Example Of My Pre-shot Routine

Hi folks.
The surest way of hitting good shots consistantly is to develope a sound pre-shot routine.We are creatures of habit and respond to repitition.
Here is an example of my pre-shot routine.
Stand a few yards behind the ball with your chosen club in hand and take a mental picture of your target.I like to take a couple of gentle half swings at this point , just to get a feel for my natural tempo.
Try to visualise the ball flight of the shot you are about to hit.
Walk to your ball and position yourself so are parallel to the target line.
Place the clubhead behind the ball so that it is square to your target.
Now take your posture and pay attention to grip, ball position and alignment.Look to the target and gently shuffle your feet ( i like to keep constantly moving ), relax your arms and take a couple of waggles.
Take one last look at the target and try to sense the shot.look back to the ball, exhale ( helps you to relax ) and think of your swing key ( my swing key is: i try to anticipate my follow through ) .
Pull the trigger and swing.
incorporate a pre-shot routine into your practice sessions . repeat over and over until it becomes instinctive.
You can use this one or a modified version but must use a pre-shot routine if you want to make more consistantly goog shots .

cheers . aft

__________________
the dog wags the tail....the tail dosn't wag the dog

Thanks aftford. I'm a high handicapper. I'm working on a pre-shot routine for consistency and I will try your recommendations.

Hi chad
any probs , let me know
I'm always here to help.
cheers

Keep up the posting Aftford I have been working on my routine and limiting the clubs in my bag.

Aftford Thats exactly the same routine that I use on each shot including when i'm on the practice fairway.
I think to many people either inhale or hold a lung full of oxygen during a shot and it tends to tense up and raise the upper body.I exhale 1/2 a breath just before i start my swing.

Kiwi

Hi Aftford,

What is your pre shot routine?

Hey Kiwi, have you tried hitting the ball with your mouth open? This will help you expel air and relax too.

Hi Nicole.
i have re-typed my routine and is now available for all to see once more.

cheers hun

aft

Hi all,

I have three routines you could say, ie, long game, short game and putting.

My long game.

As I walk to my ball I'm starting to analyse wind, pin position, lie and where I want the ball to land.

I put my buggy on the right side of the ball (where possible), take my glove out of my pocket and put it on my hand.

I take my club and walk to a few metres behind the ball. I take a practice swing thinking of and exagerrating my swing key.

I chose my intended target line and a mark about a foot in front of the ball on that line.

I grip the club with the left hand, start walking to the ball and then grip it with my right.

I address the ball by firstly putting the club face behind the pill in line to my mark a foot infront of it. I take my stance pararell to this line.

I make sure spine angle and posture feel right.

Now this when Dr Bob kick's in. I look at the target, pause, look at the ball, pause, I do this one more time.

I say 'target' and pull the trigger.

It appears long winded but it doesn't take all that much time.

When I start getting a bit nervous or go off tangent I say to myself pre shot routine - game plan.

__________________
VP

Hey Kiwi, have you tried hitting the ball with your mouth open? This will help you expel air and relax too.[/quote]

No I cant say I have but guess what I'll try over the weekend
I dont think I've ever seen anyone hit the ball with there mouth open.

I often have my mouth open after a shot but thats not a good sign.

That is a very good point because when people stop moving they tend to get stiff/tense

Hey Kiwi I mean slightly open not wide enough to catch the blowies

Hi Nic

Tried it couldn't do it what an unnatural feeling.
Aren't blowies full of fibre?
Rotten hung over at the club watching the Bledisloe last night

Was everyone at the club wearing their gumboats? You Kiwi's deserved to win. There is always next time. We'll flog the Sprinboks this week though.

All good pre-shot routines. Two things I would add are to make sure your club face is square to your target line, and on approach shots make sure you know where the pin placement is. Just knowing if if is forward, center, or in the back of the green. Some of these greens are so big, that knowing pin placement could be the difference of one, maybe two clubs. GJS

Hi Mont.
How's the pre-shot routine comming along.?

aft