Practice swings

[Sluggo42]

So I’ve never been much of a “practice swinger”, and I’ll have to admit, watching someone take 10 practice swings actually does drive me insane.

But yesterday I made it a point to take 2 or 3 practice swings befor every shot. They weren’t the full on drive the guys nutty practice swings, but rather more of a “feel the weight”, and feel the backswing get all the way back, and keep good balance.

result was one of my better ball striking days in recent memory.

so, don’t be one of those guys who takes 10 practice swings that makes your buddies never call you again, but be that guy who does take 2 or 3, just to “get in touch” with the club you’re about to hit...  you might find it helpful

[Jmikecpa]

Rarely take one before I hit the ball. Most times it is if I don’t have shot that is a stock shot for me. With a bum elbow I don’t need the extra reps.


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[cnosil]

I am a no practice swing person as well.  will only take them if I am trying to get the feel of the rough. 

[Mr_Theoo]

Im in the no practice swing camp as well. I will swing the club in one hand to feel the length and weight of the club while the others hit. Unless it’s a different shot than normal then i might take 1 or 2. 

I prolly should take a few with the short game those are where I feel like I lose more shots by rushing as it is

[Rusty1885]

I waggle the club  on most shots and on the first few fairway wood shots I’d take one swing to see the impact zone as it varies a bit from day to day. I sometime take a half speed practice swing on the tee shot and hold the finish and visualize the shot then trigger my short preshot routine.

 I actually don’t have a problem with people taking a few extra practice swing to either shake off the tightness or get the right feel.  What I can’t stand is the people who goes thru the rep like it’s mandatory that they swing 8 times before each shot in a hurry, it serves no purpose aside from satisfying one’s OCD but it can actually hurt the real chance of executing a decent shot. 

[fixyurdivot]

25 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I am a no practice swing person as well.  will only take them if I am trying to get the feel of the rough. 

Unless I'm waiting for the group ahead to clear, same for me. It seems a good many pros use at least one and/or that checked half back swing; so I probably should be .

[revkev]

For the longest time I didn’t take one unless I was trying to hit a different shot, but now I generally take small ones to help remind me to get the left side open quicker.


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[GB13]

I take one on stock full shots. 

I take two on a non stock shot. 

I take three out for chips. 

And on putting, my routine is so natural, I can't even remember if I take a practice swing or not.

 

In general, don't take more than 3 or maybe 4 but they can help you loosen up and commit to each shot. 

[robertson153]

I always take a half speed full rotation practice swing on every shot. Helps me get a feel for it and makes it easier to commit. On delicate chips/pitches it might be 3-4 until it feels right.


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[GC70]

I never take a practice swing either.
My be the first hold to warm up. If it’s a really slow round, I’ll take a club out and swing so I don’t get stiff. Around the green I’ll take a couple to try and see what kind of chip shot I’ll be doing.


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[EthanSterlingPrice]

I don’t do a full practice swing anymore unless I’m waiting for a group in front to clear or I’m doing a funky recovery shot. I do take a slowish waist high to waist high sort of swing to feel a body controlled motion but I’m not sure if that counts. Absolutely agree on overdoing them and that some sort of rehearsal move is beneficial though...


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[tony@CIC]

I do a couple of practice swings generally with each club. The reason why is because I need to be more consciously aware of my finish. When I don't I generally don't finish facing the target. 

[PMookie]

I take about 2-3 practice swings before each shot. I don’t take turf, I’m more upright trying to establish a feel of rotation, and connection. With less-than-full wedges, chips, and pitches, I do take a true practice swing.


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[PING Apologist #9]

14 hours ago, GB13 said:

I take one on stock full shots. 

I take two on a non stock shot. 

I take three out for chips. 

And on putting, my routine is so natural, I can't even remember if I take a practice swing or not.

 

In general, don't take more than 3 or maybe 4 but they can help you loosen up and commit to each shot. 

It never fails to amaze me how similarly we both play...Ditto (really!)

[Ronoc]

I take about 2-3 practice swings. However, the last few times out I felt like I was rushing them and not getting anything out of doing this each time.
Something I’ll be changing the next time out.


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[DaveP043]

I don't take a full-speed practice swing on anything beyond chip shots.  I do, however, take a slow-speed partial swing in which I concentrate on the rotation of my hips and the extension of my left leg in the forward swing.  This is the primary swing change I've tried to make over the last year or so, and I've revised my routine to continually remind myself of the "right" way to swing.  This kind of exaggerated rehearsal is something my instructor recommends, and something you'll see a lot of tour pros do.  It takes very little time, but I believe it helps me.

[Mr. 82]

I take one practice swing before every shot.  On the tee box I am trying to simulate the full effect of the driver hitting the ball with solid contact, so my practice swing is often just as fast or faster than the actual stroke.  I don't know anyone else who does this honestly, as most people I know will take a half-hearted practice swing that in no way simulates the actual swing.  

I can't explain why I do this before every shot, but it's just what my Dad taught me to do, and I've been doing it the same way for 40+ years, so why stop now.

The only exception to just the one practice swing is when I am chipping around the green.  I'll often times take 3 or 4 or more practice swings, but this is purely to test the surface of the grass I am hitting the ball out of.  With heavy bermuda grass around most greens here in Florida, if you aren't testing the grass before a chip shot, you'll have no way of knowing what sort of reaction your ball will take leaving the grass.  Those extra practice shots are essential in getting a feel for how the ball will react once you strike it with the club.

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, GSwag said:

The only exception to just the one practice swing is when I am chipping around the green.  I'll often times take 3 or 4 or more practice swings, but this is purely to test the surface of the grass I am hitting the ball out of.  With heavy bermuda grass around most greens here in Florida, if you aren't testing the grass before a chip shot, you'll have no way of knowing what sort of reaction your ball will take leaving the grass.  Those extra practice shots are essential in getting a feel for how the ball will react once you strike it with the club.

I mentioned this earlier, I treat short-game shots differently, I too take multiple practice swings.  I suppose I'm getting a feel for the grass, but I'm also picturing a specific shot, trajectory and distance, and I keeping swinging until somehow I feel that my practice swing matches the shot I'm imagining.  Sometimes my mental image changes during those practice swings, but I want my image to match the feel for the practice swing.  Then I step in and hit the shot, no hesitation, just trying to repeat my last practice swing.

[Kor.A.Door]

I take very few practice swings. I’m not use why I don’t take them. 

I donplay golf with a guy who takes a full out full practice swing before every shot. I mean it is a full out swing. 

[Angry Yeti]

I always take one or two practice swings. It helps me get my tempo right and serves as a spot check for how my impact zone is working through my current lie. 

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

I'm in the few if any practice swing boat. I do on chips and more delicate shots but for most I setup and swing. Not sure why but a practice swing (full) just doesn't seem the same as the real thing.

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[DaveP043]

14 hours ago, Danbrook said:

I'm in the few if any practice swing boat. I do on chips and more delicate shots but for most I setup and swing. Not sure why but a practice swing (full) just doesn't seem the same as the real thing.

According to an instructor I know, a swing without a ball really isn't anything like the real thing, virtually useless for diagnostic or instructional purposes.

[Kenny B]

I take a full swing on each shot, maybe two if the the first one doesn't feel right.  It's either to break loose scar tissue, or to remember what it feels like since it's been several minutes since the last full shot.  

I always take 3 practice swings for each chip to get the feel of the club and the turf.  I also take 3 swings with the putter while judging distance looking at the hole.

[srooch2]

I didn't forever and I'm at a place in my game where I understand what's happening in my swing so I take one to feel what I'm working on at the moment.

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