What is a pre shot routine?
Very simply it is a set series of movements and thoughts that a golfer performs identically before every single shot.
Why do you need a pre shot routine?
A pre shot routine is important for 2 reasons.
What is a good pre shot routine?
A good pre shot routine consists of three phases.
1. The instructions
2. Aim
3. Pulling the trigger
1. The instructions
Before any shot is hit on the course it needs to be rehearsed. A golfers practice swings are the blueprint for what the golfer wants to happen when hitting the shot. Two practice swings are ideal. Both should be performed directly behind the ball so that the golfer can swing and imagine watching the ball fly out right down the line toward the target. The visualisation of the shot should not be taken lightly. Be as vivid as possible and imagine the ball fly through the air into the hole. Why? This action provides the exact set of instructions that the brain needs to hit the shot into the hole!! If it cannot be imagined the chances of it happening are less. If all the golfer can see is water or trees then that is where the ball will end up!
2. Aim
Pick a line
Following the practice swings the golfer needs to aim in the right direction and should stand behind the ball and trace an imaginary straight line on the floor between the target and the ball.
Very simply it is a set series of movements and thoughts that a golfer performs identically before every single shot.
Why do you need a pre shot routine?
A pre shot routine is important for 2 reasons.
- To give the golfer the highest chance of success for each shot. It focuses the golfer mentally and physically on the shot at hand. Once the routine has started whatever happened previously disappears, any thoughts about the surroundings disappear and concentration towards the task ahead is heightened.
- To aim the golfer in the right direction. Imagine training a marksman to shoot a rifle perfectly but not actually showing them how to point the gun at the bulls eye.
What is a good pre shot routine?
A good pre shot routine consists of three phases.
1. The instructions
2. Aim
3. Pulling the trigger
1. The instructions
Before any shot is hit on the course it needs to be rehearsed. A golfers practice swings are the blueprint for what the golfer wants to happen when hitting the shot. Two practice swings are ideal. Both should be performed directly behind the ball so that the golfer can swing and imagine watching the ball fly out right down the line toward the target. The visualisation of the shot should not be taken lightly. Be as vivid as possible and imagine the ball fly through the air into the hole. Why? This action provides the exact set of instructions that the brain needs to hit the shot into the hole!! If it cannot be imagined the chances of it happening are less. If all the golfer can see is water or trees then that is where the ball will end up!
2. Aim
Pick a line
Following the practice swings the golfer needs to aim in the right direction and should stand behind the ball and trace an imaginary straight line on the floor between the target and the ball.
Be very precise about the target, pick out something very small. Pick out the flagstick, a tree in the distance or a stripe of cut grass in the fairway. Narrowing the focus like this means that the ball will end up closer to the target if the target is missed.
Pick a spot
On this imaginary line pick a spot but no more than 12 inches from the ball. Any farther away when looking at the ball the spot will be outside of the field of vision and therefore there will be no idea whether the clubface is aiming at it or not?!
Pick a spot
On this imaginary line pick a spot but no more than 12 inches from the ball. Any farther away when looking at the ball the spot will be outside of the field of vision and therefore there will be no idea whether the clubface is aiming at it or not?!
Aim the body
Forget about the target, step up to the ball and now imagine the line connecting the ball with the spot on the floor. The feet should be aligned parallel to this line. If done successfully the feet, knees, hips and shoulders will be aligned anywhere between 2 and 8 yards to the left of the target for right handed golfers and to the right of the target for left handed golfers.
Forget about the target, step up to the ball and now imagine the line connecting the ball with the spot on the floor. The feet should be aligned parallel to this line. If done successfully the feet, knees, hips and shoulders will be aligned anywhere between 2 and 8 yards to the left of the target for right handed golfers and to the right of the target for left handed golfers.
Why not aim the body straight at the target?
The club never swings on a straight line. The golfer is stood away from the ball therefore the clubhead, if swung correctly, will travel on a circular path around the body so when the club reaches the ball it will be travelling on a line parallel to the golfer. Imagine a railway track. On one rail the club travels through the ball straight to the target, while the feet stand on the other rail which travels parallel to the side of the target.
3. Pulling the trigger
Once lined up, go! If the golfer stands over the ball for too long technical thoughts or anxiety starts to occur. When lined up take one look at the target, imagine the ball disappearing into the hole or bouncing down the fairway, look back at the ball and let it go. Pull the trigger and trust the swing.
The club never swings on a straight line. The golfer is stood away from the ball therefore the clubhead, if swung correctly, will travel on a circular path around the body so when the club reaches the ball it will be travelling on a line parallel to the golfer. Imagine a railway track. On one rail the club travels through the ball straight to the target, while the feet stand on the other rail which travels parallel to the side of the target.
3. Pulling the trigger
Once lined up, go! If the golfer stands over the ball for too long technical thoughts or anxiety starts to occur. When lined up take one look at the target, imagine the ball disappearing into the hole or bouncing down the fairway, look back at the ball and let it go. Pull the trigger and trust the swing.
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