Pre-shot Routine

[feary]

Evening all,

Today at county training we went on the course on the afternoon and the coaches observed what everyone did before hitting. Then when we came, they sat us down and gave us the results.

This is a group of 11 golfers ranging from handicap of 4-8. And only 2 people had the same pre shot routine on every shot!

The coaches went on to say how when you're under pressure and feel nervous you can fall back on your pre shot routine to make it feel normal. Also when under pressure you have a tendance to rush and the pre shot routine makes sure you don't rush and take as long as you do when you're not under pressure at all.

I thought this was really interesting and went home and made a pre shot routine and intend to use it. This way when you're stood on the 1st tee and everyone is watching you, your pre shot routine should help you just relax a little and take your mind off all the people and focus you on the ball.

So who on here has a full proof, repeatable pre shot routine?





The

 

[SammmeBee]

I think Homer has one.....

 

[goldenbare]

Feary, I have a pre shot routine, unfortunately its a lot more repeatable than the swing that follows it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think Homer has one.....

Very astute of you. I do and to be honest it does help. I'm not as good as Joe but have found that if (on rare occasions) I'm playing well that it really helps down the last few holes to focus you and give you the best chance of making a decent swing

 

[Region3]

Stand close to the ball and have a (very loose) practice swoosh.
Walk behind the ball. Picture the shot I want to hit. Pick out a spot a couple of feet in front of the ball to line up with.
Walk back to the ball, line up with the spot and hit it.

If it's anything other than a full shot (especially chipping) I'll have a few more practice strokes to get the feel of the distance before I play the shot.

I'm guilty of not going through with it if my score's trash.

 

[SammmeBee]

I think Homer has one.....

Very astute of you. I do and to be honest it does help. I'm not as good as Joe but have found that if (on rare occasions) I'm playing well that it really helps down the last few holes to focus you and give you the best chance of making a decent swing

Sorry but I just remember you do something with your glove...hence pre shot routine...

Smiffy smokes a fag in his....

 

[goldenbare]

Stand close to the ball and have a (very loose) practice swoosh.
Walk behind the ball. Picture the shot I want to hit. Pick out a spot a couple of feet in front of the ball to line up with.
Walk back to the ball, line up with the spot and hit it.

If it's anything other than a full shot (especially chipping) I'll have a few more practice strokes to get the feel of the distance before I play the shot.

Feary, this is very similar to my pre shot routine, all the way through to the extra strokes for chipping, then comes the unrepeating swing, but hopefully as close as I can get to what I am trying to do.
Note, Justin Rose for a very obvious routine.

 

[beggsy]

this is something i need to start doing as mine differs on every shot i just dont want to slow play down oing it

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Stand close to the ball and have a (very loose) practice swoosh.
Walk behind the ball. Picture the shot I want to hit. Pick out a spot a couple of feet in front of the ball to line up with.
Walk back to the ball, line up with the spot and hit it.

If it's anything other than a full shot (especially chipping) I'll have a few more practice strokes to get the feel of the distance before I play the shot.

I'm guilty of not going through with it if my score's trash.

Really? I do the exact same

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I do and I think it helps. It's pretty straight forward. I stand behind the ball and pick a point 18" in front of the ball that I use to line up. My practice swing is never a full swing, just my take away in slow motion and through to about the 1st 2" of my follow through, again in slow motion. Then I address the ball take a couple of slow breaths and hit it.

I won't go into detail about my swing mechanics but I have settled on this after a year of lessons last year and it works for me. I don't actually feel ready until I've done this.

 

[Matty]

I _think_ I do the same thing each time but I'll bet I don't!

 

[feary]

Mine is and walk to my ball. Put my bag down. Get a yardage ( normally by laser). Look at the lie, wind, downhill/uphill and come to a final yardage. Pick a club. Think of the shot and pick the target. Give 1 slow practise swing stopping at 3/4. 1 fast practise swing. Then have 1 last look at my target and pull the trigger.

For chips and pitches it will be All of the above but few more practise swings to get the feel.

For putting its take a good look at the break. Sometimes from both sides. Align my line with where i want to aim. Take 2 practise strokes. Pull the trigger.

 

[bobmac]

Why do you need a pre shot routine?

 

[goldenbare]

Why do you need a pre shot routine?

Devil and Advocate

 

[brendy]

Preshot routine?
Have excuses ready.... Check
Now have a swipe!


Take stance, pick target, adjust feet and waggle, hit.

None of the "zone bullplop" that is for pros who need every little ounce of help they can get.

 

[richart]

Tee it up, one short practice swish, and then hit it as quickly as possible, before i seize up. I don't relax after hitting it as i need to be ready to shout fore.

 

[feary]

As explained above Bob. To forget about what is happening around you and to make your swing have some consistency to it ie the routine. It allows you to focus solely on the golf shot in hand under any sort of pressure.

 

[bignev]

Having read this thread and being a 26 hcap this is probably exactly what I need to start improving as Ive been stuck around 26 for TWO YEARS, Going to follow yours Region3 as it seems easy to follow. Thanks

 

[thecraw]

Mine is and walk to my ball. Put my bag down. Get a yardage ( normally by laser). Look at the lie, wind, downhill/uphill and come to a final yardage. Pick a club. Think of the shot and pick the target. Give 1 slow practise swing stopping at 3/4. 1 fast practise swing. Then have 1 last look at my target and pull the trigger.

For chips and pitches it will be All of the above but few more practise swings to get the feel.

For putting its take a good look at the break. Sometimes from both sides. Align my line with where i want to aim. Take 2 practise strokes. Pull the trigger.

That's the problem with kids and coaching, bloody idiots coaching you into a six hour round if your going to do all that crap before every shot.

What's wrong with looking at the shot as you walk uo to it, select club, practice swing if you want, then bang! HIT IT, pick up bag and walk on!

 

[birdieman]

It's important purely for focus, helps you block out all the peripheral trouble and concentrate on a specific target.
I use one, not complicated but involves standing directly behing the ball on the target line, have a good stare at exactly (not vaguely) where you want to land it, little half swing to keep loose, walk in with a simple 'smooth' swing thought and do target/ball/target/ball sighting then pull the trigger.