great experience!!

Hi Guys

This week I had the privelege of playing in a two day pro am event.

I was nervous, very nervous, but what a joy to witness the big boys in action. From the first days play, I was on a different planet, marvelling at the natural ability and total consistence of the pro making par after par, birdies and I also witnessed a tremendous eagle on a par five. What really struck me was his routine on the t box and total concentration over every shot. We finished third in the team event with an overall score of 184 pts. Our pro finished third in the pro competition with a total two day score of -3. A brilliant experience overall

Good experience, great that you enjoyed it

What sets top players from the rest is not just swing mechanics but a good repeatable pre-shot routine on the tee, on the green and every shot in between. They also get into that place they call "The Zone" from the moment they walk up to the ball until the moment they walk away.

I play a few games a year with a mate who is a PGA Pro, it is always a great learning experience without asking him any questions, I just have to see how he plays the course. Every good player I know has a good pre-shot routine and every poor player does not.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

You are right on there Brian, I am doing a clinic at the moment and a solid repeatable set up routine is is top of the list.Once you can do that without thinking you are on the way to the zone.
Regards, Peter.

After significant practice and play, a pre-shot routine is something that just naturally happens because you end up hitting so many shots. It's like your routine you take when sitting on the loo, or taking a shower, like getting up and the first thing you do it make the coffee...

My point is that you can't manufacture the routine. Don't make the routine the focus of the event, make the shot at hand the focus...the routine will end up making it's self after you play this shot over and over and over and over....

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I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

I dont think I agree there Greg. A good pre shot routine ensures you setup to the shot correctly every time, no matter what pressure you may be under. If you just let it happen without a purpose then it is too easy to slip into bad habits like not ensuring your alignment is correct, not getting into a well balanced athletic position, not taking a good grip etc. I would also suggest that part of the setup is focusing on the shot in hand, I like to visualise it whilst stood behind the ball.

I wasn't disregarding the pre-shot at all, I was only mentioning that creating one should be a natural occurrence, and not a manufactured one.

I think all those things are exactly what Greg is saying Brian. It is a matter of practicing all those components you have said until they become as natural as breathing every time you step up to address so there are no thoughts of "what do I do next" popping into your head, only the thoughts required for that particular unique stroke.
Peter

I think where my opinion differs is that I believe pre shot routines should be manufactured to start with and when practised over and over they will become automatic. If not manufactured to follow best practice they could be counter productive.

If you are guided by the methods of the best you will not be far off course. OK, some individual flair can also be a good thing.