Reasonable shot set-up time

**WUTiger** · September 11, 2009

A hot topic on the PGA tour this year is players getting put "on the clock" when they take too long to plan their shots, and fall behind others in the field.

I volunteered at a major national tournament this year, and about half the matches - just two players mind you - had at least one person "on the clock."

So, how long is "too long" for setting up shots? I try to save time by walking quickly when afoot, or moving my cart efficiently when riding.

Still, I have a pre-shot routine which takes probably 45 seconds for me to line up a shot, make sure no one has stumbled into my line of flight, waggle, and go ahead and hit the shot.

Sometimes I'll bail out and reset, often when a loudmouth from an adjacent green shouts to his foresome while I'm on the tee box, or if someone from another hole looking for a lost ball almost rams me with his cart.

Also, there's a family member I'm reluctant to play with because he'll tell me to hurry up just as I start my backswing, and break my concentration.

I have trouble with chopped-up tee boxes where there's really no level place to set up, and I have to tee up with a sidehill-downhill lie... you know.

If my swing is slipping, I'll take a little more time to check a couple of things. But if I do this, I usually hit a decent shot which saves time overall.

So, what's the feeling on how much time is too much?

**unabowler** · September 11, 2009

It sounds like you might be too slow. The way to tell is whether or not you keep up or whether you slow down the groups behind you.

**brgolf** · September 11, 2009

45 seconds and then breaking off because of a distraction.

Too slow.

**Pat007** · September 11, 2009

way too slow... if I was playing with you, I'd flat-out tell you, or refuse to play with you. Assuming you and the guys in your foursome shoot a 90 and play the same speed, with no distractions, it's your turn for 67.5 minutes each X 4 = 4hrs and 32 minutes. Way too long. If you get distracted and have to start over even a few times each, we're looking at a 5 hour round. Way too long for my liking. I play in a foursome with some members at my course for money. Everyone shoots under 75 and we're done in 3.5 hours walking. A lot of times, I see people screw shots up from over-analyzing and thinking too much. This is a classic of '' paralysis by analysis''. I suggest maybe 2 practice swings, no more, look at the target, and go. Try a shorter routine, you might be surprised.

**whetstone** · September 11, 2009

Too slow is when you begin slowing others down, no more no less.

**MiniMoe** · September 11, 2009

If you are going to miss it, miss it quick. The pro level is just as much of a joke when it comes to having a set routine. They think that if they take more time, they are trying harder... what a load of BS someone fed to them. Be ready when it's your turn. I just finished playing a mini-tour event. The guys I played with waited until the green cleared to even get a distance to the hole. Drove me nutz

Look at it this way, the green has not moved since the last time you played, and you know what you have to hit from 150, what takes a lot of time about that? Next, you can't play if you are worried about mechanics. Thinking about and trying to "fix" your swing is to be done on the range, not while playing. Golf is a reactionary sport. It's just like shooting a basket ball. You look at the target and fire. Check points are for the range so you can learn the correct feelings. The biggest this is to be ready when it's your turn. You don't start to read a putt when it's your turn. When you put your ball down, you should have a good idea of the break. Take a quick look, get a final read, and go with it. And if you get distracted that easily and have to back off more than once a round, then I see your problem. You are not focusing on the target, but on a bunch of other things. The hole is the target, now aim and fire. You would not shoot a gun at someone and expect to hit them if you were thinking about how to shoot the damn gun, would you?

Please don't take offense, but 45 seconds is a bit slow for each and every shot. Once in a while.. ok, but not every single solitary shot.

**Leftygolfer** · September 11, 2009

Way too slow. I too have a pre-shot routine but it is no more than stand behind the ball, pick a line and a shape, step in and 2 looks and gone. The longer you think about a shot the worse it will be. Players that stand over the ball for a long time are thinking too much.

I agree, you just have to be ready to go when it is your turn. I have a very habitial putting routine but it takes no more than 20 seconds from when it is my turn. I know the greens I play and I am reading my putt the whole time I am on the green.

**tjy355** · September 11, 2009

Still, I have a pre-shot routine which takes probably 45 seconds for me to line up a shot, make sure no one has stumbled into my line of flight, waggle, and go ahead and hit the shot.

You've teed you ball or examined your lie, decided on the shot and have club in hand... and it takes 45 more seconds before you hit the ball ??

Yes, that is on the long side. I can't imagine what you are doing during all this time? One practice swing, aim, step up to the ball, setup, waggle, one last look at the target and hit it. 20 seconds tops.

**n8dogg2669** · September 11, 2009

man i'd be pulling my hair out. i play fast.. real fast. I played 20 holes of twilight golf by myself the other day in 2.5 hours. and i would stop and hit 3-4 balls from 100 out quite a few times. But I would have to agree with most everyone else that your pace would be too slow.

rjal4296 · September 12, 2009

Once the stance is taken;

fire away in < 12 sec

**flanagan** · September 12, 2009

You are unreasonably slow, most college basketball teams would average one possession each while you are still not hitting the ball. Can you try a smaller font?

**alomar123** · September 12, 2009

Wow, 45 sec routine i dont know how you do that, id encourage you to change it a bit unless you truely cant live without it. No more than 15 sec routine should be used, even the pros are pretty fast with it

GTV8 · September 12, 2009

45 seconds is ridiculously long to take a shot...Lately I have been playing allot of par3\executive courses while my wife is learning the game and several times we have been paired up with teenage kids. While they have all been very, very nice kids, they are obviously watching way too much PGA golf. The setup routines and multiple practice swings they take before every single shot were driving me crazy. The future is not looking good for those who want a faster pace of play.

**WUTiger** · September 12, 2009

tjy355,

The 45 seconds starts when my cart arrives at the ball, or if walking, when my stand bag hits the ground and tripod sets up.

During this 45 seconds, I take out a club, check the lie, etc., and hit the ball.

(I usually know what club I want by the time I get to the ball, provided I've played the course before. I've played more different courses this summer than ever before in my life, trying to get best $$ on greens fee specials.)

**DBeane** · September 12, 2009

"...Golf is a reactionary sport. It's just like shooting a basket ball. You look at the target and fire..." (Minnie Moe)

That is one of the best tips you will ever get...

-Beane

***iacas*** · September 12, 2009

Way, way, way too slow. If you're first to hit 45 seconds might be appropriate (maybe), but if you're not you should be well under half that.

If I'm first to hit I'm still under 30 seconds, and that includes getting a yardage with my rangefinder.

P.S. I could obviously be wrong here, but your revision seems to be an attempt to save some face. You specifically said your routine takes you 45 seconds to "line up your shot, waggle, and hit it." You didn't include "park, get a yardage, and pull a club" in it before.

**Dub** · September 12, 2009

I've never timed it....but I think I go fairly quick. I'll use yesterday's round for example:

Average tee shot, for instance. My group pulls up to the stopping point....I've already gauged the wind and pulled a club....if it's gusting then I pull two (for par 3).

We walk up to the tee box and I walk accross and stand so I'm at the first players back....out of his sight just left of the teeing area. He hits his shot.

I'm teed up and walking back a few paces as he's eyeing down his shot...not rushing him...just easing up and teeing my ball....I generally like to tee up on the left side of most boxes anyway.

By the time he's walked off the tee I've already selected my line and taken a couple of deep breaths and and stepping up to the ball....address...waggle a couple of times to stay loose......one steady look at the target (3 seconds or so...enough to fix it in my head) and then pull the trigger. I step away if I feel good about it....only stare down the bad feeling shots (saves time looking around for them later). The only time I'll take a practice swing while standing back behind the ball is:

There is time to kill while group ahead clears the target area
I'm going to hit "specailty" shot and want to get that feel fixed in with the rehearsal swing

Maybe 30 seconds for the whole affair, with some of the time occuring while other golfer is watching his ball.

If I have honors then I make it my bussiness to be on the box and teed up while others are pulling off headcovers, etc. If it's a par 3 then I'll take a couple sticks over to bracket the anticipated yardage.

Numerous practice swings, excessive waggling, multiple looks......all that crap is wasted effort and will do nothing good for your game. It's like getting too many reads on a putt.....your initial look is going to most likely be the true break and line.....observe as you walk up and trust it.

**jamo** · September 12, 2009

i'll never understand why people take so long.
i always walk and i usually have pulled a club before i get to my ball and out down my bag. I look for sprinkler heads and yardage markers and estimate the distances. There is no need to walk it off or use GPS or rangefinders if you know about how far 10 yards is.
Once i get to the ball i stand behind it and pick a target, step up to the ball, waggle, and swing. I find the faster i go the better i hit because i stay loose. This tales probably well under 30 seconds.

Then putting, i normally trust my first read. One look from behind my ball i usually have the read. sometimes i walk to the hole but usually just for long putts.

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Reasonable shot set-up time

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