Pre-Shot Routine
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Pre-Shot Routine
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Pre-Shot Routine (PSR)
If you don't know what a pre-shot routine is, then this will help lower your scores as much as anything I can think of. Golf is a game of consistency, and your pre-shot routine should be consistent every time. EVERY TIME!!!!! If you do not have a pre-shot routine, get one!!! It may not sound like something major, but I assure you, it is!! The pre-shot routine will help you concentrate on pulling the trigger on hitting the golf shot. It will help you to discard all the negative thoughts that goes through most golfers minds!!! It will help you get comfortable, before hitting the ball. Trust me on this one!!! What is a Pre-Shot Routine? Routine: a regular course of procedure; an unvarying and often repeated piece of behavior, habitual, or unvarying procedure. This is how Webster’s Dictionary defines routine. Looking at routine from a golfing view, it can be a set of nervous mannerisms that we are not even conscious of, or it can be a planned sequence of small events that prepare us for each shot. Actually, your pre-shot routine should combine both!!! Failure to go through our pre-shot routine will not kill you, but it will help you tremendously if you use it . I want you to become aware of your pre-shot routine, and see if it is getting you ready to swing the golf club the way you would like. If you have access to a video camera, film your routine and look at it as an objective outsider would. If you don’t see anything constructive as you watch it, following is a routine for you to start with; you will personalize it in time. When does the pre-shot routine begin? It varies with all golfers. Some begin their pre-shot routine before they reach their ball. They may begin to step off yardage, determine the wind's direction and strength, etc. as part of their pre-shot routine. You need to do these thing obliviously, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a part of your pre-shot routine, however it can. If it is, do it the same every time. I would suggest you start your pre-shot routine, after doing those things and begin it after club selection, immediately when you are approaching your ball on the tee, fairway, putting green, etc. I would suggest you start by (1) standing behind the ball looking at the shot from the back of the ball looking at your target. Visualize the shot you want to make, including the trajectory, landing zone, and ball path. Remember, you have already determined what club to use, by checking the yardage, wind, etc. If at this point, by looking at the target, you determine you don't have enough club, then get another one, and start your pre-shot routine over. Remember you must always commit to the shot, which includes your club selection. If you determine you have made the right choice, then move to step (2). Take your grip on the club and walk up to the ball and place your club behind the ball and align the clubhead to the target (3) Get your stance and make sure your posture is the way you want it to be as you stand over the ball. If you try to adjust your posture after you get over the ball, you will never be comfortable. It stands to reason that if you can get over the ball the same way each day, you can play closer to the same way each day. As you step into the ball, you want to feel that your feet, hips, shoulders, and arms are parallel to the intended line; the line on which the club is to be swung. As your feet are placed, you want to be sure and brace the back foot. Make sure your mannerisms are slow and tension free. (4) Now you are in the last phase of your pre-shot routine. You may waggle the clubhead, pick it up, or whatever you do to get comfortable. You are making a miniature swing with your waggle. You want to be setting your rhythm during your. In the last few seconds of your setup, take another mental look at the shot you want to hit. Visualize it in the air and even hitting the ground. At this point if you see a negative picture, shake it off and start over. You may do neither. But don't spend too much time in this last phase. You are getting ready to hit the ball, and you do not want to give time for other thoughts entering your mind, especially negative ones, etc. Whatever, you do allow the same amount of time, each time. Be consistent!!! Now PULL THE TRIGGER!!! As I said before, you will eventually personalize your pre-shot routine without even trying. Take a video occasionally and make sure you are eliminating any moves that are not constructive. Take a look during tournaments on TV and notice the pre-shot routines of the great players of today. If you see something that you think would fit comfortably into yours, borrow it, but don’t copy the whole routine as it won’t be yours; it needs to be for you. Get a pre-shot routine and stick to it. You may want to modify it from time to time, but when you do, stick to it and watch you become more comfortable over the ball and make better shots!!!! |
