The slowest pre-shot routine ever.

[jammydodger]

A club I was at many years ago were getting complaints of slow play so this was their solution.

Every scorecard has a start time on it so the committee requested that everyone put down their finish time on the card. They would then be able to see exactly where the hold ups were occuring and identify any pesistent offenders. This was done over a number of comps over several months until funnily enough the pace of play wasnt an issue any more. I'm not sure if they did identify people and had quiet words in their ears or just the threat of being 'outed' made people more aware of pace of play.

 

[thegogg]

I think you do need to bring it to the attention of the committee

I know what you mean but...
The guy has paid his membership for the year and he has as much right to be on the course as anyone. Who then has the right to tell him at what speed he plays at?

We're all different in life, some like to play fast and some prefer to play slowly.
I don't think anyone has the right to dictate to others how fast or slow they should play.

This was just my opinion but in answer to your question above... in a democracy the majority have the right and in this case the majority of members at our club feel something needs to be done about all slow players therefore it should be raised to the committee.

Entry to our club competitions is through "How did I do" so anyone can book any available time slot.

 

[Imurg]

I've never timed my pre-shot routine but I would be amazed if, from reaching the ball to striking it, it took less than 30 seconds except for a short putt or an obvious tee-shot.
Check the lie, check the yardage, check the wind, assess the shot, select the club, settle over the ball, swing, contact.
If you're taking less than 30 seconds to do that then I don't think you're taking enough time to take all the variables into account.
If you're talking 40 seconds after selecting a club then that is too long but if you're timing from getting to your ball then I don't think 40 seconds is unreasonable in most situations. Obviously a 3 foot putt is going to take less time but at 40 seconds every shot - if you shoot 85 - it's less than an hour. In reality you're looking at an average of nearer 30 seconds a shot so that brings it down to just over 40 minutes Allow your playing partners the same and you've taken up 2 1/2 hours. All you have to do then is walk 4-5 miles in 1 1/2 - 2 hours - shouldn't be too tricky......

 

[d2cko]

I've never timed my pre-shot routine but I would be amazed if, from reaching the ball to striking it, it took less than 30 seconds except for a short putt or an obvious tee-shot.
Check the lie, check the yardage, check the wind, assess the shot, select the club, settle over the ball, swing, contact.
If you're taking less than 30 seconds to do that then I don't think you're taking enough time to take all the variables into account.
If you're talking 40 seconds after selecting a club then that is too long but if you're timing from getting to your ball then I don't think 40 seconds is unreasonable in most situations. Obviously a 3 foot putt is going to take less time but at 40 seconds every shot - if you shoot 85 - it's less than an hour. In reality you're looking at an average of nearer 30 seconds a shot so that brings it down to just over 40 minutes Allow your playing partners the same and you've taken up 2 1/2 hours. All you have to do then is walk 4-5 miles in 1 1/2 - 2 hours - shouldn't be too tricky......

Completely agree!

I've never timed it either but the link in my signature block shows me taking a tee shot on a par 3 at La Cala in Spain. I've had a look and bearing in mind that I've already made my club selection and worked out any wind. From putting the ball on the tee I take about 26 secs, so 35-40 inc club selection and deciding how to play the shot is probably about right. The second bloke in the video is my mate Thomo (8 hcp) and he takes about 10 secs from putting the ball down, and the last bloke is my Dad (11 hcp) and he takes about 6 secs from putting the ball down, which is actually quite slow for him.

I've been trying to get my Dad to take a bit more time over his shots but he's been doing it for so long now that he's not bothered.

d2

 

[19thagain]

I realise that all games are played in a different manner.

Players of Bob's ability will hit the ball down the middle, reach their drive and will know the next club before they get there .. a wedge .. play the shot..three feet from the pin .. walk up and tap it in (due to his V-Easy!)..time taken? A few minutes.

Normal golfers, spread over fairway/rough and as player one plays, player two and three are lining up their shot waiting for their turn to hit.

Unless a three ball is playing 'lets admire each shot' why would you stand and watch each players routine for every shot AND TIME IT!! The normal way to play golf, IMO, is to hit your ball, start walking, assuming you are not all side by side on the fairway/rough until you are level with the next player to play, once he has played and I am sure by the time you have walked the 20 yards to get level, he could have played and so on. (I make his lost time on the tee circa six minutes only - 18 X 20 secs)

I therefore don't understand the total loss of time UNLESS he was the crap player you had to wait for, on EVERY shot and if he was .. his routine is also crap!

 

[GB72]

My issue would be with the amount of repetition in the routine. Yes there are things we all do when assessing a shot but doing them several times with club in hand and without is a bit OTT. It must be slow if several groups have the same issue and so it is not just the opinion of one person.

I think that going to the committee about it is a bit mutch though, he is only doing what he feels he needs to do before playing a shot. A queit word along the lines of 'would be happy to play with you again but your routine is slowing up the round and ruining my tempo. If you can shorten it a bit then I would be happy to play with you again but if that is the pace of play that suits you then you may need to find a group of people who are happy taking a similar time to play a round'.

At the end of the day, he is not doing anything wrong, he just plays at a slower pace.

 

[MashieNiblick]

I have played a round with a guy like this. It was purgatory and he was rubbish as well. His interminable pre shot routine included adjusting his hat on every shot. I ended up rushing my shots to make up for his slow play. He he ruined my game, but least we managed to just about keep up with the group in front. No amount of "we need to get a move on you know... losing ground...people waiting etc, etc," would get him to hurry up. Funnily enough I don't ever recall seeing him on the course either before or after that day.

Where do you draw the line? Supposing someone takes 2 minutes to hit their shots? I think you did the right thing and maybe if it becomes known that he he is a slow player they can fix it so one of the Committee plays with him and can have a quiet word on the way round.

 

[jammydodger]

This is the sort of thing that has been grating on me for some while now. People watching the pros fannying about on tv added to the now obligatory coaching method of making sure your pupil has a 'preshot routine'. It has spoiled many a round of golf for me watching players go through an increasingly frustrating routine over and over again with total disregard for everyone else trying to play that day.

I have given golf up again this year and tbh this is one of the many reasons why I have fallen out of love with it. Someone has written an article on similar lines in this months mag.