Pre-shot Routine

[OCdude12]

Just watching "Playing Lessons with the Pros" right now with Billy Andrade and a great point about having a pre-shot routine was brought up that is one thing everyone has (should have) but is not always thought about. Almost every great player you would talk to would say they have some pre-shot routine, however for the average amateur I know thats one thing we don't always focus on.

Recently I've been noticing I do have somewhat of a routine, but don't know if I really stick to it EVERY single swing. When I do notice it, I usually tee it up, measure the height to make sure its alright, take a step back into a practice swing then take one more quick one before getting set, aligning myself, taking a few waggles, one or two more looks at where I'm going, then pulling the trigger.

I also have noticed when putting I do something a little different than the full swing but think I'm more consistent with really sticking to my putting routine each stroke. I couldn't tell you the amount of times I did or didn't fully stick to my routine for a round or if it really effected me, but do you really catch when you didn't stick to your routine after a bad shot? I hear often guys are so good with their routine, i.e. Tiger, that they will pull the trigger once they tee the ball in the ground between X amount of seconds and Y amount of seconds every time. How much is this the mental part of the game, really doing the same thing every time even when the pressure is on?

Curious, do you guys notice and pay attention to your pre-shot routine? How much do you think it helps in pressure situations, and how do you get your mind right when you get nervous?

[Keep It Simple]

I am very conscious of my pre-shot routine and consider it one of the most important keys to my swing if not the most important. And my routine is short and very simple.

[Zeph]

I never notice it, or the lack of it. It's something I do automatically on every swing.

I focus on every swing, primarily on where I want to hit the ball and how I want to hit it. The small practice swing and wiggle is automatic.

[Gioguy21]

i do the same thing every time...i tee up, notice lie, replace (with ball marker)...then step back...take a practice swing while face on with the target...visualizing the shot as it is to be, deep breath, setup...stare down my line...back to the ball and bang pull the trigger

[Fatphil]

for the older guys out there.....I notice Rocco Mediate lifts his club over his head and gives a quick stretch to his shoulder, rotor cuff and lat muscles. Not a bad idea to avoid injury...(if u r over 50)

[WUTiger]

Back a few years ago when I broke 90 regularly, I had a simplified pre-shot routine: my set-up and takeaway were pretty much automatic. My big go-word was alignment - if I was pointed straight, good (or at least OK) shots resulted.

Then I changed my swing and went from stiff to regular shafts, and my pre-shot has become chaotic - three or four really ugly misses per nine. Once that elusive repeating swing kicks in, hopefully I can go back to the simple alignment preswing throught.

Practicing non-hitting drills can help your set-up become more automatic.

[Dr. Slice]

i am also curious to see what some of you pre-shot routines are. I need to get one badly, as i have never had one

[burnabao]

I know for a fact that I have a very deliberate pre-shot routine on the tee and also when putting, but I tend not to observe it between the tee and green (which is where most of most shots go awry). I'm really going to have to try and focus on that actually...it had made my tee shots much less of a lottery!

FWIW, my non-putting routine is: check out tee box for a level position; tee up ball; step back behind ball and pick a target in the distance; set up to target and make 2-3 practice swings; refocus on target from behind ball; club addressess ball, left foot in position, right foot in position; quick check on target; takeaway.

[ControlJunkie]

Sometimes I'll have to consciously make myself go through it. After a shot I'm not happy with, my instinctive reaction is just to skip the pre-shot routine and hit the ball. Then after approaching the ball, I make myself step back and actually go through my routine. Helps set my mind right and makes me think of something else besides the previous shot. 99% of the time, it works.

[yimpydimpy]

My putting routine is very precise, at least by my standards. I don't know if it takes me 10 seconds or 15 seconds but I do the exact same thing every time. Seems to help tremendously, especially my confidence.

[saevel25]

I usually read the putt from behind, maybe the side if i am having trouble finding a break line. I pick a spot a few feet infront of my line, i stand about a foot behind the ball and take three practice strokes down the line i want. I step back to make sure thats the spot i like, then i go up to the ball. Take my normal stance for putting, check the line front over the ball once and let it rip.

[ash]

Hmmm... got me thinking, I used to have a set routine, but now it only comes out sporadically.

Driver: Tee up, stand behind ball and pick intermediate target, practice swing, then step to the ball and setup, visualise, waggle.... SWING
Irons: Standing behind the ball pick intermediate target (for longer shots), address inside the ball and practice swing until comfortable with lie/swing, step to ball, visualise... SWING
Putter: Mark ball and remove, pick line from behind finding intermediate target, replace ball with putting line in-line with target, address inside the ball, practice swing, step to the ball, visualise... PUTT

Reading the previous posts, I think I need to get back into the habit to get back some consistency!

[Cussin hacker]

My preshot routine is no preshot routine. Other than standing behind the ball, line up my shot, step up and hit it.