The Pre-Shot Routine

Developing a good, repeatable pre-shot routine (the actions you make just before a golf shot) is of utmost importance. This should entail a series of actions that best prepare you mentally and physically so that you can increase confidence and up the chances of success.

We, as humans, are creatures of habit. Therefore it stands to reason that if we make the same actions every time before our shot we put ourselves in a 'comfort zone' of sorts which allows us to relax and make our best swing. Here are my suggestions for a good pre-shot routine:

Take a practice swing.

I like to take one practice swing before every shot, and two practice swings for putts, chips, and pitches. Full swings should not require two practice swings because it is essentially the same motion repeated. However, for short shots, which are 'feel' shots, I think a couple of 'rehearsals' are in order (so that you can best judge how far to bring the club back).

Shake your muscles loose.

I like to kind of jiggle my arms and legs a little in order to loosen up my muscles just before I make a shot. This gets me limber and eases tension from my body which puts it in a better mode for making a golf swing.

Take deep breaths.

Don't forget to breathe. A couple of good, deep breaths just before hitting the ball can go a long way towards relaxing you and getting oxygen to your muscles. Maybe you take your deep breaths as you are shaking your arms and legs.

Determine your target line.

Stand behind your ball and hold up the shaft of your club so that you can see both the target and the ball along the shaft line (looking only through your dominant eye). This is your target line.

Pick an intermediate target very close to your ball along that target line.

Choose a spot (small leaf, divot, etc.) very close to your ball along the target line. This is your 'intermediate target'. Even better if you choose several intermediate targets both directly behind and in front of your ball in order to reinforce your target line, but have one major one just in front of your ball.

Set your clubhead perpendicular to this intermediate target.

This allows you to align your clubface to a target very close to your ball instead of one way down the fairway. It's always easier to line up to a target very close to you as opposed to one that is very far away.

Set your body line parallel to the target line.

Make sure your toe line is parallel to the target line by holding the shaft of your club just in front of your toes. Assure that the club is pointing slightly left of your intended target, but parallel to the target line.

Take a last look at the intended target as you waggle your club.

This will reinforce your ultimate destination and the waggle will loosen you up and allow you to feel the weight of the clubhead to gain feel in the shot. The waggle is a small rehearsal of the swing. I also like to rock back and forth on my feet a bit while I do this to assure that the leg muscles are loose and ready for an athletic motion.

Keep the intermediate target in your peripheral vision and swing with confidence while focusing on the golf ball.

Having the intermediate target in the peripheral vision will allow you to release the clubhead towards the target and will reinforce your target line. Focus on a dimple on the ball or on the logo in order to narrow your focus.

Remember, everyone has their own pre-shot routine. Find one that works for you and stick with it! The more you do it (even on the practice range), the more it becomes routine.