Best Way to Perfect Your Pre-Shot Routine in Golf

Pre-shot routine for all the other shots is basically the same – the most important aspect of your routine is that it is always the same! The key is that you are reminding yourself about all the vital elements of your golf shot: examining the lie of the ball, choosing the club, picking out the intermediate target, and playing your practice swings while seeing in your mind’s eye a successful result of those practice swings. You are encouraging your mind to conjure up the feeling of coming to terms with the shot you are about to play – you have played this kind of shot well before and by going through the same pre-shot routine you are encouraging a repeat of that successful shot.

Follow your routine!

So, what you do prior to making your stroke and the order in which you do it is an essential part of your golf swing. All good players have a pattern or routine that they always follow.

First they look at the lie of the ball and then the target area, before they choose the club. Then they hold the club in the correct grip and pick out the intermediate target.

If the swing is a partial movement, they take a couple of practice swings, aiming at the target and imagining a successful flight and roll of the ball. Should it be a full swing movement, they take a ‘mini-swing’ to establish swing rhythm and get rid of unwanted tension in the arms. Only then is the club head placed behind the ball, with the club face pointing at the intermediate target.

The stance is taken, the right foot being positioned before the left. Then the feet are finally adjusted as the player checks his posture and alignment. The head swivels towards the target, imagining all the while the flight, bounce and roll of the ball, terminating in a successful result. The head is not turned towards the target, as this could cause a change of shoulder position. Instead, it is swivelled, the right eye being lower than the left when looking along the target line.

The position of the club face is again checked, before the eyes are focussed on the back of the ball, but with the target still firmly in the mind’s eye. The player then takes a constant number of waggles, and continues into the forward press which starts the backswing.

Some professionals even place the club behind the ball before taking their grip, but whatever you do be sure that your routine is always the same and should you be disturbed and lose your concentration, stop, and start again.

Important!

Although you are looking at the back of the ball, you should be seeing the ball flight in your mind’s eye. This will encourage you to swing the club to the target and not only to the ball. Furthermore, your practice swings are a preparation for the swing to come and should be done at a similar speed as the actual swing. Purposeful, yes, but still leisurely. While your mind is thus engaged and relaxed by your usual routine, your concentration is sharp and remains on the job at hand, with no increase in your level of tension.

The pre-shot routine should move you smoothly into the start of the backswing with constant motion. Standing still over the ball will only cause increased tension.