Pre-shot routine??

[Captainspoint]

First time posting so hopefully I’m doing this correct, 

I want to build a proper pre-shot routine into my game, so looking for some pointers or starting points.  Mainly focussing around putting I guess. 
 

For driving and irons, the odd practice swing here or their bit I’m not consistent with this. 

Anyways help me!!! 

[cnosil]

20 minutes ago, Captainspoint said:

First time posting so hopefully I’m doing this correct, 

I want to build a proper pre-shot routine into my game, so looking for some pointers or starting points.  Mainly focussing around putting I guess. 
 

For driving and irons, the odd practice swing here or their bit I’m not consistent with this. 

Anyways help me!!! 

Every shot should have a routine that you do consistently.    Since you want to focus on putting,  here is one:  https://golf.com/instruction/putting/brad-faxon-5-step-putting-routine/

Key:  don't take to long over the ball! 

[GolfSpy_APH]

31 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Every shot should have a routine that you do consistently.    Since you want to focus on putting,  here is one:  https://golf.com/instruction/putting/brad-faxon-5-step-putting-routine/

Key:  don't take to long over the ball! 

Can a routine be that you have no routine? I normally do that pretty consistently.

I am bad because I rely on feels and that can lead to some differences in my routines. It was the same way when I was a more competitive athlete and had a lot of success and it translated over. Putting however it is pretty simple. I check the line and imagine what I want the ball to do. Set the putter up behind the ball. Line my feet up comfortably. Take one last look at the hole, set my hands and go. I dont take too long because if I have read it right all I need to think about is speed. The rest should take care of itself. 

Also I find when reading a green if I continue to look at it over and over I often over read the green and then miss because I saw something that wasnt there. 

 

[NickBostromWasRight]

1. Drink

2. Talk s***

3. Make excuses

4. Try to hit ball

[Garbox80]

I don't do practice swings at all (or very rarely, mostly when I have to wait for the previous group to get out of the way and want to keep myself warm). First I check the target line and try to pick an aiming point closer in front of the ball. Then I go and place my club behind the ball and use that aiming spot to check that I'm pointing it right.

After that just make sure I grip the club right (not enough shots per season to have it automated) and put myself on address position.

From there on I try to check that I feel "right" and then it's just swing thoughts.

 

Edit:

On putting I read the green and again pick an aiming spot closer to my ball (unless I'm inside three feet from hole, then I just look at the hole when I putt. Get on ball, have a couple of "feel" strokes while looking at the hole to estimate force. Club behind the ball aiming to that close spot again and when ready I look at that aiming spot when I putt. I know immediately if the ball started where I was aiming at (and having played floorball I'm somewhat used to look at the target when "shooting"). 

Edited April 30, 2023 by Garbox80

[Randall Robbins]

Stand behind the ball to line up shot, step in, 2 waggles, and go.  Putting, I pick my line, step in and go.

[thatsputtable]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Can a routine be that you have no routine? I normally do that pretty consistently.

I am bad because I rely on feels and that can lead to some differences in my routines. It was the same way when I was a more competitive athlete and had a lot of success and it translated over. Putting however it is pretty simple. I check the line and imagine what I want the ball to do. Set the putter up behind the ball. Line my feet up comfortably. Take one last look at the hole, set my hands and go. I dont take too long because if I have read it right all I need to think about is speed. The rest should take care of itself. 

Also I find when reading a green if I continue to look at it over and over I often over read the green and then miss because I saw something that wasnt there. 

 

I’m the same way with my game. For driver, irons, and wedges I’ll line up my path before I walk up and then when I walk up the only thing I really focus on is making sure my hands line up on the club how I want them. After that I just swing while thinking of my club path and it’s done really well for me. 

Putting is simple for me, too. I’ll line up my shot beforehand and then get in position over the ball and hit. I don’t take any practice swings, but I do have certain swing points along my swing path that I aim for to make sure I’m getting the correct distance.

I feel like as long as something is working for you then keep doing it, and if something doesn’t work then make small tweaks until you get yourself dialed in. Golf doesn’t have to be complicated

[RickyBobby_PR]

Pic a target

picture the shot you want to hit

take a practice swing that create a feel for your selected shot

clear the mind

step up to ball and swing

doesn’t take long to do

[SteveLo]

When putting I like to stand over the ball for a quick second so my feet can feel for any elevation that my eyes may have missed. Then I crouch down about 3-5 ft away from ball to align with hole. A few second glance and pick a target to putt towards. No practice swings on my putts.


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[Captainspoint]

Thanks all, 

i guess the reason I want to work on a routine is just to build more consistency, an easy way for me to get comfortable behind the ball.

with the weather picking up, here’s hoping for full summer of golf  
 

[TheCount]

22 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Can a routine be that you have no routine? I normally do that pretty consistently.

I am bad because I rely on feels and that can lead to some differences in my routines. It was the same way when I was a more competitive athlete and had a lot of success and it translated over. Putting however it is pretty simple. I check the line and imagine what I want the ball to do. Set the putter up behind the ball. Line my feet up comfortably. Take one last look at the hole, set my hands and go. I dont take too long because if I have read it right all I need to think about is speed. The rest should take care of itself. 

Also I find when reading a green if I continue to look at it over and over I often over read the green and then miss because I saw something that wasnt there. 

 

I take a look at putts from either side, but definitely the low side first. If the verdict is confusing it's a double-breaker, so I just aim as if it's a straight putt and rely on speed.

[cksurfdude]

6 hours ago, Captainspoint said:

 guess the reason I want to work on a routine is just to build more consistency, an easy way for me to get comfortable behind the ball.

Bingo! Having a routine literally means to do the same thing time after time. 

Your routine - personal to you - should include exactly those steps that prepare you .. physically, mentally, strategically (eg. shot + club + target selection) ... to hit your next shot. Nothing extra; keep it simple and repeatable.

Imho it's ok to have a different pre-shot routine for, say, full swing vs chipping vs putting. Again, make it simple, repeatable and .. *yours*.

Good luck!

[Garbox80]

On 5/1/2023 at 3:21 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

Pic a target

picture the shot you want to hit

take a practice swing that create a feel for your selected shot

clear the mind

step up to ball and swing

doesn’t take long to do

To clear my mind would be great. It's unbelievable how many thoughts can run through mind between starting the swing and impact . I know I have some sort of ADD problem (or that's actually part of ADHD nowadays too), but it might be self caused (way too much on my phone, have had a ton of interruptions in my workdays before etc). 

[DiscipleofPenick]

The pre-shot routine needs to be consistent, and should be relatively smooth and short. When you go to the driving range, practice the routine with each shot as well. Don't just stand on the mat and bang balls, back off and approach each shot like you are on the course. This will help you determine what works and what doesn't and help establish your tempo while on the course.

I am also a big fan of the think box/play box approach. That you do all the thinking and calculations behind the ball, then cross an imaginary line where you switch the brain off, set up, and commit to the shot. If something pops into your head back off and reset. 

Here's my pre-shot routine.

1. Get my number with rangefinder and or shotscope and pick the club.

2. Glove on and one practice swing (unless if feels like garbage, then a second swing)

3. Stand behind the ball and find my target line.

4. Cross into the play box

5. Set up to my target line, look at the target, waggle pause fire

Now dat's it

[RickyBobby_PR]

43 minutes ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

The pre-shot routine needs to be consistent, and should be relatively smooth and short. When you go to the driving range, practice the routine with each shot as well. Don't just stand on the mat and bang balls, back off and approach each shot like you are on the course. This will help you determine what works and what doesn't and help establish your tempo while on the course.

I am also a big fan of the think box/play box approach. That you do all the thinking and calculations behind the ball, then cross an imaginary line where you switch the brain off, set up, and commit to the shot. If something pops into your head back off and reset. 

Here's my pre-shot routine.

1. Get my number with rangefinder and or shotscope and pick the club.

2. Glove on and one practice swing (unless if feels like garbage, then a second swing)

3. Stand behind the ball and find my target line.

4. Cross into the play box

5. Set up to my target line, look at the target, waggle pause fire

Now dat's it

Practice swings in genera are garbage because they don’t mimic the actual swing. Practice swings should be a practice movement of the shot you want to hit

[DiscipleofPenick]

44 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Practice swings in genera are garbage because they don’t mimic the actual swing. Practice swings should be a practice movement of the shot you want to hit

Apologies that I wasn't specific enough for you in my description.

To quote page 51-52 of The Little Red Book by Harvey Penick:

"How many times have you seen a player make two or three beautiful practice swings that touch nothing but air? These swings are useful for loosening up, but they are no good when it comes to hitting the ball. From now on when you take a practice swing, make it a point to aim at something. Cut off a dandelion or a blade of grass...Aiming at something with your practice swing will help you learn to square the clubface. Never take another practice swing without aiming it at something."

Whether aiming at a target to square the club face or practice the movement to strike the ball, the practice swing must have a purpose. It should tell your mind to focus on the shot.

[cksurfdude]

On 5/2/2023 at 11:35 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

Practice swings should be a practice movement of the shot you want to hit

Like to refer to those as rehearsal swings. 

[Kenny B]

On 5/2/2023 at 8:35 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

Practice swings in genera are garbage because they don’t mimic the actual swing. Practice swings should be a practice movement of the shot you want to hit

Or in my case a swing to see if my body can make that movement without hurting.  No pain… I’m good to go.