Pre Shot Routine

[Region3]

Even a person with no PSR has a PSR.

All it needs to be is taking the same steps to address the ball each shot so that you consistently line yourself up the same each time.

Address the ball first or take your stance first?
Take your grip before of after you address the ball?

I'd be amazed if anyone set up to the ball in a different way each time, so they have a PSR. All the rest about visualising the shot and taking practice swings is neither here nor there. IMO.

 

[G.U.R]

For Drives and Iron shots like most its a couple of warm up swings, set club face, stand to club then swing. On putts i'll gauge the line make my practice swings behind the ball set putter face on line of putt stand to putter then swing.

 

[Allanxyz]

I'm amazed at how many people out there don't take practice swings. I'm the same, no practice swings (except maybe on the first hole as if it's not a tournament I don't go in for the practice range).

Bascially I..
Take my best guess at distance using the course markers... no DMD, no paces (I'm not accurate enough with my irons for that)
Pick the club
Line up the ball, picking a spot a foot ahead
Step up and hit it

For putting I line it up (unfortunately this is where I take some more time, I've a line drawn on the ball and have to line this up to where I'm aiming... if I don't I aways tend to aim 10 deg to the right of the hole)
Once lines up, no practice swings... just hit it.

 

[Andy808]

Mine is now the same every shot apart from putting.
Stand behind the ball, pick my line and intended shot. Have a practice next to the ball, take my stance then few (strange) waggles, slight pause and go for it. I might have a few extra practice swings on chip shots but the rest is exactly the same.

 

[srixon 1]

Except for tee shots (because the ball has just come out of my pocket), the first part of my routine is to actually make sure that the ball is mine. Until I have done this I do not think about what club or what type of shot I am going to hit.

 

[Hobbit]

I do the following:

As I approach the ball I work out the distance and imagine the ball flying towards the pin.
Arrive at the ball and pull the club.
Pick a point about a foot in front of the ball to align to the target with.
Address the ball.
Hit the ball.

This changes on pitches and chips when I will have a couple of practice swings to gauge the feel for the distance.

I can't see the point in doing just about anything else to be honest. For example, standing behind the ball and making a half swing? Why? You aren't going to hit the ball with half a swing are you? Face it, you have seen it on telly and are trying to look the part.

Practice swings? Why? Surely you only have one swing and you are going to use it to hit the ball so just get on with it. Do you have amnesia after every shot and then need to re-remember what you are supposed to be doing so have to practice swinging the club?

Pre-shot routines are at their current level and complexity because of the pros faffing on TV and people trying to come up with a new angle to sell DVDs, books and magazine articles.


All that said, if a PS Routine is essential for you then that is fine by me and I don't mind playing with people who take ages to get ready to hit the ball. AS LONG AS........ all the faffing takes place in a time-managed way that means when it is your turn to hit the ball, you are ready to pull the trigger rather than as some do when it is their turn to play, they start their PSR shenanigans. This is a crucial point. Do your mumbo jumbo in your own time then when the honour is yours, swing the club and hit the ball. (And yes, I know this can't work on tee shots).

Does for me, pretty much to the letter.

 

[Revolt]

I tend to try and produce a practice swing which im happy with (ie if I made contact with the ball it would give the exact shot im looking for)

I am a fast walker and I am usually at my ball and club out before the rest have hit theirs, which means by the time They have caught up to me I have taken my practice swings and am good to go, so doesnt really hold anyone up. Pain in the arse if you duff it and your first to go though !

 

[3565]

No PSR or practise swings?
by there's some talented players on this forum then! The whole point of a routine/practise swing is to simulate the shot you want to hit for that situation?

 

[19thagain]

I find it amazing that the whole field, including the winner of that large tournament last Sunday, all had a few swings before hitting their ball.

In fact I think the winner even did that on his final hole ... maybe that was why he got his eagle.

However, club golfers do not need this preparation. ... Aye, right!!!!

 

[3565]

I find it amazing that the whole field, including the winner of that large tournament last Sunday, all had a few swings before hitting their ball.

In fact I think the winner even did that on his final hole ... maybe that was why he got his eagle.

However, club golfers do not need this preparation. ... Aye, right!!!!

+1 on this.

 

[Snelly]

I find it amazing that the whole field, including the winner of that large tournament last Sunday, all had a few swings before hitting their ball.

In fact I think the winner even did that on his final hole ... maybe that was why he got his eagle.

However, club golfers do not need this preparation. ... Aye, right!!!!

No PSR or practise swings?
by there's some talented players on this forum then! The whole point of a routine/practise swing is to simulate the shot you want to hit for that situation?

Not been playing golf that long? Watch a lot of golf on TV? Keen on golf instruction? I would bet you would both answer yes to all three of these questions.

Either way, you are mistaken in your view. You don't need a practice swing to hit a good shot, irrespective of your handicap or ability. I played with a bloke 2 weeks ago who was 5 under for the first 8 holes and he didn't have a single practice swing. I am looking at a trophy on my desk as I type this for a lowest gross (level) round at St Georges Hill that I won in April and I didn't have a practice swing on any full shot that day. Nor do I ever. That is because they are unnecessary. Simple as that. And not just for good players either. It is the same for any golfer.

You might like to take practice swings and that is up to you. Feel free. But that isn't the same as it being a requirement or a "need" as you put it, for hitting a good shot.

 

[Twire]

Not been playing golf that long? Watch a lot of golf on TV? Keen on golf instruction? I would bet you would both answer yes to all three of these questions.

Either way, you are mistaken in your view. You don't need a practice swing to hit a good shot, irrespective of your handicap or ability. I played with a bloke 2 weeks ago who was 5 under for the first 8 holes and he didn't have a single practice swing. I am looking at a trophy on my desk as I type this for a lowest gross (level) round at St Georges Hill that I won in April and I didn't have a practice swing on any full shot that day. Nor do I ever. That is because they are unnecessary. Simple as that. And not just for good players either. It is the same for any golfer.

You might like to take practice swings and that is up to you. Feel free. But that isn't the same as it being a requirement or a "need" as you put it, for hitting a good shot.

I'm not sure if I've seen an amateurs practice swing that looks anything like the swing they use when they have to hit a ball.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I find it amazing that the whole field, including the winner of that large tournament last Sunday, all had a few swings before hitting their ball.

In fact I think the winner even did that on his final hole ... maybe that was why he got his eagle.

However, club golfers do not need this preparation. ... Aye, right!!!!

They were also on the clock for much of the round as they are so damn slow. Oh, and Stenson wasn't going for the pin on 18 so you could argue that the Practice swings didn't really work

 

[HawkeyeMS]

No PSR or practise swings?
by there's some talented players on this forum then! The whole point of a routine/practise swing is to simulate the shot you want to hit for that situation?

And how often do you think the practice swing and the real swing are the same? I spend a lot of time watching people take practice swings before hitting fats, thins, hooks and slices on a Saturday morning, I'm sure they could do that without the practice swing.

 

[pendodave]

Does Ronaldo have a practice kick before a free kick? Does Federer do a practice serve before the start of every rally?

Both seem to manage to get away with striking a ball reasonably well.

It might be helpful for some, but not a pre-requisite for a good shot.

There are a few things that all pros do that wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to the score of even a decent am. Gloves off for putting for instance.

There are also a lot of people who make a living from golf who can't play but manage to persuade people who can that their services and theories are absolutely essential to future success. Doesn't mean it's any good for us

 

[Snelly]

Does Ronaldo have a practice kick before a free kick? Does Federer do a practice serve before the start of every rally?

Both seem to manage to get away with striking a ball reasonably well.

It might be helpful for some, but not a pre-requisite for a good shot.

There are a few things that all pros do that wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to the score of even a decent am. Gloves off for putting for instance.

There are also a lot of people who make a living from golf who can't play but manage to persuade people who can that their services and theories are absolutely essential to future success. Doesn't mean it's any good for us

What a superb post! :thup:

 

[Snelly]

I'm not sure if I've seen an amateurs practice swing that looks anything like the swing they use when they have to hit a ball.

Quite. And one of the most annoying things I hear golfers say after chunking an iron 60 yards is this - "if only I had hit the ball with my practice swing....." Well why didn't you?

I see it quite often. A beautiful, rhythmic, easy practice swing followed by a rampant, eye-bulging thrash when they need to hit the ball.

Don't bother. Get set, then swing.

 

[Allanxyz]

No PSR or practise swings?

I agree with Region3 though...

Even a person with no PSR has a PSR.

Everyone, in my opinion, has a pre-shot routine, it might not be that consistent(I guess then you could argue it isn't a "routine" in this case), but they take a rough guess at which direction, select a club and hit the ball...

If you are saying no practice swings = no pre-shot routine then this isn't right...

Each to their own though, if you see value in practice swings then go for it, as long as it doesn't lead to Luke Guthrie-esque 50 practice swings. Like I say, they are part of my "warm-up" on the first hole in order to get loose, but after that...wasted energy for me.

 

[ColchesterFC]

I have a very specific pre-shot routine that I follow for every round of golf. But only for my tee shot on the 1st hole and it goes something like this......

1. Wake up late and hungover after forgetting that I'm playing early the next morning.
2. Grab a bacon and egg McMuffin on the way to the course.
3. Arrive in the car park as if my hair is on fire in a cloud of tire smoke with 5 mins to spare before the tee time.
4. Change my shoes in the car park and light up a fag.
5. Grab my clubs out of the boot and run to meet my playing partners on the first tee.
6. Take my driver out of my bag.
7. Tee up a ball and then hit it OOB right (but at least it was a good clean strike and went well).
8. Tee up another and duff it 150 yards.
9. Swear to myself about what a stupid game golf is.
10. Tell myself that next time I will turn up early and at least warm up before I play.

And despite point number 10 it is guaranteed that my pre shot routine for my next round will start again from number 1.

 

[3565]

I find it amazing that the whole field, including the winner of that large tournament last Sunday, all had a few swings before hitting their ball.

In fact I think the winner even did that on his final hole ... maybe that was why he got his eagle.

However, club golfers do not need this preparation. ... Aye, right!!!!

Not been playing golf that long? Watch a lot of golf on TV? Keen on golf instruction? I would bet you would both answer yes to all three of these questions.

Either way, you are mistaken in your view. You don't need a practice swing to hit a good shot, irrespective of your handicap or ability. I played with a bloke 2 weeks ago who was 5 under for the first 8 holes and he didn't have a single practice swing. I am looking at a trophy on my desk as I type this for a lowest gross (level) round at St Georges Hill that I won in April and I didn't have a practice swing on any full shot that day. Nor do I ever. That is because they are unnecessary. Simple as that. And not just for good players either. It is the same for any golfer.

You might like to take practice swings and that is up to you. Feel free. But that isn't the same as it being a requirement or a "need" as you put it, for hitting a good shot.

To answer your questions,
40yrs
only the major comps
Yes I do have lessons, to improve as a player and to TRY and replicate my fantastic practise swing.........

It would be interesting to see you in trees trying to plan your escape shot knowing that you have a restricted backswing? Do you not rehearse how far you can take your club back? Or do you stand next to your ball and just flail away with your club and hope for the best? Must be a great attribute that if a shot requires a right to left ball flight to get around a tree to get to the green that you can pull it out of your bag without some form of practise swing/rehearsal/feeling for that shot? Phew.......... Let me bow down.