Do You Use a Practice Swing In Your Pre-Shot Routine?

[nykfan4life]

I don't. My pre shot routine is as follows:


Stand behind the ball and visualize. Determine what shot I want to hit
Walk up to it and find balance, get feet to proper stance for shot.
Focus on the ball.
Grip it and rip it!

[irspow]

I always take a practice swing after I know what shot that I am going to hit. It is like I am telling my body what it is going to do when I go to hit the shot. I only take another if the first one doesn't FEEL right.

I think that it is essential in breeding confidence. You can stay perfectly relaxed when you are confident. You can usually only pull off the shot well if you are relaxed. At least that's my line of thought on the matter.

Tom

[nykfan4life]

I always take a practice swing after I know what shot that I am going to hit. It is like I am telling my body what it is going to do when I go to hit the shot. I only take another if the first one doesn't FEEL right.

Yes, it helps here. I think that having a pre-shot routine that you use every time does this.

[thedub]

You don't know how many AWESOME swings i've wasted on the practice swing...i sometimes do, but i don't want to lose a good swing on hte practice....it just depends for me

[Dent]

I dont really have a pre-shot routine, which is bad. My goal this year is to develop a good one. I usually do 3 practise swings, a long swagger, look at the hole, look down, swing.

[JeffJ]

I will first address the ball and get an eye for the shot. From there I will take a practice swing at about 50% speed. If it is within 50 yards and not a full shot I will take a full speed swing to create the tempo I will need for the shot. I will then step about three yards behind the ball and pick my exact target, then I step up and align with the target. Grip it and shut my mind off from there and hit the shot.

Sounds like it takes a long time but I tend to play a little quicker than average.

[x-forged]

i always take practice swing. ill stand behind the ball, pick my line, line up, take a comapct, small practice swing hovering over the ball (dont know why, guess it replicates hitting the shot for me), and then set up for the shot, look at my target, and swing away.

[Eore]

i take a practice swing all the time. however, i don't usually make a practice stroke on putts. maybe thats why i suck. and yes, i waste my great swings when there is no ball in front of me.

[atrapasuenos]

I always take a practice swing, to feel the motion.

Regards.

[Spectrums]

I wouldn't call my routine having a "practice swing", but it has the elements.

My main issues have been through the hitting area. So...

For drivers, I will look and pick my target from behind, and then walk to up to my ball. I get about 6-9" away from it and sort of go 8-4 with it, ensuring that my body and clubface match. From there, I move forward and swing.

For irons, I pick my target and take a chip-like swing making sure that I hit the grass at the bottom of my swing. Then I come to the ball and do my 8-4 swing and hit.

Works pretty well for me. Keeps me in tempo and in the right positions.

[Leek]

I take a practice swing in my short game routine. no practice swings for full shots or putts.

[mikelz]

I usually take a couple casual swings behind the ball while I'm lining up.
Most of them are "right hand off" just to feel the flow.

[mikelz]

I take a practice swing in my short game routine. no practice swings for full shots or putts.

I am with you on trying to get it up and down. Sam Snead said something to this effect, "some chips and pitches around the green are new inventions....take time to practice your invention" I'll take as many as needed to feel a successful swing. That has been as few as one but it's always under 23.

[MasterOfTheBogey]

When I first started out I was more of a grip and rip it kind of guy, with no thought to pre-shot routines.

Now its as follows:

Stand 2 feet behind the ball
While looking at the hole - take a quarter swing
Walk up to the ball - 1 practice full swing - if it doesnt feel right I generally take another or step off the ball
Let her fly

If there are two things I have learned in this game, personally, its comfort and confidence. It also really helps to get bad shots out of your mind by just clearing your thoughts and concentrating on your target.

[Franco!]

Oh come on.
I take 3 in my routine.
If it's a hard shot, I'll take more before my routine.

[Three Putt]

I always take at least three, to determine my backswing stop point for the yardage. On the tee I just take a few swing to emphasize wrist turnover.

[Wannabe Paper Tiger]

I decided to incorporate it this year and it's paying dividends...

[Borf]

Preshot routines are overrated!