Develop a Pre-shot Routine for Consistency

By: Kevin Whimore, PGA General Manager, Red Hawk Golf Club

I like to think of each golf shot we hit as a routine. Within this routine, we have three parts: the pre-shot routine, the in-shot routine, and the post-shot routine. The pre-shot routine is everything we do from the time it is our turn to hit right up until our swing starts. The in-shot routine is the swing and actual striking of the golf ball, and the post-shot routine is the act of holding our finish and following the ball flight.

Of these three routines, the one which is probably the most important and which you definitely have the most control over is the pre-shot routine. The phrase "develop a pre-shot routine" is one of those overused golf phrases which many people talk and read about, but few people ever use correctly. When watching golf on television, you usually don't get the opportunity to see just how precise the tour players are when performing their pre-shot routine. They develop a routine through practice and stick with it no matter what confronts them. Most great players will tell you that when they finish their pre-shot routine, the actual hitting of the ball is automatic. They simply finish their routine and the swing happens without thinking.

So how do you develop a pre-shot routine that works for you? First, you must realize that even amongst the greatest players, pre-shot routines vary greatly. The great Bobby Jones took very little time at all, he looked at his target, addressed the ball, waggled the club once and before ever stopping, his swing commenced. Jack Nicklaus, on the other hand, is very deliberated. Jack likes to use an intermediate target (this is a target on the same line as your intended ball flight, but just a few feet in front of the ball) so he spends a lot of time making sure that his clubface is lined up precisely with this intermediate spot. He also does not like to hit a shot until he can fully envision it in his "minds eye". Many of you may have watched current tour star Jim Furyk address the ball and seemingly start his swing only to stop and step behind the ball one last time and then readdress it and swing. No matter, what the routine is, these players stick with it and they achieve three main goals: 1) Ensure proper alignment with the intended target 2) achieve a relaxed body and mind and 3) create a seamless link or trigger, which starts the swing. Let's break these three goals down and see how they can work for you.

1) PROPER ALIGNMENT -- This should be our first point of business when preparing for any shot. It is best to stand behind your ball facing your target. I suggest trying to use an intermediate target (if Jack Nicklaus does it, it can't be all bad!). Really try to stay focused on your target here, don't look at the rough or hazards, but instead zero right in on where you want your ball to land. If your imagination is good, you may even be able to "see" the shot you are about to hit. This is also a good time to take a practice or rehearsal swing.
2) RELAX YOUR MIND AND BODY - When you really focus in on the present shot and target, you will find that your mind becomes quiet and your body relaxed. I like to encourage abdominal breathing here as it puts less stress on the upper body.
3) ADDRESSING THE BALL/TRIGGER MECHANISM - I suggest approaching the ball with the club in your right hand (for a right-handed golfer). Place the clubhead behind the ball and then establish your stance and posture. From here you should be very consistent in waggling the club and then swinging. I believe in not taking too much time once you are over the ball. Look at your intermediate target, waggle the club once or twice, look at your final intended target and then when your eyes get back to the ball, swing. It's ok to have a final swing trigger, just be sure to be consistent with it. I like to bounce my knees a bit to start the swing but there are many other triggers so find one that works and stick with it.
Once you have found "your" pre-shot routine, be sure to practice it to perfection. We want do it rather as a good dancer dances, they do not think about what they are doing, they simply perform the routine which they have perfected. When you reach this stage of development, you will find that golf will become easier and your shot making will be more consistent.



Zen in the Art of the Short Game?
Have you ever noticed how the professionals on television make the game look so effortless. Even your local club champion seems to play a game that is less stressful and somehow easier than the one you play. Now at times there are some things such as natural talent and finely tuned mechanics that are a factor. However, what a lot of us don't realize is another more subtle attribute which all good players possess. This skill comes naturally to some people and must be acquired through practice by others and it is most apparent in the short game. This skill is the fine art of playing golf without fear.

One of the biggest faults that I see in amateurs, especially with the short game is that of tension and anxiety. Tension stems from one major cause and that is fear. Fear of failure, fear of looking silly, fear of shanking, it's a basic human emotion and one that we must conquer in order to improve. Even many accomplished players who possess the correct technical mechanics and whom practice diligently will freeze up and become very "unfluid" under pressure. How do we learn to conquer our fears on the golf course and avoid the tension and anxiety that accompany it? The answer lies within us but a hint may be found in the ancient religion of Zen. "We must learn to let go of ourselves and all that is us so that only one thing matters and that is archery". This quote taken from Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigal could easily be applied to golf. Letting go of ourselves includes all of our fears and anxieties, it is the way to inner peace as well as a tension free short game. This philosophy basically parallels the old saying "to gain control, you must first give up control".

 

Now I do understand that in today's fast-paced world where being a control freak is thought of as a complement, giving up control is a difficult concept. Golfers generally feel as though they must control everything and by "trying" harder they can "make" it happen. In golf however, the opposite is usually true. Let me use an example that has probably happened to you more than once. When is the last time you missed a makeable putt and after everyone has holed out, you casually toss your ball near the same spot from where you just missed and without thinking, you knocked the ball straight in the hole. "It always goes in the second time". Is this clich頴he ultimate irony or does it have more to do with hitting the second putt without fear of consequence, there is no fear of missing because it does not count. So the goal is to hit the first putt with the same attitude as the second putt or as if it did not count.

How do we learn to do this? One way is through daily meditation, but most of us don't have the time or the patience for this so I suggest that you concentrate on two things: 1) While you are on the course, stick with your pre-shot routine as strictly as possible. Use your imagination to picture the ball flying or rolling to the hole. When your routine is finished, don't hesitate, get over the ball and let it happen. 2) Practice to develop confidence. The more we practice, the more confidence we gain, with confidence, we will lose our fears and thus our whole game will reflect less tension and less effort.



Managing the Peaks and Valleys During Golf Round is the Key to Consistency
During the 1987 British Open Championship at Muirfield, Nick Faldo made 18 straight pars to win the Claret Jug. This type of consistency was one of his trademarks during his prime, but for most of us it is difficult enough to string together two pars in a row, let alone 18! Most amateurs, whom I have played with or taught, tend to have rounds more like a thrill ride at Cedar Point. Managing these ups and downs is the key to consistent scoring.

The first key to managing your peaks and valleys during a round is to reduce the opportunity for the valleys. You must know and understand "your" game and always try to play to your strengths and away from your weaknesses. Learn to play "conservatively aggressive" and always hit the shot that will make the next shot easier. It is human nature to want to be heroic, but on the golf course that attitude will most likely spell disaster. A prime example which I often see is when a player hits the ball into the rough leaving a mid to long iron to a well-protected green. Unless you have a perfect lie, your chances of executing this shot are very small. Most likely, you will hit the ball into an even worse predicament and you are on your way to writing a large number on your scorecard. Instead, play the shot that will make your next shot easier by taking a more lofted club and pitching the ball up the fairway to leave yourself a short iron or wedge into the green. You will be surprised at how many times you actually make par after doing this, especially if you have spent some quality practice time on your short game. Remember, sometimes, bogey is your best friend.

Big Numbers??hey, they happen! - Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to manage your game, you will make a dreaded double or triple bogey or worse. The best thing to do here is to have a sudden case of amnesia and forget about the past. Step onto the next tee, thinking only about the shot you must hit next. It is also helpful here to have a hole by hole game plan. When I am playing a competitive round of golf, I always like to map out my shots and especially my tee shots. That way, when I step on each tee, I have a plan and I can focus on that plan instead of any negatives.

The Hot Streak??Stay Out of Your Own Way! - Often, riding out a hot streak is just as difficult, if not more difficult, than rebounding from a bad hole. What happens to you when you start a round with a series of pars or maybe a couple of birdies? Human nature is to start thinking about shooting the round of your life or breaking par. This is the last thing you should do, as it will always lead to disaster. Instead, use the clich頢one shot at a time". Jack Nicklaus was once asked, "which shot do you consider to be the most important in the game of golf?" His answer was simple: "the next one!" Never lose focus on the shot at hand, especially when you are in the midst of a hot streak. Practice this on each and every shot you make and you will be amazed at the results. In between shots, concentrate on anything but your score, I like to concentrate on the simple act of breathing correctly. It's difficult to believe, but, by concentrating on breathing, you can get so caught up that you actually forget about everything else and your mind is at peace. Then, when it is your turn to play, focus only on the target and the shape of your shot, execute your pre-shot routine and swing the club.

Remember, whether you are hot or cold, managing your game begins with managing your mind. Learn to do this and those peaks will be easier to climb, the valleys will be less painful to fall into, and your scores will become lower and lower.

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