What's Your Pre-Shot Routine?

[hckymeyer]

I actually look at the hole when I putt if I'm outside of about 5 feet. Why the 3/4 swing with the putter? It would seem to me that this is the time to try and match the stroke to the distance.

 

I took that to mean 3 or 4 practice strokes, not a 3/4 stroke.

[BigtazzGolf]

Curious how many of you have a dedicated pre-shot routine you do before every shot. Myself, I have one and it begins once I tee the ball up. Usually after that everything I do is automatic. I'm not even aware I'm doing it most times.

It begins with me stepping behind the ball 3-4 yards and visualize what I'd like to do. I then sneak up on the ball from the side so it doesn't know whats about to happen. Then I take my stance, right foot first then left and get set, I then look back down the fairway to find my target. Give the club a couple of waggles and let it rip.

This all takes maybe 7-10 seconds and it's like a blur sometimes.

Anyone else like this or am I the odd one haha

 

Tazz

[hckymeyer]

Having a pre-shot routing is a great way to mentally prepare for your shot.  Mine looks pretty similar to yours.

 

Line up behind the ball and pick a spot 12" in front of it to line up with.  I'll take my grip while lining up behind the ball.  Then come up and give a little waggle during the walk.  Set down the club on my target line and take my stance.  Adjust grip if necessary based on lie and stance.  Take a quick peek at my target then back down to the ball and swing.

 

I'm generally not a practice swing guy either.

[Hula Rock]

Having a pre-shot routing is a great way to mentally prepare for your shot.  Mine looks pretty similar to yours.

 

Line up behind the ball and pick a spot 12" in front of it to line up with.  I'll take my grip while lining up behind the ball.  Then come up and give a little waggle during the walk.  Set down the club on my target line and take my stance.  Adjust grip if necessary based on lie and stance.  Take a quick peek at my target then back down to the ball and swing.

 

I'm generally not a practice swing guy either.

 

I DO THE EXACT THING.....

[numberonecoog]

I have never had one. Then I went to the range earlier this week and decided to try and make one. I take a few steps behind the ball hit the club 5 time son the ground deep breath then approach the ball and aim from behind. When I did that I didnt necessarily hit it better each time but I was straighter and much better aimed. It was interesting

[Mr_Theoo]

I don't have one and I've tried to develop one but it always seems to mess me up more than it helps. I tend to just freestyle it. I get my yardage, then figure out what I wanna do. Step up and hit it. I am a little more meticulous around the greens because I want to really get it close to the hole.

[BigtazzGolf]

Mine really helps me focus and block out everything else.

Finding your zone and staying in it is key for me to play well.

 

 

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[jayjay0808]

I with you guys not much of a practice swinger either, even when putting

[Kor.A.Door]

7-10 seconds, why are you slow? I wish I could take 7-10 seconds, I am more like 4-6 seconds, I don't have a set routine, I know what I want to do before I get to the ball, so just make a decision and go, I know I play too quickly but it's a hard habit to break.

[BigtazzGolf]

That is pretty quick. #Speedy

 

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[MattF]

I tee the ball, get about 3-4 yards behind it and pick an aim point 3-6 inches in front of the ball. Step up and take my stance, both feet together then move my front foot into position first then my back based on what club I'm hitting. Take a couple of waggles, look down the fairway one or two deep breaths, then top it, hit a weak or strong slice and just generally look like a fool.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

I agree - pre-shot routines are important. Here's mine:

 

http://youtu.be/8pw0XRAuO0w

 

 

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[Kor.A.Door]

Just because I don't take 3 minutes to set up and look and look and move this or move that doesn't mean I don't have routine, my routine is to not waste time. I play fast and that's a good routine for me. I could slow down a bit, and that may help, but I am so used to playing fast, when I slow down its still really fast

[evershady]

I agree - pre-shot routines are important. Here's mine:

 

http://youtu.be/8pw0XRAuO0w

 

 

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I expect to see this next time we golf together. 

[revkev]

With my swing change I've had to incorporate a couple of deliberate practice swings first. I forgot that for a time yesterday and it was a complete disaster. Once I'm set on my swing move my routine is very similar to what many of us are describing with the exception that I've switched away from a close intermediate target to the target itself as my aim point. Once I'm set I take a deep breath and pull the trigger. It works better for me.

[Kenny B]

Very similar for me. I pick my aim point in the distance; usually a tree but here in the desert some courses don't have trees, so I will use a cloud unless it's clear... then I'm screwed.  Actually I just aim down the middle of the fairway.  I don't use a close-in target line.  When I tee the ball, I aim the alignment line on the ball with my distant target.  My ball is marked with a red T where the stem of the T is my alignment line.  Once the ball is positioned where I want it to go, I start from behind the ball and picture the shot, move to the address position and take a practice swing, then align my driver face parallel with the top line of the red T.  I just started doing a short practice takeaway because it reminds me to rotate rather than slide, then pull the trigger.  

[Kor.A.Door]

Very similar for me. I pick my aim point in the distance; usually a tree but here in the desert some courses don't have trees, so I will use a cloud unless it's clear... then I'm screwed. Actually I just aim down the middle of the fairway. I don't use a close-in target line. When I tee the ball, I aim the alignment line on the ball with my distant target. My ball is marked with a red T where the stem of the T is my alignment line. Once the ball is positioned where I want it to go, I start from behind the ball and picture the shot, move to the address position and take a practice swing, then align my driver face parallel with the top line of the red T. I just started doing a short practice takeaway because it reminds me to rotate rather than slide, then pull the trigger.

I already hit 5 balls in the time it took me to read this. I wish I could be a bit more deliberate with my pre shot.

[revkev]

Kor you may be surprised, I doubt anyone here takes much time to do what they've described. We played 27 holes yesterday in less than four and a half hours and neither of us lit it up. Two practice swings, a move behind the ball to pick out the target, a move into the ball, a set a last look and a deep breath take no time what so ever.

 

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[BigtazzGolf]

I already hit 5 balls in the time it took me to read this. I wish I could be a bit more deliberate with my pre shot.

Swing your swing bro.

If it works for you then it can't be wrong in my book.

No one person has the same routine as another. Yes, some are similar, but none are exactly the same.

As the saying goes, dance with the one that brought ya lol

 

Tazz

 

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[Kenny B]

I already hit 5 balls in the time it took me to read this. I wish I could be a bit more deliberate with my pre shot.

I don't take much time doing this routine.  I pick out my aim point when I walk up to tee the ball; the ball is aligned when I put it on the tee, so all I have to do is square the club face to the red T and swing away.  I just started doing the waggle to trigger the turn.

[Kor.A.Door]

I'm pretty much just messin with y'all, everyone is different, so our routines will be different

[Dana]

I also have a routine. I stand behind the ball and pick a spot 18" in front of the ball to aim at, walk to the ball from the side and set my club down, aligned with the spot I picked 18" in front of the ball, then step to the club , right foot first then left foot then take my grip, adjust grip, take 1 practice swing, say to myself" hit the ball with your practice swing " and then hit the ball.   I have a tendency to line up a little to the right, so aiming aid is important.   I do like the idea of sneaking up on the ball Bigtazz. .  I play quickly any delay in my game is usually from the players I am with who are still talking or shuffling  about

[jbil8802]

I stand behind the ball and pick an intermediate target then walk up and hit it. No practice swing unless it's a lie I'm uncomfortable with. The less I think the better off I am.

[revkev]

I'm pretty much just messin with y'all, everyone is different, so our routines will be different

I suspected as much. I know that there is a just the right pace to play at and it differs for everyone. There was an putting at my club on Thursday but it was a spread out shot gun with spaces to fit members in. We were escorted to 8 to start. Amazingly I made par because that hole generally has my number. My playing partner had some issues though and all of a sudden we had a group coming up on us on nine. I felt terribly rushed on the tenth tee and promptly blocked my drive into a steep fairway bunker. The next dozen holes or so were played in a haze until I got it back. We played another 13 holes and I was 2 over for them. I simply slowed down a tick with my pre shot routine.

 

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[808nation]

Similar to what I do, but instead of a waggle I like to have a sense of how much pressure I have in my hands and if my arms are relaxed.

 

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[numberonecoog]

I took my new pre shot routine this weekend. Shots were more on target and I had just better ball striking. I will keep it!

[revkev]

I took my new pre shot routine this weekend. Shots were more on target and I had just better ball striking. I will keep it!

I'm considering the Judge Smails routine of kicking the ball a set number of times closer to the hole before hitting my shot.

 

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[Kenny B]

I'm considering the Judge Smails routine of kicking the ball a set number of times closer to the hole before hitting my shot.

 

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"Don't count that!  I was interfered with."

[jrmull]

I expect to see this next time we golf together.

 

Pre-shot, post-shot, whatever-shot, one thing it definitely is, it is a routine!

 

I hit the wrong quote button - this was in reference to the video posted by Barbajo and Evershady.

 

Here's the link again: http://youtu.be/8pw0XRAuO0w

[KCLeo12]

I really should develop a pre-shot routine. I have never really had one. The only routine I have is I only take practice swings on shots that are less then full swings or if I am waiting for awhile just to stay loose. I have tried to set a routine which I usually can do for the first few holes but then it goes away.