Take Your Best Swing to The Course With a Great Pre-Shot Routine
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!
May 1st, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Can’t thank you enough Andy for these stories and tips
You put them into perspective so well that gives us something to aim for
Many thanks
Jean (Australia)
May 1st, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Thanks Andy your suggestion of mechanics and routine makes a lot of sense. I will now include that in my practice.
Jean (Australia)
May 5th, 2007 at 4:48 am
Thanks very much for these tips, all sounds so logical i will endeavour to put it into practice next round.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Great tips once again Cant wait to try this out Thanks again
May 17th, 2007 at 9:07 am
these tips really do work and are helping my game so much im usually last out of 4 every week but in the last 5 games ive won twice and came second twice, so you can imagine how happy i am! thanks Andy.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Very good article.
I recently played in a tournament with people I had not met before and now realise that I succumbed to the situation controlling me rather than the other way round.
The pre shot routine is like a comfort zone and once this is mastered or ingrained the better you should play.
Thanks for the article.
Regards
Bob Jordan.
May 28th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
This is so true when playing with people you don’t know. Concentrating on my set tup routine has really helped to keep me calmer.
May 28th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Set up routine really helped me on the course. Reasonly while competing at St Andrews I finished first on the Queens, and fifth the second day on the New Course. Needing four straight pars to win at Queens I went through my set up rountine and hit solid shots to win, great tip.
Regards,
Pat
June 15th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Great article. This is the type of on going help that most part time golfers need. Keep it up
June 27th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Sounds so simple!! I can’t wait to get out to the driving range to try it out.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:08 am
Hi Andy,
Your tips have helped me so much that I can now hit 80% of all my shots long and straight. Recently I won two of my matches at world Disney golf courses in Orlando. I have definetly reduced my handicap by at least 5 strokes within 2 months. I am also putting well.
Thanks for lessons and tips.I really take all my lessons to the range and then to the course.
Keep it up
Hassanali
July 13th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Great tips on pre-shot routine and putting.
Thanks
July 13th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Always good to get your mail. I am not active now primarily due to 110 degree weather here on the Southern California desert. Also vision impairment is a problem; hope to eventually get a group of us together, Andy, all credit will go to you!
July 14th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I agree with you 100%! I have been practiceing my pre-setup and have found that I am more relaxed, and my swing is much smoother. I have also been hitting the ball more in the center of the club and much futher. My golfing partner tells me that my swing looks so easy and he cannot believe how far I now hit the ball.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:06 am
Andy- it is great. Keep it up. Very helpful for all categories of Golfers. THANKS Bye…Regards……..Kharb
July 26th, 2007 at 6:03 am
Andy,
Thank for your comments. Rubbish golf is quite quickly changing to great golf. 86 off the stick on a 27 handicap isn’t too bad.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:05 am
Great stuff I’ve been hitting my irons a ton, everything makes sense. Thanks
August 10th, 2007 at 4:21 am
Thanks Andy for a gr8 reminder, to confirm pre-shot routine’s, check out Nadal and Tiger. I’ll try to remember this in Club Champs this weekend
August 13th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Thanks Andy. This is an area I have neglected previously and look fwd to spending some time practising.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for the pre-shot routine, I will try this the next time I go to the range. Also I played this weekend and hit alot of good shots, but I have a few blow up holes and shot a 97. I have completed reading the first two magic moves, and hopefully once I complete the entire reading I will get the last two magic moves and improve my score. I just want to say thanks for what I have learned so far, and any other advice would be appreciated. I think I am on the right path, but let me know if there is anything else I need to do besides practice and finish the reading.
Thanks,
Bryan Williams
August 15th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Andy,
I have been playing golf for about 40 years and have never had a par round of golf for nine or eighteen holes. Last week I had a par nine hole round. I owe it all the the golf swing secrets form your website. I hit the ball straighter and more consistantly. Oh sure I still have some errant shots but not as many as before. Thanks for the secret.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Thanks Andy, although I have already changed my grip and stance as a result of your previous info (rather a lot really), the impact of these on my game results means that I will try this as well. Although I am a high handicapper, as a result of your advice, I am already on line to win the club Bidie and ecclectic comps. In the ecclectic, I am only 3 shots (gross) behind the lowest handicap player.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Andy,
This is so true. I like the idea of practicing more routine approaching the time to play. Great advice!
Bob Grignon(USA)
August 21st, 2007 at 5:21 am
Andy,
It’s true that when u r not in comfort zone make mistakes, it happens to me . I am a beginer in golf 4 months , when i play with my routine friends , i play well but a stranger around finished , i will be so concious i make mistakes
August 28th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Thanks Andy, it’s a great advice. The pre shot routine oftenly overlooked by many including me. Will try it next time in the range. Great stuff.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Hi Andy and thanks for the practice routine article as it is true- one needs a routine in order to focus on each shot with consistency.Thanks Murdock Morrison
August 30th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Good info. I was especially noting the remark about getting used to the routine (comfortable you said) and noticed that the first few weeks I used your methods they worked but then I became relaxed and they didn’t work.
I have to pretend to be a new bride again but that is not easy to do.
Thanks - good material.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:39 am
Thanks Andy,this advice has helped me play better golf in pressure situations.Once again YERTHEMAN, kind regards Pat EIRE
September 7th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Sounds like good advice Andy. Will try it over the next week or two. Regards Colin
September 9th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Andy just read your latest comments, and will try it next few weeks.
Thanks.
Graham
September 12th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Hi Andy,
Love your newsletters and everything that’s going on with golfing.
I have a question is it possible to have some information on stableford scoring, as my wife and I managed to get ourselves on a handicap chart.
We both seem to have problems with stableford scores.
Is stableford different for men than women and how is this calculated, if there any where I can pickup this information or a website for play in New Zealand.
If you could help I would be grateful.
Lawrie Noah
September 24th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Hi
My problem has been that I am too much of a social golfer which basically means that I spend too much of my time during a game worrying about my fellow senior players and their games.I have recently been advised to continue with my social behaviour on the course until I am 10 yards from my own ball when I should “switch-off” and concentrate only on my shot.
This advice plus your pre-shot routine have helped enormously with my own performance.
Thanks a lot.
Bob
September 25th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Andy,
You have brought up a great topic with this post. Not many golfers look at their pace of the game. You have a solid point about those who keep their pace constant throughout the game typically do better than those who are inconsistent. Being comfortable with the shot you are about to make is critical to having your desired outcome actually happen.
You also outlined a great preshot routine. One of the reasons why Tiger Woods is as successful as he is is because he understands the mental aspect of the game so much and strives to recreate the shots he makes first in his mind. Thanks Andy.
-Bob
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:10 pm
GOOD ADVICE!
Roger Frederick’s also has a good CD on tempo.
I am using your advice in my new swing (forward press,early wrist break, start downswing with lateral movement of left hip) and have added 20 to 40 yards to my drive, but more importantly I am now keeping the ball on the short grass. My friends thing that it is my new “Burner driver”.
Keep up the good advice.
Dick
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
:razz:Thank you very much for the needed direction I will try to put this into my game.
Mitch
October 6th, 2007 at 1:00 am
I appreciate the article on routine. Although I struggle somewhat with this aspect of playing good golf, I strongly believe that a consistant routine is a necessity for any chance of playing consistant golf.
October 9th, 2007 at 3:38 am
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the advice, it makes sense of course. I have been working on my pre-shot stuff for quite a while now but cannot get into any one routine. I will try harder to do so.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Andy & Joe -
Good advice for all levels of players. Have not been through the archives yet, but I’d be interested in your thoughts on “ready golf” and “pace of play” within the context of a solid pre-shot routine.
Mike O’
October 14th, 2007 at 3:12 am
Hi Andy,
What a great reminder of how a good pre-shot routine is so critically important. It helps establish our own pace and rythm of play. One that isn’t affected so much by the slow foursome in front or the impatient group behind. It helps us to really get focused and in the moment, prepared to effortlessly execute the already visualised great shot, oblivious to any useless conscious distractions. Ahhh. My wonderful world of golf.
Now, if I could just go through a pre-shot routine without then having the fear of shanking the damned thing after all this painstaking preparation!
Thomas
October 14th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
The 4 New Moves is helping my game A LOT.
Is there a pro teaching your system in the USA?? If yes, I would like to go to him/her.
If no, do you give lessons in Merrie olde England/Scotland??
October 18th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
After 20 or so years of playing this wonderful game, I suddenly realised that my claim to fame of being self taught was not only naive but stupid. I started having problems with my swing, and no matter how or what I tried, nothing worked, being the stubborn type I still refused to go to our Pro and in desperation signed up with “The new 4 magic moves” and wow instant results, longer straighter drives and confidence when I walk onto the tees, and I’m hitting great shots off the faiways too. I’m back playing to my 16 Handicap. Many thanks Andy
October 18th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Hi,
I bought the New Four Magic and have improved somewhat in hitting the ball straight. However I have noticed game to game or even within a game, I drift away from paying attention to my wrist break and swing finish. I need to work on the routine and ensure that I follow it. It is not so easy.
Anyways, I find the book very useful and I read it often to refresh my memory.
Thanks for a good product, Andy
Khalid
October 27th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Andy,
I’m a left handed golfer and for 20 years I’ve been trying to figure out why I can’t hit the ball properly. I’ve taken numerous lessons and have taken the advise of many other golfers but have not seen any significant difference in my game results. However, Since I started applying your “4 Magic Moves” I’m hitting the ball better with less effort, consistently and with more confidence. I will now start applying your “shot routine” into my practice sessions.
November 12th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Thanks Andy,
I love the little tips you send I be plugging into this routine!
November 24th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Hi Andy
I have enjoyed your book 4 moves to better golf, but i have a question about the hips moving forward to start the down swing. I have seen people on there knees hitting golf balls with the drivers that seem to go very far, is that just hands and arm action only.
Thank You
Ronald Mastroberti
November 30th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
November 30th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Ronald it is possible to hit a long ball from your knees as the COAM will still come into the shot and their is also more than 1 way to hit a golf ball but most employ the late hit the bigger muslces in the torso will also contribute more than just the hips and knees.
Thanks for All the tips Andy
December 11th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Hi Andy, just like to say that I am working hard putting the Four Magic Moves into practice. I like the simplicity of how you explain things.
Will now be trying and wotking on my pre-shot routine. I will keep you posted. Thanks for the emails too.
Kind regards,
Barry
December 12th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
hi,
makes sense, the routine also gives the player time to settle themselves, after say a missed putt or a bad shot previously,instead of trying to take anger out of the ball on the next shot,
December 19th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Hi Andy!
I am in love with this game (just about 6 months playing) and now that I am learning the Four Magic Moves….wow! it´s amazing how much I am improving my game….My friends can´t believe that I can do so well after such a short time! I´ve told them my secret……I agree with you and think that having a pre shot routine is very important. I will keep working on it!
Best regards and Merry Xmas!
Elisabeth
Madrid (Spain)
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:52 am
Hi Andy,
When is your DVD on the “4 Magic Moves”, available for us dying to get one? Love your e-book on the subject and I constantly learning the new swing. Thank you and Happy Holidays.
Vincent
(California)
December 30th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Andy:
What a coincidence! I just finished watching a piece on Tiger where he talks about his mental preparation before a shot - and how most times he cannot remember actually hitting the shot. I have always noticed that I play my best when I seem to have the same tempo thru out the round - my anxiety over swing mechanics, what others think etc seem to disappear. Just as the article says, on most occasions I let the events around me control my tempo. My new year resolution is to focus on my own game. Thanks for the great article.
Happy New Year.
Deva
January 7th, 2008 at 1:53 am
I’ve recently tried establishing a routine and noticed that I am calmer and the routine makes shots more natural,
January 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am
To me golf is fun, being outside, meeting people, having fun with my family.
I don’t make a competition of it. I don’t count the number of strokes too much only at the end, not to get upset with the results too rapidly.
But playing well is a must towards friends & customers & family.
What I like is trying out new shots with different irons or woods,I.E. I want to feel comfortable with the iron/wood I play. It helps a lot.
I can get out of a bunker with a fine shot with an iron 7 close to the green while I struggle with the sandwedge.
A different way of doing things but routine of course is important but don’t get crazy with it.
January 29th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Dear Andy,
I have been trying the 4 magic moves and I believe they are helping me . I haven’t had much time to get out to the range to try them, but I listen to the cd in the car to and from work everyday.
I usually try not to take too long on my preperation to hit as it makes me nervous, I take a few practice swings and I address my ball and after 2-5 seconds I swing.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Great article. May be the missing link for me. Shall definitely try next time on the range, than on the course.
Thanks / Csaba
March 12th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Found this via Stumble Upon. Great advice.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Since I have been applying the early wrist break and committed shoulder turn to my swing, combined with a slow smooth swing style, my game has improved at a rate that I could never have imagined.
I still fight with the mental side of golf, but I am currently hitting consistent golf shots that I have even never dreamed about.
Today I played a challenging course that I have never seen before and I bettered my handidcap by 50%
March 20th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Hi Andy,
Very good advise, l will start using a routine the next time l am at the club.
Thanks for all the info so far.
Regards Kevin
March 21st, 2008 at 12:44 am
Absolutely spot on. When pre shot routine is rushed after waiting for group ahead to get out of range or falling behind after looking for your own or playing partners ball, less than satisfactory results occur.
Thoroughly enjoy your articles Thanks
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
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.
March 25th, 2008 at 2:32 am
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
March 25th, 2008 at 8:20 am
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
March 31st, 2008 at 3:49 am
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.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:59 am
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
April 11th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
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.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:47 am
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
May 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Thank you for all your excellent suggestions
May 12th, 2008 at 3:23 am
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
May 12th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Great Idea. Will try it and get back to you
May 16th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Andy,
Great advice. Thanks for giving us these practical words of wisdom!
Jim, Arizona
May 26th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
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
June 6th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
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)
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
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
August 10th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I like your tips if I can remember to slow down and do them, I know my husband and I play tooo fast!
September 8th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
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.
September 29th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
:grin:The game of golf is a game of concentration. From the practice tee to the last putt on the 18th green, you must concentrate (get in your zone) to play your best. This concentration includes the pre-shot routine whether on the tee, fairway or green. This is the one reason I have never liked playing out of a golf cart. You tend to rush to the ball to hurry and hit it again. By walking up the fairway, I can begin to think about the next shot and concentrate on hitting it the way I envision it. When you see the pro’s finish a round and seem to be exhausted during the post round interview, it’s not the physical excursion of playing the round, it’s the intense concentration to play well. Golf is not a contact sport, but extremely mentally challenging.:grin:
November 5th, 2008 at 8:39 am
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
November 14th, 2008 at 9:59 am
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