Once you're at address...

[powerfade]

...what are you thinking about before pulling the trigger?

Some people stand there for several seconds and I'm curious to know what's going on upstairs.

I'm trying to visualize the ball flight to the target, while finalizing my stance. I never freeze - I'm always in motion, either waggling, or moving my feet, or turning my head to look at the target, but mainly just trying to get aligned. I don't think I have any chatter about mechanics going on. Do you?

[dave_eden]

Yeah, I'm usually just thinking about where i want it to go and the shot. I find if i stand there too long my brain starts running in overtime and 99% of the time i hit a terrible shot, and a terrible shot for me is really, really bad.

I find now that if i stand there to that point i stop and start again from the beginning.

[Miney]

I am usually just thinking what direction i want the ball to go. Not really how its going to get there just the point at which i want it to land. Unfornately, its not very often that happens but you get that.

[alf174]

With the colder weather I've been struggling with the driver and yesterday at the range I found that if I visualize my swing I got excellent results (accurate with my regular distance). Today I'll see if it works on the course.

[geezer]

I (try to) think of very little.
Once I've adressed the ball I know my routine has taken care of the preparation (hopefully) and I just focus in on that spot on the back of the ball that I want to hit.
I prefer not to spend too much time at adress also. Sometimes on the course, watching other people swinging, I can't help but wonder what is going through that guy on the other fairways' mind, as he stands frozen over the ball for like ten seconds before swinging.

[Fried Egg]

Once I pick my target from behind the ball in my preshot routine, that is all I picture and think about.

[photobob]

I run a quick mental checklist. Feet, ball position, club face square, hand position, grip. Then a quick breath to relax hands, arms and shoulders. Takeaway...

Prolly takes less time to do than to read.

[doublesuited77]

for me its as follows.

1) check alignment
2) use feet as guide on takeaway
3) easy swing, hold finish position.

[907golfer12]

Generally I try not to think of anything, although I do vizualize my shot, but that is when I am standing behind my ball finding my line.

[g-funk13]

3) make sure shoulders are relaxed, and lower back is "settled" over feet
2) correct line on backswing
1) SMOOTH

[osean79]

1. make a controlled backswing, only about 70% of full swing.
2. hit down on the ball
3. lead the club with the back my hand towards the target.
4. don't take my eyes off the ball until after the ball has been struck.

Works great when i can remember all of them, usually i leave one or two things out and end up somewhere unpleasant. =)

[KIDDEREK]

Eyes on the ball.

Follow through.

Relax muscles.

Deep exhale.

Eyes on the ball.

[Augusta Hacker]

I have a funny routine.....
1. Check feet and shoulders with line.
2. Check grip, club face, and hand location to body.
3. Then, I start to repeat a song (in my head) that I heard on the radio before the round, any song will do. This relaxes me and I seem to get into a nice tempo. It also loosens me up to quit thinking about my backswing and everything falls into place.

[g-funk13]

  Augusta Hacker said:

3. Then, I start to repeat a song (in my head) that I heard on the radio before the round, any song will do. This relaxes me and I seem to get into a nice tempo. It also loosens me up to quit thinking about my backswing and everything falls into place.

The day I shot my lowest round (75) I had the sound of a passing subway train in my head. It was a rhythmic "click-clack, click-clack." Imagining the train sound during my backswing just worked. I gotta keep doing that. . .

[Augusta Hacker]

  g-funk13 said:

The day I shot my lowest round (75) I had the sound of a passing subway train in my head. It was a rhythmic "click-clack, click-clack." Imagining the train sound during my backswing just worked. I gotta keep doing that. . .

If you can get a nice beat in your head, it will definately help tempo.

[ser182]

when i address i try not to think too much. Because then i crush it to the ground. i try to mimic pga players. if you watch them the look at the shot before the address. They get planted then they follow threw. i try not to take to much time. i get set and swing. it has helped me since i have only been playing a little over a month.

[flash]

My last thought before beginning backswing is extend(take back low) and I MUST remember to turn my shoulders as I'm going low.In other words I try to maintain a "V" with my shoulders pointing to my hands.This is how I was taught and sometimes,haha,still works.Cheers Flash

[benhd1]

H. S. Basketball coach always said "Don't think, you'll hurt yourself" What he meant was relax and react...rely on your talent. I clear my head relax my grip and arms and swing easy...rely on my preshot routine to do the job!