Pre-shot Routine

Ola All,

It seems that a uniform pre shot routine is this season's must have accessory, and I have to say I agree with those advocates out there.

My own pre shot routine consists:

3 wristy waggles on a very flat and inside plane. This takes place about 3 feet back to the left of the ball (I'm right handed).

Place club head aligned at target behind the ball, from here my shoulders, hands and club head will not move again - my top half is aligned.

Then step in right foot first (I think this keeps my weight balanced - I have a tendency to start past the ball (about 65 % on the left with 5 iron - bad idea) and shank, or pull my irons.

Bring left foot in, and adjust feet according to club in hand.

Swing without thinking, and Fanny's your Auntie.

All in all this takes about 12 seconds. I go through the same routine with the putter, as I do with the driver, and (in practice anyway) so far so good. Fairly big competition at the weekend, I'll let you know if it holds up under P

Stand behind the ball.
Find a target in the distance.
Find a spot on the ground in line with that target.
Aim the clubhead to the spot with my right hand.
Put the left hand on.
One look.
Bang.

My game stinks lately and I think not having a consistent pre shot routine is a big influence. Ive gotta find one I can stick with. Ive been freezing over the ball like Na and need a pre shot routine to help me pull the trigger.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;272255]My game stinks lately and I think not having a consistent pre shot routine is a big influence. Ive gotta find one I can stick with. Ive been freezing over the ball like Na and need a pre shot routine to help me pull the trigger.[/QUOTE]

I've heard a lot of bad excuses, but this is probably the worst.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;272255]My game stinks lately and I think not having a consistent pre shot routine is a big influence. [/QUOTE]

You're welcome to try mine.

I find the ball and choose a club. Then I look to see who's away. When it's my turn, the pre-shot routine is completed and I hit the shot.

In fifty years of golf, I haven't found anything that works better than this.

Pick the club I want.
Find an intermediate target a foot or so in front of me to aim club and myself to.
1-2 waggles.
Last look at target.
Go.

Doesnt take long at all.

select the club that I think I need
stand behind the ball and guess where about the ball would fade
look at the girl
couple waggles
look at the girl
swing away

[QUOTE=Pky6471;272267]select the club that I think I need
stand behind the ball and guess where about the ball would fade
look at the girl
couple waggles
look at the girl
swing away[/QUOTE]

What girl?

Do you play with women?

choose a club
stand behind ball and pick a target
hope I don't slice
step up to address
hope I don't duck hook
get my feet comfortable on line with target
hope I don't chunk it
Take a pratice swing or two
hope I don't slice
concerntrate on hitting back of ball before hitting ground
hope I don't chunk
backswing - shoulder over ball
hope I don't hook
fowardswing - shift weight to front foot
slice......

I've always thought that a good pre-shot routine is important to make the actual swing as much a part of a process that feels easy. When I for some reason or other don't complete my routine, it doesn't usually produce a good result.

For me, the pre-shot routine begins when I put on my glove. I go through a lot of gloves if I just leave them on, so I always take my glove off after every shot.

When I pull on my glove, I try to use that as the moment to stop the banter and focus.

Stand behind the ball, take a practice swing that matches the shot I've (already) visualized and get a feel.

Pick my alignment target a few feet in front of the ball.

Move up and put my club behind the ball aligned with my mark.

Take my left hand grip, then my right.

Set my feet in close together, move my left foot target-ward as far as the shot dictates, then move my right foot.

Settle and imagine the shot in my head.

Straighten my spine and go.

I still need one,But let myself do whatever feels comfortable....Theres only 1 thing in my preshot routine that I take note of....If I am not comfortable I walk away and start again.

[QUOTE=Fluffy;272271]I still need one,But let myself do whatever feels comfortable....Theres only 1 thing in my preshot routine that I take note of....[B]If I am not comfortable I walk away and start again.[/B][/QUOTE]

I wish I was smart enough to do that more often...

:cryin:

[QUOTE=alangbaker;272270]Set my feet in close together, move my left foot target-ward as far as the shot dictates, then move my right foot.

[/QUOTE]

Isnt this one of the calling cards of a chopper? Thought I read that on GR?

:)

[QUOTE=Lord Helmet;272273]Isnt this one of the calling cards of a chopper? Thought I read that on GR?

:)[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't know.

:D

[QUOTE=alangbaker;272275]I wouldn't know.

:D[/QUOTE]

haha! I was just messin with ya!

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;272268][B]What girl?

Do you play with women?[/B][/QUOTE]

I only play with beautiful sexy girls/women... my standard is very high when it comes to girls/women that I hang around with... Who cares about GFF clubs,,, just beautiful and sexy women would do :)

I visualize both the shot and then the swing path through the ball to achieve that shot. I find it's much more interesting and dynamic to execute draws and fades and factor them into the pre shot routine... you know, instead of the "lawn dart" game so popular now.

As has been mentioned before, the current PGA style isn't exactly helping the rest of us to value working the ball with creativity. Most course set ups don't even reward it anymore.

The only reward is from a high speed straight shot with a ridiculous amount of backspin.

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;272268]What girl?

Do you play with women?[/QUOTE]

KiWi... Would you mind playing around with this girl?

I do the first two verses of Wreckx-N-effect's "Rump Shaker" out loud while holding my selected club like a microphone. I honestly believe that if I could fix this hitch, I could play to scratch.

[QUOTE=Home-slicer;272296]I do the first two verses of Wreckx-N-effect's "Rump Shaker" out loud while holding my selected club like a microphone. I honestly believe that if I could fix this hitch, I could play to scratch.[/QUOTE]

Including the saxophone lead in?

[QUOTE=Horseballs;272297]Including the saxophone lead in?[/QUOTE]
I carry a Kazoo that I rip the intro with.

I've always focused more on post shot routine:

Twirl club
Fist pump
Stare down opponent
Shove club back in bag
Acknowledge crowd
Authoritative walk

At night.... Thank my ping eye 2s

I've always focused more on post shot routine:

Twirl club
Fist pump
Stare down opponent
Shove club back in bag
Acknowledge crowd
Authoritative walk

At night.... Thank my ping eye 2s

The two above posts are dupicates. Sort of like T.C. Chen hitting his ball twice in a chip attempt out of green-side rough at the U.S. Open or some really big tournament many moons ago.

[QUOTE=mongrel;272312]The two above posts are dupicates. Sort of like T.C. Chen hitting his ball twice in a chip attempt out of green-side rough at the U.S. Open or some really big tournament many moons ago.[/QUOTE]

That's why they called him T(wo) C(hip) Chen back then ?

Well, I am sorry to say that a pre shot routine is no substitute for a decent swing. 82 at the weekend minus my 8, and the CSS was 71, so not even buffer.

Need to learn to drive the ball better - new thread starting about choosing a driver, ebcause inevitable it's the club's fault, and certainly not down to shmuck swinging it.

FD - I like your post shot routine, I tend to add showing my opponent the bottom of my club whilst staring him down, displaying a 7 when I was all of 230 yards out.

Well, I am sorry to say that a pre shot routine is no substitute for a decent swing. 82 at the weekend minus my 8, and the CSS was 71, so not even buffer.

Need to learn to drive the ball better - new thread starting about choosing a driver, because inevitably it's the club's fault, and certainly not down to shmuck swinging it.

FD - I like your post shot routine, I tend to add showing my opponent the bottom of my club whilst staring him down, displaying a 7 when I was all of 230 yards out.