Pre-Shot Routine

[eberryhill7]

Do you have a pre-shot (full swing and/or putt) routine? What is it? Does it help you?

[four1seven]

On my driver I do the 20" - 15" - 10" swing.

I swing the driver about 20" off the ground, then take another 15" off the ground swing. And lastly a 10", then I hit immediately after. It keeps my driver backswing long and slow and less vertical. If I'm in a hurry I just do the 15", 10".

Putting -

I kneel down and put my finger in front of my face, and trace the line of the ball where I think it will go and where I want it to go, I try to mentally visualize it. I probably look rediculous, but it helps me =]

I'm interested in hearing others, I might have to adopt some...

[Franco!]

1 practice swing and go.
I have trouble letting myself over analyze a shot and I get stuck behind myself.
Putting is usually line the ball up 1 practice swing behind the ball and one next to the ball and then putt.

[golf_junkie27]

Driver and irons, the routine is the same. I pick my target line from behind the ball. I choose an object, no further than 2 feet, and line up the club (behind the ball) to this target. I then take my swing. This is for all types of shots, too.

For putting, I look for any slope on both sides of the cup. My target is where I want the ball to start and align my putter. Then I just go.

I try to run through all my options before I address the ball. Once there, I try not to think at all.

[CG031]

I'm a very, very quick player. I don't spend much time thinking about the shot. I try to let it come freely with rhythem. I'm more of a feel player than mechnical, I guess that is why.

On all shots except chip shots I take two practice swings, step behind the ball, look at my target, get over the ball, and wait about 2-3 seconds and then swing. I don't stand over my ball for 10-20 seconds like some people I've played with do.

[QWKDTSN]

On the tee box I set up my ball and address it immediately, sometimes take one practice swing about 1-2 feet above the ball just to feel my arms wrap against my chest, then bend over and address again. Sometimes I will give a waggle similar to Quinney's just to feel and see the way the clubhead should be travelling back, then I go ahead and swing.

On iron shots I usually don't take a practice swing unless it's from deep rough; I will just address the ball and spend a couple of moments hovering the club just behind the ball while I imagine how my swing will feel. Then I go ahead and swing away.

On putts, I don't have a very good routine yet. I almost never pick up my ball to clean it or align it. I will take a cursory look at the break and then putt. I putt very poorly. It's a combination of needing more practice with my swing, needing more practice reading greens, and coming up with a better routine.

Sometimes I do the Spiderman pose to read the green though :)

[907golfer12]

Pre-shot routine before everything except putting.

• 3 practice swings
• step behind the ball
• choose my shot trajectory and shape
• pick my target
• vizualize the shot
• line up the clubface with feet together
• take stance
• SWING!!!

Putting

• practice stroke for tempo
• practice stroke for speed
• step behind the ball
• crouch to read green, with hands on either side of my eye to eleminate visual distractions
• pick target
• one more stroke for tempo
• step up
• line up club face
• take stance
• MAKE PUTT!!!

[TCCcaddie]

Practice Swing facing 90 degrees to the right of the direction of the shot and then think about the shot i want to hit, line it up, and hope for the best.

[dkinser86]

I'm more of a player that likes to feel the right mechanics. So my preshot goes something like thi

- Address the situation (of course, while I'm walking up to the ball)
- Check the yardage of where I want the ball to land.
- See the shot shape i want
- Then i try to feel the right mechancis for the shot that i want
- Pick an alignment aide
- One waggle, deep breath, forward press and swing

When putting

-Read putt from behind the ball
-align a line that i mark on my ball to the spot where i want to go (this way, i don't have to worry about the line, i just worry about speed)
-two or three practice swings for feel
-swing!

[Uthinkso]

I take one practice swing unless it feels off, then I'll take a second but not too often.

I then place the club head behind the ball and take a deep breath and let it out slowly. This has helped me slow down, as a have a tendency in the past to rush my swing. Just as I'm finishing letting that breath out I start my take away and then follow through the shot.

This technique forces me to take my time at address and be methodical about it, for me its been worth 7-10 strokes over a years time.

[Crafty]

I stand behind the ball and take a half practice swing, emphasizing a good wrist hinge and a nice flat plane. Then, I line myself up and go.

On the greens, I read it from both sides, take a couple of practice strokes beside the ball, line it up, and go.

Taking too mouch time just allows for bad thoughts to enter my head.

[PuterPutter]

I stand behind the ball to get target line. Step to the side of the ball and take a practice swing. Address the ball on a line parallel to my target line. Start my slow take away
and accelerate through the ball. I am usually a sweeper so I just let the ball get in the way of my swing.

[DJYoshi]

driver & irons: facing my target, I take a full swing & the speed & style I want (full swing, pitch, chip, flop).
After 1 or 2 full swings..depending on comfort of the shot, I square myself and then swing... the only time I'll change it is if I have a sidehill lie...where I'll swing to see where the club falls.

on a putt, I make sure my line is aiming in the direction that I want... I square up and take 2 practice strokes...then I putt.

my putting and ball striking has gotten so much better since I started a pre-shot routine

[eberryhill7]

On full swings I'll take a couple of practice swings until it feels right. Then I'll step up to the ball, secure my feet, look at my target, take a smooth, on plane backswing, slowly put the club behind the ball again, secure my feet again, look at my target, swing.

On putts, I read the putt, line up the ball, take a couple of practice swings beside the ball, then putt.

Those work pretty well. I seem to have improved my ball-striking and putting since adopting them.