Pre-shot routines to get you focused

**k-troop** · February 21, 2012

A post in another thread just got me thinking about something.

Do you find that little things you do to keep focus have a direct impact on your shotmaking? For example, when I'm really focused, I'll be thinking about exactly what shot I want to hit. High fade that starts at the right edge of the bunker. Low draw that starts and the second tree past the mound.

Right before I hit the shot, I'll stand behind the ball, looking directly at my target, and whisper out loud to myself exactly what I want to do. "Full shot, high draw. Start it at the middle of the bunker. Hit it solid, not hard."

I feel like this really works to get me focused, and it forces me to visualize the exact shot I want to hit (rather than thinking about all of the shots I don't want to hit). Does anyone else do something like this?

**Kieran123** · February 21, 2012

I don't talkout loud, but tell myself in my head the shot I want to hit.

I talk out loud once I do the opposite of what I intended.

Those words can not be written here.

**RPMPIRE** · February 21, 2012

I usually hit the range before I play a round. Whatever I do on the range to make my swing work, that's what I usually say before a shot. For example, if I feel like my problem is I stand up on my stance, I'll keep telling myself before a shot to stay down . If I swing imblanced, it's because I'm swinging too hard, then I'll tell myself nice & easy.

It varies from time to time, but I'm working on just coming up with just one swing thought and just making everything muscle memory.

**sean_miller** · February 21, 2012

Originally Posted by k-troop

. . . Right before I hit the shot, I'll stand behind the ball, looking directly at my target, and whisper out loud to myself exactly what I want to do. . . .

Does anyone else do something like this?

Yeah, pretty much exactly that. Might be one reason I enjoy playing alone.

**Tiger90** · February 21, 2012

I always, step back, take two practice swings, not perfect swings, just swing the club to get loose. Take a look down my line, step up and hit.

I think standing behind the ball, and visualizing your line is very important to do right before you hit. A lot of pros say, if you walk from behind the ball and then take a practice swing, then you have lost your line. You can take a practice swing beside the ball, but before you hit, step back, visualize your line and then go.

Another thing, you should set your club down line up your club face before you set your feet up. If you set your feet up before your club, you could also loose your line and set up improperly.

There is no correct pre-shot routine, it is very personal. However, i think standing behind the ball, visualizing your shot and then setting up your club face first should be a part of every pre shot routine.

My putting routine is a little different. After i read the putt and all that stuff, i stand beside the ball, take 3 practice strokes, trying to get the feel for the speed. I step back, visualize the line and what part of the hole the ball is going to go in. Then i do the same as every other shot, i walk up to the ball, with my eye on the target until i set my putter down, set up my feet and go.

**mdl** · February 21, 2012

Originally Posted by Tiger90

I always, step back, take two practice swings, not perfect swings, just swing the club to get loose. Take a look down my line, step up and hit.

I think standing behind the ball, and visualizing your line is very important to do right before you hit. A lot of pros say, if you walk from behind the ball and then take a practice swing, then you have lost your line. You can take a practice swing beside the ball, but before you hit, step back, visualize your line and then go.

Another thing, you should set your club down line up your club face before you set your feet up. If you set your feet up before your club, you could also loose your line and set up improperly.

There is no correct pre-shot routine, it is very personal. However, i think standing behind the ball, visualizing your shot and then setting up your club face first should be a part of every pre shot routine.

My putting routine is a little different. After i read the putt and all that stuff, i stand beside the ball, take 3 practice strokes, trying to get the feel for the speed. I step back, visualize the line and what part of the hole the ball is going to go in. Then i do the same as every other shot, i walk up to the ball, with my eye on the target until i set my putter down, set up my feet and go.

Interesting. For the longest time I've stood behind the ball, picked my target line, visualized my shot, then stepped up, lined up my club head, then my feet, THEN stepped back to take a practice swing or two, then stepped right back to the ball, stare down my target one more time, and hit. Recently I've been sometimes taking my practice swings from behind the ball as I line up the shot, visualizing my shot with my practice swings. I haven't noticed a big difference in performance one way or the other, but maybe I'll try converting to that routine full time for a while and see if it feels like it helps me.

**k-troop** · February 21, 2012

It's always a battle to balance precision with speed in a preshot routine. Something I started doing a while ago, on both my full shots and putts. I stand behind the ball, but oriented as if I were going to hit towards the target. I take my practice swings this way, so that I'm still behind the ball and looking down the line, swinging towards the target. Then, I can line up and step into the shot. It saves the step of having to walk back behind the ball to line up after your practice swing.

I might vary this routine if I've got a tricky lie (need to get the feel for the grass or slope next to the ball) or I'm in a place where I can't stand behind the ball. In these situations, however, I've usually got bigger concerns than setting the clubface on a precise line. The key, just like my first post, is having the discipline to complete this routine and stay focused. Too often I'm just playing golf--I'll get out of my routine and then inevitably lose focus.

**GaijinGolfer** · February 21, 2012

What I do is stand behind the ball and in my mind I will draw a line from the ball to my target. I try to get really specific in which target I pick and have a clear image in my mind of the ball flying to that target.

After that, the only thought I have in my mind is the image of the ball flying to that target. No swing thoughts, no negative thoughts; just the image of the ball flying to the target.

**Tiger90** · February 21, 2012

Originally Posted by k-troop

It's always a battle to balance precision with speed in a preshot routine. Something I started doing a while ago, on both my full shots and putts. I stand behind the ball, but oriented as if I were going to hit towards the target. I take my practice swings this way, so that I'm still behind the ball and looking down the line, swinging towards the target. Then, I can line up and step into the shot. It saves the step of having to walk back behind the ball to line up after your practice swing.

I might vary this routine if I've got a tricky lie (need to get the feel for the grass or slope next to the ball) or I'm in a place where I can't stand behind the ball. In these situations, however, I've usually got bigger concerns than setting the clubface on a precise line. The key, just like my first post, is having the discipline to complete this routine and stay focused. Too often I'm just playing golf--I'll get out of my routine and then inevitably lose focus.

yeah exactly, i agree. I wasn't that is the only way to do it. I was just saying before you hit, make sure your behind the ball. Weather you practice swing beside or behind the ball is up to you. But i feel that before you should you should walk into the shot visualzing it and then just go.

I feel its very personal, with a couple necessary steps

**mdl** · February 21, 2012

Yeah I wasn't saying that I thought maybe there's one best way and I've been doing it the wrong way. It's just that I've been working on some mental stuff where the focus is going through a series of mental steps before each shot, the key ones of which are to visualize the shot and then consciously step over the shot with confidence that you are going to hit the shot you just visualized, and backing off if you feel any doubt or discomfort or anything that takes you out of that smooth transition from visualization, to approaching with confidence, to executing what you visualized. I feel like it might be useful for me to truly make that a seamless sequence by making my smooth practice swings behind the ball while visualizing, and if anything only doing a take-away to P2 practice over the ball, a la Jason Day.

**Ben** · February 21, 2012

Originally Posted by k-troop

A post in another thread just got me thinking about something.

Do you find that little things you do to keep focus have a direct impact on your shotmaking? For example, when I'm really focused, I'll be thinking about exactly what shot I want to hit. High fade that starts at the right edge of the bunker. Low draw that starts and the second tree past the mound.

Right before I hit the shot, I'll stand behind the ball, looking directly at my target, and whisper out loud to myself exactly what I want to do. "Full shot, high draw. Start it at the middle of the bunker. Hit it solid, not hard."

I feel like this really works to get me focused, and it forces me to visualize the exact shot I want to hit (rather than thinking about all of the shots I don't want to hit). Does anyone else do something like this?

Yeah, I like that a lot. I believe that not only thinking, but also vocalizing what you want to do is a great extra way to get focused on the shot at hand. The more detailed the better really. So long as its focusing on the positive aspects of what you want out of a shot of course. I think that's a huge reason why tour players are more consistent then other players. They have their caddy to vocalize to.

A little piece of what I use that goes in a bit of a different direction is a system I use for yardages. I have a little notepad (or yardage book if I have one for the course I'm playing) that I'll keep in my back pocket. I'll write down the yardage to the pin and then determine and write down the yardage that I want to land the ball at. That way I have the number in three places. In my head, on paper, and in my hand. I think the act of writing out the numbers helps as well. That's why I count the hand. This method is particularly helpful when I'm not first to act. Before I started doing this I often found that my mind had focused on my shot, but strayed from my number.

**mihi4** · February 22, 2012

My wife and I will sometimes play a round, where you have to tell you playing partner before every shot, what you are up to, and what you are thinking.

i.e. "It's 64yds to the pin with a lot of green to work with, the wind is blowing right to left.

The ball doesn't lie perfectly, so I'll rather chip it up with a i7 than trying to fly it with the LW, risking a thin shot over the green.

I want the ball to travel just about 10-12 yds and then roll up to the green and the hole. My landing point is this browned out piece of grass there in front of us.

Although the wind is blowing quite strong, the low chip will not be affected by it.

I want to keep the pressure point on my right index finger in place throughout the whole chip"

One time we did this, I played one of my best rounds on our short homecourse only with my 3 wedges and the putter, because I was so focused.

greetings

michi

**Tiger90** · February 22, 2012

Originally Posted by mihi4

My wife and I will sometimes play a round, where you have to tell you playing partner before every shot, what you are up to, and what you are thinking.

i.e. "It's 64yds to the pin with a lot of green to work with, the wind is blowing right to left.

The ball doesn't lie perfectly, so I'll rather chip it up with a i7 than trying to fly it with the LW, risking a thin shot over the green.

I want the ball to travel just about 10-12 yds and then roll up to the green and the hole. My landing point is this browned out piece of grass there in front of us.

Although the wind is blowing quite strong, the low chip will not be affected by it.

I want to keep the pressure point on my right index finger in place throughout the whole chip"

One time we did this, I played one of my best rounds on our short homecourse only with my 3 wedges and the putter, because I was so focused.

greetings

michi

Yeah probably, thats what caddies and players do. I could imagine talking about it more will help you visualize the shot way better and get it more imbedded in your brain before you shoot. Its like teaching somebody somthing to help you remember how to do it. Talking it out helps some times

**MiniBlueDragon** · February 22, 2012

My pre-shot routine is filled with random and probably pointless crap:

- Stand behind the ball and check the starting line I want to take. Make a mental note of a point 1' to 4' in front of the ball along the line.

- Imagine the shot shape I'm going to play along that line

- Stand behind the ball in the required setup for the shot

- Check my grip and wrist cock with a waggle. Adjust as needed.

- Pad my feet a few times to check I'm happy with their position

- Note where I've put the ball in my stance and a djust stance as required

- Waggle again to get a feeling for the plane I'm swinging on

- Check any changes I've made are now correct

- Waggle again

- Take a full practice swing

- Step forward a fraction

- Waggle

- Play the shot

(Having just timed it this all takes around 20 seconds)

One positive point to all of the above is that I'm concentrating so much on wiggling, waggling, padding etc that I don't complicate my swing itself with swing thoughts. Saying that though ideally I'd like to eliminate all the crap in red above.

**Tiger90** · February 22, 2012

Originally Posted by MiniBlueDragon

My pre-shot routine is filled with random and probably pointless crap:

- Stand behind the ball and check the starting line I want to take. Make a mental note of a point 1' to 4' in front of the ball along the line.

- Imagine the shot shape I'm going to play along that line

- Stand behind the ball in the required setup for the shot

- Check my grip and wrist cock with a waggle. Adjust as needed.

- Pad my feet a few times to check I'm happy with their position

- Note where I've put the ball in my stance and adjust stance as required

- Waggle again to get a feeling for the plane I'm swinging on

- Check any changes I've made are now correct

- Waggle again

- Take a full practice swing

- Step forward a fraction

- Waggle

- Play the shot

(Having just timed it this all takes around 20 seconds)

One positive point to all of the above is that I'm concentrating so much on wiggling, waggling, padding etc that I don't complicate my swing itself with swing thoughts. Saying that though ideally I'd like to eliminate all the crap in red above.

This may sound redundant, but why would you have pointless steps if they are pointless? lol. Just change your routine to necessary steps, because that does sound like a lot of stuff to do before every shot.

This is a weird post...

**MiniBlueDragon** · February 22, 2012

Originally Posted by Tiger90

This may sound redundant, but why would you have pointless steps if they are pointless? lol. Just change your routine to necessary steps, because that does sound like a lot of stuff to do before every shot.

This is a weird post...

Because I'd never bothered examining my pre-shot routine properly apart from thinking "I fidget a lot" when I've seen my swing played back on video. I have now though so undoubtedly it will change. haha

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Pre-shot routines to get you focused

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