, trust your read, and go.

 

[garyinderry]

does this include the time spent eyeing up what kind of shot you are going to play or does this waggle take 22 seconds?

 

[G_Mulligan]

does this include the time spent eyeing up what kind of shot you are going to play or does this waggle take 22 seconds?

I think it's pretty clear from my post that it is not a 22 second waggle

 

[Hacker Khan]

InI posted in the other thread that a PSR should take no more that 30-60 seconds. This was just what I thought was a reasonable amount of time without really thinking about my routine itself. Quite rightly this got attacked as being too long and made plenty of people voice the opinion that PSRs in general are too time consuming and unnecessary. I have just gone through my set routine with a wedge including 3 practice swings and it took 22 seconds.

I have always considered myself a quick player. I do not freeze over the ball once I see the shot I am pretty much just waggle, waggle, shuffle, look and go. I think the key to a quality (and short) PSR is decisiveness, especially on or around the greens. See the shot, trust your read, and go.

To be honest if I was playing with someone doing 3 practice swings every time they took a shot I'd lose the will to live.

 

[G_Mulligan]

To be honest if I was playing with someone doing 3 practice swings every time they took a shot I'd lose the will to live.

Interesting on the times and thinking of my own games shot 1&2 would be switched with 3&4 I do not as a rule take a practice swing with my tee shot or long irons but take 2 or 3 with my wedges.

not every shot, just my wedges, 2 is my usual but sometimes it does not feel quite right so I take an extra one

 

[garyinderry]

I think it's pretty clear from my post that it is not a 22 second waggle

waggle, waggle, shuffle , look and go doesn't mention 3 practice swings. I appreciate that the closer to the green you get the more care should be taken over the shot.

I might take a few more practice swipes to get a feel for a chip shot. I don't have a set number to do every time. if I am waiting for someone else to go I might take a few extra if the shot requires a deft touch.

 

[G_Mulligan]

waggle, waggle, shuffle , look and go doesn't mention 3 practice swings. I appreciate that the closer to the green you get the more care should be taken over the shot.

I might take a few more practice swipes to get a feel for a chip shot. I don't have a set number to do every time. if I am waiting for someone else to go I might take a few extra if the shot requires a deft touch.

Interesting on the times and thinking of my own games shot 1&2 would be switched with 3&4 I do not as a rule take a practice swing with my tee shot or long irons but take 2 or 3 with my wedges.

I posted in the other thread that a PSR should take no more that 30-60 seconds. This was just what I thought was a reasonable amount of time without really thinking about my routine itself. Quite rightly this got attacked as being too long and made plenty of people voice the opinion that PSRs in general are too time consuming and unnecessary. I have just gone through my set routine with a wedge including 3 practice swings and it took 22 seconds.

I have always considered myself a quick player. I do not freeze over the ball once I see the shot I am pretty much just waggle, waggle, shuffle, look and go. I think the key to a quality (and short) PSR is decisiveness, especially on or around the greens. See the shot, trust your read, and go.

yes it does, the 22 seconds mentions 3 practice swings, the next paragraph with the waggles does not mention 22 seconds and just (I thought) highlighted a nice flow of setting up, getting loose and comfortable, then swing.

 

[duncan mackie]

I played in the Ping ProAm with tour player Matthew Nixon and he talked me through the thinking pattern for second shots, what to look for, how to decide on the shot shape, direction, where the smart or sucker shot would go etc. that was about a week before H4H at West Hill. It took a few seconds longer to play my second/third shots but was a fantastic few minutes of tuition from Matt and the shot to the green, as all shots, is definitely not a " walk up and smack it" for me in the future

this is why most people can/do play their home course relatively faster than away (or visitors to their course).

home course tee shots and approach shots will be sub 10 sec for me, and most of the people I play with, whilst away courses will be more like the times above as full appreciation of the target comes into play.

 

[Slab]

I have made an effort to use a practice swing on my short game (inside 50 yrds) where before it was one practice swing at best now I'm looking at 2 minimum and its paying off with fewer duffed shots and much better direction

I still don't have a practice swing when putting though

 

[the smiling assassin]

there is loads too much messing around with practice swings on full shots that goes on. i'll only occasionally have one, usually when i'm waiting for someone up ahead messing about to get a move on, and for me i use them as a distraction tactic to stop me thinking about my score.

when i'm over the ball at most i'll just take the club head back a few feet and then back to address. just as a small swing thought 'trigger' to get the swing started and no more.

the pre shot routine for me is all about planning strategy i.e. yardage, ball flight/shot shape, landing point. the less i worry about the execution the better i tend to execute. faffing around trying to get the club 'on plane' is for the practice ground.

two or more measured and precise practice swings at club level is really just showing the field or your opponent that you're not in control.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

As I'm walking up to my ball I've already assessed just about everything I need to know about the shot so I'm generally ready to hit it as soon as it's my turn. I don't do practice swings normally so all I do from that point is pick a line, take my stance and hit it. I'm really not sure there is anything else required.

 

[Slime]

Walk up, hit it, trot on.....

and what next............... look for it?

To be honest if I was playing with someone doing 3 practice swings every time they took a shot I'd lose the will to live.

What's the rush, it's not a race ................ just relax & enjoy your round, you never know which round will be your last!


Slime.

 

[Slab]

there is loads too much messing around with practice swings on full shots that goes on. i'll only occasionally have one, usually when i'm waiting for someone up ahead messing about to get a move on, and for me i use them as a distraction tactic to stop me thinking about my score.

when i'm over the ball at most i'll just take the club head back a few feet and then back to address. just as a small swing thought 'trigger' to get the swing started and no more.

the pre shot routine for me is all about planning strategy i.e. yardage, ball flight/shot shape, landing point. the less i worry about the execution the better i tend to execute. faffing around trying to get the club 'on plane' is for the practice ground.

two or more measured and precise practice swings at club level is really just showing the field or your opponent that you're not in control.

Lots of shots are not from a level ground. If I'm gripping up/down or changing the amount of knee bend then I'm having a practice swing to make sure I'm not topping or digging.

More credit to you if you don't need it

 

[G_Mulligan]

there is loads too much messing around with practice swings on full shots that goes on. i'll only occasionally have one, usually when i'm waiting for someone up ahead messing about to get a move on, and for me i use them as a distraction tactic to stop me thinking about my score.

when i'm over the ball at most i'll just take the club head back a few feet and then back to address. just as a small swing thought 'trigger' to get the swing started and no more.

the pre shot routine for me is all about planning strategy i.e. yardage, ball flight/shot shape, landing point. the less i worry about the execution the better i tend to execute. faffing around trying to get the club 'on plane' is for the practice ground.

two or more measured and precise practice swings at club level is really just showing the field or your opponent that you're not in control.

Quite right. My practice swings are never to check technique and I don't ever think about swing plane on the course. The practice swings are simply to help gauge distance control with the length of backswing and focus my mind on the shot and specifically the target. I guess thats why I don't take one outside of 100 yards unless it's a punch shot under a tree or maybe a fade around one. The full swing has a set distance depending on club selection so no need to rehearse that one.