what is your preshot routine?

[clearwaterms]

after you arrive at the ball, select the shot you want to make and the tool by which you will make it, what do you do next?

do you take your practice swings next to the ball, behind it? do you try to reproduce your practice swing exactly as you intend on hitting the ball (divot, etc)? do you even take a practice swing, or just waggle, grip it and rip it?

[Gilles]

What I do is :

1. imagine the line along which I want my ball to start its flight and find an irregularity a couple of feet in front of the ball on that imaginary line.
2. line up parallel to that line using the irregularity in front of the ball as a reference, but approximately half a foot away from where I should stand to hit the ball and give my club a cool-looking swirl just to take the "gravity" away
3. assume my stance and do a quick check on grip, line-up, position, balance, ...
4. do half a swing concentrating on my wrist action and absence of body tension
5. step up to the ball
6. look at my desired target for 2 seconds
7. repeat 3
8. clear my head
9. inhale slowly as I start my backswing and exhale deeply on the downswing (although technically that's not pre-shot anymore ...)

During 1 to 9, never look at the other members of my flight. There's only me, myself and the ball.

But then again, my handicap is three times the average handicap of the regular poster on this forum, so ...

G.

[ks8829]

1) I stand behind the ball and the target and pick a point in front of the ball
2) I drop my club on the ground to visualize the line
3) then I drop my club square to the line
4) I position my feet
5) I take my grip
6) I check my posture
7) I take a few waggles
8) I behind my backswing

I also have a pre-putt routine

[mirv]

i find that the less time and thought i put into any given shot, the better i usually play. i have a very short, simple "ready, aim, fire" approach to any shot.

firstly, i always aim down the middle of the fairway off the tee. i don't bother with trying to cut corners - everything is aimed right up the center (i aim at yardage markers if the course has them in the fairway). however, if there are, for example, bunkers on the left, i'll still aim down the middle, but open my stance ever so slightly so that, if anything, i'll fade off to the right away from the bunkers. so i guess you could say my first step is assessing where the hazards/trouble spots are.

second step is setting up to the ball, which i also make pretty quick and simple work of. i look down the fairway and make sure i feel like my body is aimed properly, i look down at my feet and make sure they're set the way i need them to be (closed if i want to avoid right side, open if i want to avoid left side), i check the clubface to make sure it's not open or closed (unless i'm attempting to play a slice or hook), i make two or three very short waggle motions as i'm adjusting my stance or body alignment, and then i swing.

as i mentioned, that's my method for shots off the tee. for all other shots, it's essentially the same except replace "aiming up the middle of the fairway" with "aiming at the flag" or "aiming at the fat part of the green" or "aiming to get the ball back in play," etc.

[lumpuckeroo]

I pretty much just waggle, grip it and rip it, that being said it does depend some on the shot. If I have to hit a low runner under a tree, I will make a couple of practice swings, if I have a non-normal stance or a particularly bad lie, I will make some practice swings.

[flopdarock]

1. stand behind the ball to pick the line i want
2. approach the ball a few inches away from address
3. take a practice swing
4. address the ball
5. take one last look at the target
6. pull the trigger

[enduro]

1) Spit
2) Adjust my balls
3) fart
4) hack away!
5) swear

[laxbballgolf]

1. Stand behind ball to pick line, and also pick an intermediate spot on the ground.
2. Place the club carefully square to the intermediate spot.
3. Take my stance.
4. Take my grip. (I do this last to make sure it's neutral.)
5. Usually do one little backswing rehearsal a la Mike Weir and others.
6. Swing away.

I do it all pretty quickly, but I do make sure to do the whole process carefully and in order. It's second nature by now.

[finoky]

Mine is pretty basic. I try and not think about too much or any specific swing mechanics. After selecting my club I stand behind the ball a few yards. Visualize the shot and select a target fairly close to help with alignment. Walk up to the ball, take my grip and then right into my stance. Quick glance at my target and let it go. The entire process for me to hit my shot once I reach my ball is probably only 20 seconds or so. I am far from being a deliberate player.

[GaijinGolfer]

I stand behind the ball and visualize the ballflight that I want. I then take 2 practice swings, set up to the ball, do a couple waggles and I pull the trigger.

[Marmitetoo]

Since recently re-reading 'Zen Golf', I recently introduced a technique that is talked about in the book. That is to take a real slow long breath whilst standing behind the ball and visualizing the shot. I do not approach the ball until I've slowly released said breath. It really does bring a calmness to everything that follows.

Steve

[naut22]

to think of happy thoughts

[iWALK18]

1) Stand about 10 feet behind the ball.
2) Pick a target in the distance, and choose ball flight.
3) Take my grip
4) Walk up to the ball and put the club down behind it, aligning the face to my target.
5) Take my stance and set my feet
6) A couple practice swings until i feel good about the stroke i'm trying to put on the ball.
7) Hit the shot.

None of it is that exact. I don't have a set # of practice swing for instance. Its usually 2-4. My biggest problem of late is taking too long over the ball after step 6.