A couple weeks ago, I watched one of the players I coach (Jin Young Pak), compete in The Ginn Open. And while watching her compete, I noticed a problem that is common to golfers of all skill levels. A problem that usually happens to someone as they get outside their comfort zone. What happened to Jin Young? Simply, the pacing or speed in which she normally plays golf changed considerably.
Now, Jin Young is a great young player – but when it comes to competing at the highest level – she is inexperienced. This was only her second LPGA Tournament, yet she was flanked on the driving range by the likes of Karrie Webb and Lorena Ochoa. Still, she was excited about the prospects and was playing great heading into the week. But, like I said, a funny thing happened when she teed off on Thursday. She played quicker tee to green and slower on the putting surface. So, what I would like to do is; First, explain why this happened Jin Young. Second, explain how Jin Young’s experience relates to you – the handicap golfer. And third, explain how to get past this common problem and improve your scores.
Why does a player’s rhythym (tour pro and amateur alike) go awry when playing an important match? Simply, the magnitude of the situation controls them as opposed to them controlling the situation. Jin Young was thinking more about what a great finish would mean to her rookie year than really getting into her target. She spent more time thinking about what other players were thinking about her game/swing than really focusing on the moment at hand. Sound Familiar? This happens to all of us – all the time! The only difference is our levels of comfort zone. For some, it’s competing on the back nine of a major championship. For others, it’s just the act of playing on a professional tour. For still others, it might be playing with the boss or someone they’ve never met. Or even certain shots, like hitting a tee ball over a water hazard. So okay, we all do it — how do we fix it? How can we take our best swing – the one that works so well on the practice tee – to the golf course? And to take it a step further, how can we make our best swing on the golf course when we get nervous? The answer is simple — develop a great pre-shot routine.
Watch the best players on television or next time you attend a professional event. And as you’re watching them, notice their pace or speed. Once set up to the ball, notice how long it takes for them to pull the trigger. Even better, count in seconds how long it takes once they set the club behind the ball. What you’ll see may surprise you. You’ll find some great players take only a few seconds; While other great players might take 10 seconds or so to hit the ball. But what you won’t find is; The same player fluctuating in their times. If it is 5 seconds one time – it will be 5 seconds the next time. That is of course, if they’re not too nervous. Let’s put it this way – Tiger Wood’s pace will always stay the same. And that consistent pace is what we should all strive for.
Something happens when you do the same thing over and over again. You get comfortable. You get used to the speed of doing something a certain way and it feels unnatural to do it differently. Try this; If you normally brush your teeth with your right hand – tomorrow, use your left. Notice how instantly uncomfortable you feel. Notice how the speed of your brush stroke gets slower and more uncertain. You’ll begin to question whether you’re even doing a good job. All this in a matter of seconds. Why? Because brushing your teeth with your right hand has become second nature – something you don’t have to think about. And by changing it – even slightly – it becomes a mechanical endeavor. Same with your golf swing on the course. By changing the pace of what you’ve been practicing on the driving range – you take the naturalness out of your game.
So, here is what I want you to do with part of your practice time. I want you to practice your routine. What percentage of practice time should you devote to routine? That all depends on your swing. If your swing needs work — then work on it! If it’s comfortable and you have confidence – spend more time working on your routine. Eventually striving for a balance between mechanics and routine. Let’s say for example — you play on Saturdays and you practice twice during the week. Then, a good week of practice would be — Tuesday, 75% mechanics and 25% routine — Friday, 25% mechanics and 75% routine. As you getting closer to the round, practice more in a trusting mode. And a routine is all about trust.
Here is a great way to practice your routine. Place a club down about 10 feet behind your ball on the practice tee. Your “line in the sand” if you will. Spend as much time as needed behind that club visualizing your shot and feeling your swing. Take practice swings behind the line if needed. Don’t walk to the ball until you’re 100% committed and believe you will a good shot. Then, walk to the golf ball. As your foot crosses the “line in the sand”, have a friend start counting. Have him do it in his head — not aloud. Go through your process of hitting your shot. When through hitting the ball and holding your finish for a second or two — ask him or her the time. They may say 10 seconds or so. Then, do it again. And again. And again. Try and get consistent with the time. After 30 balls or so, you should get into a great rhythym where you can actually tell them the time. It will feel just right. If you don’t have a friend readily available — use a wrist watch with a second hand. Just look for yourself right before crossing the line. Then, when done with your swing — look again.
I promise, if you practice this way on the range and course, things will get better under pressure. You will instantly feel your pace getting off and when that happens, have enough fortitude to stop and start again. Remember, all we’re trying to do is put ourselves in position to hit the best shot possible. And after a consistent swing — a great routine will end up being your best friend. Good luck!
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Dear Andy,
T he new four magic moves made me another player.
My problem was the upswing and with that early break problem solved.
However I also bought Joe Dante’book amazing!
The early break was also endorsed by Gary Wiren but you put in writing and in video things so clearly. It is impossible to not understand them.
What can I say, a lot of money for private lessons for what…?
Many Thanks
Amos (Italy)
Having read this article the hung that sticks in my mind is consistency. It dosent matter if you set up and play quickly or vice versa set up and play slowly. The inmportant thing is if you take two or three practice shots than that is the way to go with all your shots. Be it a drive or a two foot putt.
Andy,
Thanks, an excellent drill to get into the right rhythm.
Ranbir Singh
good advice!
I must SLOW DOWN! – I must SLOW DOWN! – I must SLOW DOWN! Now I need to work on my pre-shot routine. Sigh I’ll get there in the end. Keep the great advice coming.
Andy – In my experience of playing golf over too many years to recount I can tell you and your readers the real problem of not playing to your true potential is heightened pressure from letting yourself think of the excitement of winning before you get there or in a less competitive atmosphere letting your peers speed you up against your natural tendencies e.g. I sometimes play 18 holes early in the morning, all alone. I am totally unhurried and swing with an unbelievably relaxed rythym – now, if a friend unexpectedly turns up to join me or just to walk around with me, my rythym is disturbed and without helping it I speed up the swing be it a drive, mid iron, chip or putt. Yes, the result is one or more dropped shots that could have been avoided had I stuck to my natural relaxed game. The answer is therefore to be focussed and relaxed at all times.If anything, prepare and swing in an even more deliberate manner (not easily done under these circumstances)- don’t let your peers, or thoughts of winning the competition invade your routine. I can assure you this is the only way to play to your full potential whatever the level of your skill.
Pete Gerdes 10 handicap ESGC
Hi Andy
Great advice. Just dont know what to do when the group in front slows down. Sometimes it puts me out of my rhythm, there is always someone in the foursome that will lose their cool that prompts me to play too fast or too slow. Outside of that I think you are right on with your advice and will try to use it to my advantage.
Thanks
Tony
I do try and keep some sort of routine but most of the time
things become muddled – peer pressure or whatever. Will certainly practice what you suggest. I am sure it will be a great help – thanks.
Best Regards
Hello, That is very good advise. I am a golf teacher and consistant preshot routine builds good tempo in your swing and with that we all do better.
Thanks
Have a great day
Don
Simon
I have heard (or read) about this concept before and now that I have been reminded of the details will put it into my routine and see how it works for me. Thanks for sharing ‘oh-noble-one’.
Denis I find it very helpfull and pass all info onto playing mates.:lol:
Thanks Andy,
your article made sense, quite logical. I will put this into play right away
dick
Andy thanks for all of the tips , your DVD of the four magic moves is great .
Good Morning Andy,
Great article on preparation for the golf shot. I am just as guilty as the next golfer about getting anxious to hit the shot at hand, I play tournament golf and my biggest mistake is rushing the shots!!
When I take my time, and go through my pre-shot routine, I score better.
Keep up the good work you are doing, waiting for your next article.
Regards,
Bill
How right the advice is on your mental approach to your game. Shot selection, pre-shot routine, stay- in- the- present etc. etc. My lady partner and I were playing in a Mixed 4ball Better Ball Stableford at the weekend. We shot 24 pts. on the front 9 – a good score. Then the trouble started and the wheels came off BIG time – only 12 points on the back 9! Why? We got ahead of ourselves. We started to play each hole as a “target to be achieved” instead of a shot to be played! We speeded up our approach to the game and lost sight of basic fundamentals. We failed to stay “in the present” and paid the price! Failure to score 2 or 3 points on every hole compounded the anxiety. It all started as we had to wait for the “snackers” at the half-way house. In the 10 minute time-out, we lost our rythm, focus and adrenalin. No points scored on either the 10th or 11th – ruinous and the beginning of the end! So, stay in the present, keep the routine the same, stay focused and forget your score – just keep playing like you did on the front 9! Trevor
I have been reading your tips for some weeks now ,but getting to the point of preparation before each shot I play in Belgium where most people are members of the club because of who they are doctors lawyers you know the sort big cars in the car park blah blah blah I recently played in a match play with a 18 handycap player he rushed everything I first saw him putt he rushed and missed so everytime he putted even to within a few inches I insisted he putt out I took my classic Nick Faldo preparation for every single shot he then came and said to me that I was playing to slow for him I informed him that I was born 5 miles from st Andrews and played my first par 5 when I was ten years old so I did not need any advise from him about slow play or otherwise I duly slaughetered him and he proceeded to tell everyone in the clubhouse that I was playing to slow all I did was prepare every shot saw it in my mind and executed each one how it should be,I am now club champion after being a member for a year yes the standard is low but the underlying point is the mentality is just not there I saw walk as quick as your partener but take all the time you need before playing all shots the more important the shot the better the preparation do not be fased by anyone better worse indifferent play the game in the spirit that it was born and please dont join golf clubs just to say you (are a member) and only go to the black tie events and are not even aware where the practice ground is……….
G’day mate; loved the setup thoughts. I need this for the first couple of tee’s as that is where I leak my shot’s (without practice of course!)
thanks mate,
Darryl in Oz
Have just read your note on pre-shot routine. This could be the missing link in many player’s routines. Will work on it this wek and give you feedback in a few weeks.
Andy-
Thank you for directing me toward this article…this is VERY important to remember. You can BET that I will be solidifying the routine that I have developed for myself on the Range and Practice Green, and taking it to the First Tee.
Again, thanks to George for the great article, and thanks to you, Andy, as well.
Mark-John
Thank’s for all the tips Andy, havn’t had the time to play golf lately, as had urgent jobs to do at home, but have saved them all, and will try them out later, they all look sound and make sense. Cheer’s Ron.
I understand the concept. As I do not have a regular pre-shot routine, it will be interesting to develop and track on over the next few weeks as I head into a tournament.
Mario – Memphis, TN
Great job Andy – the tips you forward us are well researched and most helpful, particularly for new comers to the game who need to navigate through the “murky” waters of uncertainty in so many different circumstances on the course. Great stuff keep up the good work!!
Mike Kieser – South Africa
This is an “oh by the way…” comment. I am using your name “Andy Brown” as my ghost name for my fanasy golf league. When I get asked about the name, it gives me the opportunity to recommend “The Four Magic Moves”. I am in second place right now due to missing near wins with Kenny Perry and Charles Howell III. More importantly, I am in contention more often this year since I bought your DVD. Thanks for all the updates. I love them.
Greg
Hey Andy,
Thanks for all the tips that you have given me to date. All of which has worked wonders for my swing and my confidence. I cant wait to try a new routine out in order to better my golf.
Regards.
Roberto
Hi Andy!
Million thanks to your tips!
These gives me encouragement to continue trying to play good golf. Before, am already hopeless with my swing because my drives has not improved and i dont know what to do to fix it.
With your advice, am sure I can do better now.
You’re great, God bless you more.
Cheers!
Dante
Philippines
Wow. Great advice on developing consistent timing on all your shots.
Can’t wait to go back and study on the pre shot routine and hoprefully put it all together.
Hi Andy,
All my golf videos, library books, and mags that I have seen did not tell me this. Keep up the good work. Didn’t snow to-day so maybe I can get out to the driving range soon.
Ron
Brantford Ontario
Canada
Hi Andy
All your tips make sense,I am much more relaxed(mentally)
than when I first started to use your methods.I can’t wait to test this new one
Regards
Philip
Sound advise Andy, as all of your tips and informational videos have been. Sound easier than it looks, but clearly makes sense. I beleive it, (pre-shot routine), needs as much rehearsal as your game. I know I’m pretty comfortable with my swing and have worked my index down to a 6.5. I’m hoping that spending time being more consistent with my routine at every shot will get me even lower.
Thanks again
I haven’t been able to play for a number of weeks now Andy. I have had a pleuresy bug. It started off as pnuemonia, then got really bad. the doctor says ( it will be a few months before I return anywhere near my former health). I was starting to see an improvement in my game as well it is dissapointing to say the least. never mind my turn will come later on.
Andy, I just want to comment on your splendid articles and vignettes of golf skills. We golfers should all be aware that technique varies from person to person. My particular technique being used lately differs from what you prescribe in some aspects, yet I am aware of the purpose for your
discourse; to correct a potential flaw in an anonymous golfer’s technique.
For instance, I have altered my swing plane from “flat” to a bit more upright degree-ish and not thinking about wrist break, just making sure I lead the takeaway with my left shoulder and be sure to elongate the arm/shaft along the target line until my eyes and left shoulder are at or slightly behind the ball at which time I visualize bringing the butt of the shaft down with my hands as if to drive it down into the ball to strike it. Somewhere in this process, I have pronated my wrists without thinking about it. This has helped me to keep my T-ball more centered in the fairway or my target line with some added distance. The end point is to finish on my left side while my head remains mostly at or reasonably close to the head position at behind the ball at impact. I watched a golf video featuring past and present headliner pros and the dialogue described how each technique “differed” while substantially remaining close to recognized precepts of good ball-striking. I can’t wait to get back to grassy fields to resume the quest! (the landscape is snow covered here right now)
Still Working on the 3rd move………..can’t seem to get my butt moving lateraly instead of around….Will keep on trying…When I do get the hips through….wow,,,straight and long.
Thanks,
Fairfax Rich
Hi
You’ve been sending me these tips for some time now but although I’m sure they make sense I’m reluctant to start using them because I’ve noticed that when a friend says “you’re swaying, or coming up on the ball, or not facing the right direction etc , etc,” I tend to concentrate so much on the supposed error that my game becomes worse than usual!
I’m giving myself this next year to become more competant at golf and if I don’t improve by at least 5 shots off my handicap then I shall buy a dog.
Probably my worst enemy is my lack of concentration and lack of committment to the game as I ‘m not convinced I’ll improve.
I do enjoy reading about what I should do though, even if I never put the tips into practice!
Thank you
Gilly
Hi Andy:
Just started using the 4 Magic moves . Before trying them out I watched the DVD about 20 times trying to disect every piece of information on each of the moves. My problem ( always fading the ball, and poor distance) is just as you explained “early shoulder turn”, “pulling the left arm down”, in order to hit the ball further with lots of effort. The LATERAL LEFT HIP MOVE is exactly what I needed !!!The drives(not all) are STRAIGHT and with a BORING trajectory. The arms just follow along !!! But I still have a tempo problem from lack of concentration. Early wrist break and shoulder turn on the practice swing is good, but sometime the old habits return and I try to kill it, and my Magic Move backswing is too fast when I actually try to hit the ball for real. So I’ve tried with some success to modify the first Magic Move(for me) I do not use the forward press , but bring the club back using the early wrist break movement at a slow pace, then maintain this pace with the shoulder turn to the top, then let the hips do there thing !!!! Seems to have worked 6-7 good drives out of 10 ! But just like you said you MUST practice to groove these moves!!!!! It must be working because I hit 2 buckets of balls today, and didn’t even feel tired.
(Number 70 comming up in March 2009 ! ) Thanks for all the follow up e-mails, keep them comming.
Dave
When I play golf I put my glove on my left hand and take it off after I putt out on the 18th hole. While watching professional tournaments on TV I always wondered why most professionals take off the glove and put it in their back pocket after every shot. I eventually asked the reason from a tournament professional who told me that putting on the glove was the first step in a pre-shot routine. I still leave my glove on for the complete 18 holes but am now conscious of a pre-shot routine instead of just walking up and hitting the ball.
Hi Andy,bought your 4 magic move dvd.You are right when you say do not relax your grip.Have been hitting the ball much straighter and have all but eliminated my hook.It certainly is a challenge to stay the course but the benefits are there to be had. Thank you ,Ron
Without doubt the pre-shot routine is a crirical part of the game. I divide mine into two , statics & dynamics. this allows the mind to eliminate thoughts of gripping posn of ball etc.
Firstly stand behind the ball and pick a piece of grass in line with your ball flight, (alla Jack Nicklaus ) walk in, get your depth, take your grip, look at the target a couple of times, give your club a squeeze then relax. This ends the statics, one swing only usally look for the hole the club makes then let loose.
Just another routine,
Cheers
Nev
HI Andy This is very true Reading this advice made me think and realise it is just what happens to me. Many thanks for all the correspondence. Keep it up
Regards Jan
Andy,
Thanks for the tips on slow play. Looking back, I know that I have been a victim of slow play many times.
I am using the Four magic moves and getting better every day.
Thanks.
I like your tips if I can remember to slow down and do them, I know my husband and I play tooo fast!
I am scaring myelf with the “Magic Moves”. My scores are normally in the lower hundreds, but the other day I started out paring the first three holes and ending with a 43 on the front nine. I couldn’t believe it!! And then shot a 48 on the back nine, and get this…. with two triple bogeys and two double bogeys. Had I stayed focused and not become a fan of myself, I could have shot in the 80′s. THE EIGHTIES!!! I’ve been doing this less than two months, and I can see how that guy shot a par game within one year…it is not impossible!!! With my routine….I am hanging with, and looking like the “GOLFERS” where I play. They are awestruck!!
God bless you Andy….thanks!
Al
Hi Andy,
I’m having so much fun and sucess with Your 4 magic moves and now
this pre-shot routine article, I’m going to stop calling You just Andy and
start calling You MR.BROWN. I’m driving the ball so long ,My friends
claim I have to take a drug test. Is that funny or what?
Love recieving your E-MAILS
Jerry (Wisconsin)
Andy,
As I already told you, The Four Moves are the best advice I ever found in golf instruction, they seem to me the most acccurate study on the dynamics of the golf swing, and THEY WORK! My legs and hips no longer are strong enough to make a decisive and strong lateral movement, and 40 years of wrong swings and many instructors are difficult to forget. Anyway, I drive the ball 10 or 15 yards longer, and some drives that persist going a litle to the rigth, I atribute to not paying the necessary attention to the mental preparation of the shot: if I do, the ball goes longer and with a nice draw. I don’t like to practice on the driving range!
I will let you know about my future improvements. Many thanks, again,
Flávio Guimarães, Porto, Portugal
Andy,
Great advice. Thanks for giving us these practical words of wisdom!
Jim, Arizona
Great Idea. Will try it and get back to you
Andy,
Want to thank you for all the information you have made available, easy to understand the way you present it. Have used the four magic moves to some success, as long as I use the moves correctly,I hit the ball straighter and longer. But still need work to make the four magic moves consistently.Hoping, maybe the pre-shot routine will help accomplish some of my inconsistence.
Thanks again,until next time.
Bobby,Texas
Thank you for all your excellent suggestions
Hi Andy,
The pre shot routine you have suggested is very different from the usual ones I have read about. I will try it out on the range and I am sure it will help. I have gone through 2 of the “Magic Moves” and they have given me a lot of confidence in playing a good round. I still have more work to do, but I can see that it will make a big difference. Thanks.
Raghu, India
the tip for a pre-shot routine is excellent. It’s something I don’t do regularly, though I know I should. I will make a conscious effort to do it regularly. I find I’m so eager to get going that I neglect it. I also tend to hurry my game. It’s almost second nature to me. and I tend to hurry my playing partners also !! Maybe I’ll change my whole game around if I can slow down a little.
Hi Andy! Since reading the first 60 pages of your four magic tips, my rounds of 18 holes have improved. Before I applied the tips, breaking 100 was very hard. But the first time I did use the early wrist break, I scored 93! So now my aim is to break 90, a reasonable goal for a 46 year old golf addict!
And also, thanks for the everyday rules, they help a lot.
your golf buddy,
Cathy
Thank you Andy for the four magic moves. My drives and approach shots are going longer and straighter.
Thank you also for the tips on this blog, they make a lot of sense …. will need to reread them before going for the next practice.
Thanks Andy, the four magic tips are improving my game, but it takes a real effort not to slip into bad old habits as you go round. In particular my approach shots have improved dramatically with the early wrist break,
thanks mate,
Ted
Hi Andy,
After just a month of buying your books, my drives length have now increased by 20-30 yds. Last Saturday, I finally broke 90 at Eagle Ridge. Could have been better had my irons cooperated,i.e. always fell short of my regular distance.
I was able to achieved the above after reading and regularly listening the lessons on my Ipod. I played very relax without thinking so much the lessons learned and just played confidently.
With your new tips on PreShotRoutine, my game will surely be more consistent and further bring down my handicap in the near future!
Thanks,
Jess
really good tip Andy, I use a half practice swing before I hit the ball, it helps me get my swing plane correct and to stay relaxed throughout my swing.
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