Pre-shot, setup.

[DaveM]

What is your pre-shot setup? As after the grip I think it is the most important part of the swing. Get it wrong and the swing will be wrong!

Mine is. As I walk up to the ball I have a good Idea of the shot and club I need. I will have 2 practice swings behind the ball( not full one just to get the feel) looking at the target to set the ball flight etc in my mind. Then aprouch the ball. Set the club head online to the target. Then line my feet, hips and shoulders to the club. 2 or 3 waggles. Which is really a small takeaway. Then touch the club down and swing. I try not to have any swing thought. As I think the the swing is just a reaction to the setup. (with luck it may go where it should). Sounds along setup. But only takes 10-15 secs. So what do you Guys do?

 

[USER1999]

Practice swing behind the ball, often just a half swing. Pick a point about 12" in front of the ball to align to. Walk up, set up, whack it. Go find it and do it again. Have never timed it, but I guess it's pretty quick.

 

[richart]

Don't have one. Club out the bag and hopefully hit the ball with it. I'm such a free spirit.

 

[rosecott]

I have now almost totally dispensed with the practice swing - unless I'm hanging around on the fairway waiting to play. This was a conscious decision as I've seen so many players with perfect practice swings and less than perfect stroke swings. I don't want a good swing wasted on practice. My set-up now involves only checking the grip and aligning stance and direction.

 

[Snelly]

Practice swing behind the ball, often just a half swing. Pick a point about 12" in front of the ball to align to. Walk up, set up, whack it. Go find it and do it again. Have never timed it, but I guess it's pretty quick.

Almost the same but no practice swing and the point I aim at is about 3 feet in front rather than 12".

I only have practice swings when pitching as it helps me to get a feel for the shot.

 

[Mattyboy]

I agree that the importance of a pre shot routine is understated. My pre shot routine also includes weighing the shot up. I.e. getting the distance, judging the lie, pin position wind distance club selection etc, to get a point where I want the ball to land and react.
In terms of actual practice swings, I use a half swing. getting the feel of the arms linked to my body, making sure I finish on my right side. I do this twice at the side of the ball and not side on.

 

[Snelly]

I agree that the importance of a pre shot routine is understated.

I would argue that the reverse is the case. The importance of a pre-shot routine is overstated in my view. It helps fill the pages of golf magazines and time during lessons plus it helps to sell books for coaches but it doesn't (truly) help you bring the club square, at speed, through the hitting area on the line that you are aiming. That is down to be correctly aligned with the target and having a repeatable swing ensuring that you connect reasonably well with the ball.

That said, elements of what some term as pre-shot routine, for example picking a spot in front of the ball, are part of the alignment process so are of course very valuable.

I suspect that a lot of the responses on this may be down to semantics but that aside, I am of the view that keeping it simple in terms of pre-shot routine is best for the golfer and the speed of play too.

 

[DaveM]

To me the alignment is all part of the pre-shot routine. Every thing I do from club selection upto hitting the ball is pre-shot. As you say all down to symantics I guess?

 

[Airlie_Andy]

As I'm walking unto the ball I'm thinking about the shot I need to play then assess the lie and make my decision on which club to use. 2 practice swings behind the ball trying to see the shot I want to hit with emphasis on grip and feeling the right plane. Pick a spot a few feet in front of the ball for alignment and walk into the ball along that line. Line up the clubface then use this for the rest of the setup. Couple of waggles, quick look at the target then duff it 10 yards. Repeat process. Simples.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Practice swing behind the ball, often just a half swing. Pick a point about 12" in front of the ball to align to. Walk up, set up, whack it. Go find it and do it again. Have never timed it, but I guess it's pretty quick.

Pretty much this.

Maybe a little longer if I need a few swooshes if the ball is in a funky lie and I want to guage how the club will go through the grass.

 

[richart]

I would argue that the reverse is the case. The importance of a pre-shot routine is overstated in my view. It helps fill the pages of golf magazines and time during lessons plus it helps to sell books for coaches but it doesn't (truly) help you bring the club square, at speed, through the hitting area on the line that you are aiming. That is down to be correctly aligned with the target and having a repeatable swing ensuring that you connect reasonably well with the ball.

That said, elements of what some term as pre-shot routine, for example picking a spot in front of the ball, are part of the alignment process so are of course very valuable.

I suspect that a lot of the responses on this may be down to semantics but that aside, I am of the view that keeping it simple in terms of pre-shot routine is best for the golfer and the speed of play too.

This is becoming a habit, I agree with you again Snelly.

Never had a pre shot routine, other than hitting the ball as soon as it is my turn. Sometimes I hit whilst my partners are chatting away, but I always apologise for interrupting their conversation.

 

[patricks148]

i just hit the ball

 

[rosecott]

Sometimes I hit whilst my partners are chatting away, but I always apologise for interrupting their conversation.

Nice one, been there, done it. I can't stand the players who have to have a 100 yard exclusion zone in which no sound must be heard, including birds, fluttering leaves etc..

 

[thecraw]

I dont have a practice swing, a couple of waggles and away!

Bang.

 

[USER1999]

I dont have a practice swing, a couple of waggles and away!

Bang.

Then you chuck the club, and have to go look for it. How does this speed things up?

 

[thecraw]

Away and have a saucer of cat milk with your moggy!



Meeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaowl!

 

[Mary]

Pick a point about 12" in front of the ball for alignment, grip, one final look at the target - visualise the shot, then swing it and hope for the best.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have the same routine over every shot and repeat it on my shots down the range too. I agree that a lot of people can get carried away with routines and take numerous practice swings but I think it is vital that you pick a target and make sure the basics of grip stance and alignment are right before you take the club away.

 

[JustOne]

Practice swing behind the ball, often just a half swing. Pick a point about 12" in front of the ball to align to. Walk up, set up, whack it. Go find it and do it again. Have never timed it, but I guess it's pretty quick.

Almost the same but no practice swing and the point I aim at is about 3 feet in front rather than 12".

Like Snelly I pick a point 3ft in front of the ball and line up to that. No 'practice' swing for me either although sometimes I'll swing the driver a few times to ensure the muscles are warmed up.

 

[User 105]

Depends on the shot.

Driver - stand behind the ball, pick a target, check my grip, step in, check alignment and then swing.
From the Fairway - As above but I'll usually take a couple of practice swings before I step in.
Chipping - As for fairway but for the practice swings I'll keep taking swings until I get the right contact point and feel. Then put the club behind the ball and hit it.
Putting - Stand behind the ball, pick a line and decide how hard to hit it, step in and then hit the putt.

i used to take practice swings with the putter but I found it allowed doubts into my mind on line and length. I've putted much better just stepping in and hitting it.