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

[irspow]

Pre shot routines are under-rated by many. They are boring and tedious to practice, but no professional that I know of has a sloppy or inconsistent one.

I think people fail to realize the importance of the preshot routine beyond physical and mental consistency before the shot. I often mention that the preshot routine is more akin to self hypnosis for the best players in the world. The reality is that most poor players have horribly inconsistent routines that inevitably leads to the same inconsistency of thought and shot making also. If you do the same exact thing time after time after time it allows the conscious mind to be relaxed, confident, and quiet. There is no indecision in the mind, your shot making can become as boring as your routine.

Tom

[Mr Eagle]

No I dont but maybe I should. I find the main reason is because I more often than not play in a four ball and if we all stood there swinging at fresh air before our shots we would be out there for ever.Just a case of speeding things up a bit.

[dvldog]

I have a preshot routine but don't always take a practice "full shot". The main reason is that I don't want to lose my allignment target that usually a couple of feet in front of the ball. I think I will try next time I play to get my alignment target; set my stance to where I am aligned but cant reach the ball, make a full practice swing to check ball placement etc, move in and swing.

[Craig Mac]

Yes, I take a practice swing in my pre-shot routine

[nykfan4life]

Pre shot routines, in my opinion, are very helpful In dialing in to your swing

[iacas]

I don't take practice swings. I take little half swings. If I'm working on something, I exaggerate that in my half swings. If I have a funny lie or need to play a tricky shot (a low cut, a big hook, whatever), I take a few little half swings (like chip shot length) to get a feel for what I need to do in the two feet before and after impact.

That's about it. No full-on practice swings. I think they're pointless and I've seen so many people that have good practice swings but completely different real swings. Most of the pros seem to do as I do: mini drills or half swings.

[Fourputt]

For full swings, I don't take a practice swing as part of my routine. If I do take a practice swing, I do so before I start my routine just to feel the club and the shot. Then I step back behind the ball and find my aiming point and continue from there. Since I don't generally use a practice swing, I try to keep it out of my actual routine.

For chips, I will take 2 or 3 practice swings as part of the routine to get a feel for how hard I want to hit it. For putts, one, and only one practice stroke, mostly to be sure I set the thought to follow through.

[MrKadash]

Just a little swipe or two for me, just for feel.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I do. I get behind the ball, stare down my target, take a little half swing, drop the club to my side and face my target. Then I tap the club once on the groud, take a deeeep breath, set my grip, and step into the ball. I stare down my target two quick times (by turning my head only, not my shoulders) and then go. I practice it for 5-10 minutes before I even hit a ball when im at a range.

[Turkovic]

I always take 2, my routine isd:

- Pick my target
- Take 2 smooth practice swings that brush the turf, no air only, no divots, each time looking at my target, (this helps me start to get centered on my goal) if the second one misses the turf I do two more. This helps me do two things 1.) It establishes my swing length for both short shots and when I'm stuck between clubs, and 2.) it helps me get a feel for the ground is with respect to my feet and my stance, this helps a lot on uneven lies.
- Walk ~5 feet behind the ball and pick an intermediate target on the ground just in front of the ball
- Walk up to the ball square the face up.
- Square my feet up
- Waggle and take one last look at the real target
- Pull the trigger and hope for the best

[mikelz]

I do. I get behind the ball, stare down my target, take a little half swing, drop the club to my side and face my target. Then I tap the club once on the groud, take a deeeep breath, set my grip, and step into the ball. I stare down my target two quick times (by turning my head only, not my shoulders) and then go. I practice it for 5-10 minutes before I even hit a ball when im at a range.

Thanks for that concise description.

That's a sound routine and I like that you practice it. I'm going to start practicing mine.

[i-Guy]

My pre-shot routine is sort of "in work" right now as I am working on a swing change (of course with a teaching Pro)...what I mean is that my current pre-shot routine is as follows (with plans to change and be more target specific once I feel more comfortable with this swing change):

1) stand behind the ball and visualize the shot I want to hit (based on lie, course, wind direction, etc...)

2) step into the ball and align myself to the target

3) step back enough to take a practice swing and make a swing thinking about my new mechanics

4) step back into the ball and then attempt to execute my new swing

Clear as mud?

[ERC7.5]

Only on short pitches and chips. I can screw every other shot up without practicing.

[Daddy Golfer]

I do my best to imagine the swing I want to execute the shot I want. The take-away, the swing plain, the swing path, and finish. I try to feel it, but I confess, I sometimes miss something like where I want the ball to start. Doh!

[NM Golf]

I do, but be careful not to fall into that category with the hacks that hit it 20 yards take 4 practice swings, hit it 20 more yards, then take 4 more practice swings.

Nothing can slow a player down faster that extraneous practice swings. Remember, its not the PGA tour.

[lamebums]

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

Walk up to the ball and make sure I'm aligned properly. (That involves pointing the club down the line)

Set up and take a practice swing. I take however many practice swings until I get a good one. Then I fire away. Usually no more than 2 or 3 though, many times just one.

[steve8820]

I generally take a couple to get the feel. Sometimes more if I am waiting for my partners to find their balls in the woods. :)

[Lefty731PM]

I usually do 3 practise swings, a long swagger, look at the hole, look down, swing.

Now I know why there is an issue in your country regarding 5 hour + rounds.