regular routine

i am in need of a regular routine.......i try for a few holes then i go back to just a couple of practice swings then swing away.......

is it that i just have to work on my focus on the golf course......i have heard the advantages of having a REGULAR routine at the range and on the course but cant seem to FINALIZE one set routine to follow

Hi there,

You set you "pre-shot" routine up instintivley when you understand what it is you are trying to do, no matter if it is driving, iron play or putting you should always have a routine.

It should develop naturally, for instance. Get to you ball, check the wind direction maybe with grass (chucking it up in the air) lie of the ball, position of the flag, which side of the green to go for, you do all this standing behing your ball as if aiming a gun, then when you have allowed for the ball to be blown in the wind and pick a specific target you should have two swing to replicate the shot you want, step into the ball carefully aiming the clubface, set your feet and shoulders and thump..............


Hope this helps

Ian.

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Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

hi there
you most definately need a solid preshot routine!
i used to be the same 1st 5 or 6 holes no problem then i would rush the routine and then disregard it all together!
i then realised how important it is to your game now on course or at the range i go through my routine for every shot.
you need to switch on your focus as you approach your ball be it on the tee or on the deck in between shots enjoy the scenery and your playing partners company you cant focus for 4 hours solid.
just dedicate the time to grooving a repeatable routine and you will sooon reap the rewards
good luck

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cheers slats
"Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle"

Hi,

There has been some good advice here. I would concur with what has been said:

You cannot keep up intense concentration for the complete round, you will become mentally tired and start making mistakes, as said, relax between shots.

When you are on the tee then have a strict preshot routine. I tend to face the target and set my grip while imagining the exact ball flight I want to achieve. I then use a trigger to get me into the "Zone" in my case I just dip and raise the club in my wrists. I now move to the ball, take an intense stare at the target so it is burned into my mind, I then take one practice swing, move to the ball, one more quick look then take my shot. Now exit the "Zone" and relax again.

Work out what is best for you and groove it .

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Once you have a routine that you feel works for you, maybe you could get a friend you play with to remind you to stay in it when you stop doing it. One of the more experienced golfers I play with helped me develop the habit of removing my glove when I putt and then putting it back on when I drive. Now it is second nature.

Also, if you keep your routine very simple at first, you will naturally build on it over time as you begin to experience the importance of what it is doing for you. If I don't do anything else, I will always stand behind my ball before approaching it.

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I would suggest that any golfer who says they've never thrown a club is either a liar or a poser. To all of you "gentlemen golfers" out there, respectively..
Jim

thanks for all the responses.......

i appreciate all of the good ideas.....i can take something from each one....i think starting out just keep it simple

* i think what i will try is standing next to the ball take a practice swing focusing on my one piece takeaway

* stand behind to look at the shot i want to play

* then line the club up first, then step with my feet........LET IT RIP


or should i change the order of this routine

trob i have put them in the correct order

thanks alot SLATER170......i will do it the next time i play......heck i might even practice it in my living room

My pro taught me to always set up the same way for each shot. Club behind the ball shaft straight. Step into the stance with the right foot instep lined up with the club face. Step into the stance with the left foot. Move the right foot shoulder width away from the left foot. Anyway, suffice it to say, there's many ways to skin a cat (who made up that saying anyway?).

Just find a routine that works and gets you set up correctly EVERY time. Then stick to it. It takes some experimentation. The benefits are confidence and consistency.

Here is an idea that I've read about but have not tried...Break up your round in groups of three holes. In other words, focus on three holes then take a mental break and review what you did. Then begin with the next three holes and focus on just those three holes. Doing this will help you concentrate (focus) for a shorter period of time. Sometimes when I play my mind begins to wander around hole 14 or 15 maybe if I think in groups of three that will get me through 18 holes easier. Just a thought. It seems reasonable to me that you might become more consistent if you break the course into 6 groups of three holes.

Find a preshot routine that you are comfortable with and make it yours; never, never hit a shot without going through the routine.
Here's one I use:
Grab the club in the left hand so the handle is under the little finger fat pad, let the club be loose and move up and down. Decide where you want to hit to--make it a small target versus the fairway or green as a whole.
Look for any hazards and tee the ball on the same side as the worst hazard.
Walk behind the ball and pick a blade of grass or something in front of the ball leading to where you want the ball to go or to the right for a draw etc.
Walk near to the ball and put your feet together, aim your clubface, place your right hand on the club and lock it with the left, spread your feet to line up with the clubface. Take a practice swing near the ball, shuffle up to your address position, waggle a few times, and swing.
All this takes less than 30 seconds.

i have implemented a perminent routine and it has improved my game.........i guess the repitition of a routine and good shotz gets embedded in your mind when you go through your routine........



thanks to all that applied........i have my church scramble this weekend and i am super excited about my game right now..........the game has just slowed down into MATRIX FORM


THX GUYS