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Full
Swing - Lesson 2
Develop
a Sound Pre-shot Routine
This lesson will:
| 1. |
Show you
how to define your own pre-shot routine
to use for every full swing you take
on the course. |
| 2. |
Provide
a sample pre-shot routine to use as
a starting point. |
Defining Your Own
Pre-shot Routine
Define and execute a pre-shot
routine for use before every full swing
you take on the course
Before every full swing
you take on the course, you’ll need
to go through the same routine in order
to determine the shot you want to play
based on the situation and develop feeling
of confidence over the ball, freeing your
mind from negative distractions.
Perhaps one of the most
common differences between a touring professional
and the average golfer is the level of
consistency, not only in shot results
but also in the sequence of events leading
up to a shot. Nearly all, if not all,
professional golfers have some sort of
set routine they follow almost flawlessly
every single shot. If something distracts
them during their routines, they back
off and start over. The average golfer
does not have this discipline. The average
golfer doesn't really know what to do
before they make a full swing. This lack
of consistency in a pre-shot routine can't
help but lead to a lack of consistency
in the swing and consequently in the results.
Every golfer would benefit
from having a solid, repeatable, dependable
routine they go through before every full
swing. It is often this routine that professionals
point to as a source of strength and comfort
when the pressure is really on. No matter
how much money or pride is on the line,
a golfer has complete control over whether
or not they perform their pre-shot routine
as usual. It is like a chain of events
that starts with a solid set of preparatory
actions and ends with an effortless, well
executed swing.
A solid pre-shot routine
provides comfort and confidence, focuses
your mind on the task at hand, reduces
the intrusion of negative thoughts, and
acts as a transition into the swing. Every
player finds that slightly different pre-shot
routines seem to work best for them, but
the best pre-shot routines all possess
similar characteristics:
| 1. |
They are
consistent. A pre-shot routine can’t
provide comfort and confidence unless
it’s consistent. That’s
why it’s called a routine…because
it needs to be done the same way before
every full swing. |
| 2. |
They turn the focus
away from mechanics towards feel.
A pre-shot routine should instill
some feeling similar to that of the
swings you want to make. You should
perform some movement that causes
you to feel good about the swing you’re
about to make. Most pros take practice
swings that are smooth and effortless.
Many look at the target while taking
these practice strokes to gain a feel
for the proper distance control. |
| 3. |
They focus your mind
on the task at hand. The important
thing to note here is that the task
at hand is not making a particular
swing, but rather making the ball
hit a particular target. You should
always pick a specific target for
every full swing as part of your pre-shot
routine. Very rarely will this be
the flag itself unless you are in
range of the green, the green is flat
around the hole, and the flag is in
an accessible location that isn’t
foolish to shoot for. |
| 4. |
They provide a smooth
transition into the swing. Some people
let out a slow breath, others do a
slight forward press with the hands,
Jack Nicklaus turns his head to the
right. Having some sort of consistent
queue to start your swing helps improve
your tempo and eliminates jerkiness
or quickness associated with starting
the swing from a completely idle position. |
| 5. |
Pre-shot routines are
supposed to serve as a source of comfort,
not of confusion or stress. Therefore,
be sure to practice your pre-shot
routine off the course so it becomes
second nature on it. |
To define YOUR pre-shot
routine, use the My Training system. In
step 3, we suggest a pre-shot routine
in the event you do not have one of your
own that you wish to use. Make sure that
if you do intend to use your own, it follows
the guidelines above.
| Step
1: |
Login in
to the site and go to My Training. |
| Step 2: |
In the My Routines
box, select Pre-shot Routine. In the
My Pre-shot Routine box, select Edit
Routine. |
| Step 3: |
Complete the form by
entering the steps to your pre-shot
routine. If you do not have one and
don’t know where to start, look
at the next section in this lesson
(Sample Pre-shot Routine). |
Now that you have defined
your routine, you will need to practice
it diligently. You don’t want your
pre-shot routine to become a mental burden
on the course by struggling to remember
it.
Once you’ve practiced
your routine, it’s time to take
it to the course with you. The most important
thing is to be patient. Don’t expect
miracles and get frustrated when they
don’t happen. Your routine will
take time to become a natural part of
your game that contributes positively
towards your improvement. And remember,
no one hits every shot where they want
to. Look to make small amounts of progress
at a time.
Sample Pre-shot
Routine
The following is a
sample pre-shot routine similar to one
used by many professional golfers. Every
routine varies slightly to fit the particular
person, so you’ll need to experiment
with different things until you find one
that accomplishes the objectives of a
pre-shot routine set forth earlier in
this lesson.
| 1. |
Factoring
all conditions, yardage, etc. determine
club and shot necessary. |
| 2. |
Stand directly behind
the ball and visualize the shot you
want to play, picking a small, well-defined
target. |
| 3. |
Approach the ball without
taking your eyes off the target. |
| 4. |
Align the clubface
perpendicular to the intended target
line. |
| 5. |
Square your shoulders,
hips and feet parallel to the target
line. |
| 6. |
Take a smooth practice
swing, holding the finish and visualizing
the shot. |
| 7. |
Step up to ball, take
one last look at target. |
| 8. |
Slowly start the swing
and Execute the shot. |
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