Pre-shot Routine.

[mavstaff]

What is you pre-shot routine?

Hey guys just curios what are your pre-shot routines? This is what I do before every shot.

1. 2 practice swings
2. Stand behind ball to align my shot by picking a spot 6 inches in front of ball to aim for.
3. I align my club face to hit the spot 6 inches in front of me.
***From this point on I never look at the target...I stare down the ball***
4. Set my stance and grip (dig in with my feet)
5. I take a short pause maybe 2-3 seconds and then a nice easy swing.

-PLarge10

[MrParr1Noid]

.I stare down the ball***

 

Does it ever stare back at you? (cool)

 

I do basically the same as you do, except I pick a spot 2 to 3 feet in from of my ball to square up on. :beach:

[GregMarc5280]

I do about the same thing...

1. Pick an intermediate target about a foot infront of the ball.

2. Take some practise swings, no specific number, just to feel comfortable.

3. Alight the clubface with my intermediate target.

4. Set me feet in relation to the clubface.

5. A couple waggles, check where im aiming, then the intermediate target, then the ball and GO!

 

For around the green & putting its little diffrent. I like to take a couple swings actually looking where I want to land the ball for chips. Then a couple trying to feel that motion with my head down as if i were really hiting the shot. Then just hit the shot trying to keep my head down for a little while. I makes it so im not so result orientated, and dont get so ancy and quick. Like how tiger keeps his head down while putting almost untill the balls in the hole.

[Milo]

Teeing off and iron shots pretty similar to you guys.

When putting I never change my routine.

1. Scope out the green while walking up to it to save time.

2. While the caddy cleans the ball I read the line and gradient from exactly behind the marker. Normally about ten/fifteen feet or so if possible.

3. Ball is marked with a Sharpie all the way around the circumference so I set that up in the direction the ball will be stroked.

4. Go back ten feet or so to confirm alignment.

5. Take three quick practice puts from next to the ball while looking at the hole to judge length of stroke.

6. Move to ball and put within a couple of seconds. Always with the same rhythm. One - back, two-strike, three and four- hold follow through, five - look up.

 

It might sound a lot but it's actually very quick as I know exactly what I'm doing from the moment I get close to the green and if I miss the first put the second is almost always conceded or is a tap in.

 

My normal style is to dribble the ball into the hole in its last few rolls so I have to allow for more break than most players but it certainly works for me.

 

I don't mind admitting that I used to be an utterly dreadful putter, three putting or worse many times each round. This routine has cut my scores dramatically and I'm now known as a bit of a deadly dude with the flattie. I hope it might possibly be of some use to others.

 

Milo.

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

I have been doing some reading on the mental side of the game and all of the books/articles seem to agree that a rigid (meaning, exactly the same every time) pre-shot routine is critical to consistency and accuracy.

 

I've noticed that all of the authors uniformly recommend standing behind the ball and picking/visualizing the target as the first step in the pre-shot routine.

 

They also all recommend checking your alignment in some way.

 

Personally, I am struggling with something that feels natural, but does everything I'm supposed to. And I'm particularly having trouble with a swing trigger.

 

How did you guys develop your pre-shot routine? Did you just go with somethign that felt natural, or did you outline a routine and then just stick with it until it became second nature?

 

And what are your swing triggers? I can't come up with anything that seems to signal my brain to swing without hesitating because a thought has popped into my head.

[Bushy]

Grip it and rip it..............ha ha ha ha

[cornbred19]

i dont think much or take too much time...pick out my target from behind the ball, take a half efforted practice swing in the same spot, then line up to my spot, look and rip...keeps me tension free...

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

Grip it and rip it..............ha ha ha ha

 

 

I tried that . . . but it was always immediately followed by "lose it and drop another ball"

[Milo]

My trigger is a deep breath over the ball and I start my backswing after releasing what seems like 2/3rds of the breath. Like my rifle shooting routine.

[cjdrcc]

1) take between two and four practice swings beside the ball, until I feel that I can put the club in the right positions to produce a solid shot, and decide what shot to play, if any

 

2) Step behind the ball and commit to the plan

 

3) Walk towards the ball and take a deep breath to collect my thoughts

 

4) address the ball exhale and go.

[peter3]

My pre-shot routine starts after I have selected the club to use.

 

Full shots, pitching, bunker:

 

1. Stand behind the ball looking in the direction of where I want the ball to start

2. While "seeing" the shot, make a slow, swing to loosen up

3. Walk up to the ball, align the clubface with the target (looking at the target)

4. Align the feet, shoulders, body to the club face (looking at the ball)

5. Make a "Mike Weir" waggle looking at the club head (lift club to about 9 o'clock and back to ball). This is to remind me how I want to start the swing

6. Look at the target

7. Look at the ball

8. Hit without thoughts

 

This takes about 15-30 seconds

 

Chipping and putting:

(While approaching the ball I try to determine the general lay of the land, how the green slopes etc but I don't consider this part of the pre-shot routine)

 

1. Stand/crouch behind the ball to choose the line

2. Stand up next to the ball and, while looking at the target, make three practice swings to feel the distance

3. Look at the ball while moving up to it, align the club face and hit without pausing, thinking or looking up

 

This takes about 15-30 seconds

 

 

--

Regards, Peter

[Rich71691]

Driver: I pick a target, take 2 or 3 practice swings, walk up check alighnment and hit the ball

 

3 wood: I am at the target take 3 practice swings(to see if I am going to top it or if they are solid swings) and hit the ball

 

irons: walk up make 2 practice swings aiming at target, step up and hit the ball

 

Wedges: take a couple of swings to get the feel of the ground(soft, wet, hard, dry) aim at target and hit

 

pitches chips short shots: I take a couple pratice swings to see if I am making solid contact, if not, I will go for a easier shot to hit(a little runner lower shot), if I am making good contact I will play the shot I am usually thinking of(flop, pitch, skip,skip) but I will then go up and hit at the area or the flag

 

Putter: read the line of the line of the putt, judge the speed, take 2 or 3 practice swings address the ball, hit at intended area

 

 

NOTE: I MAY AIM AT A CERTAIN AREA, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WILL HIT IT :drinks: