Course Management: The pre-shot routine
By Chris Wallace
The term “pre-shot routine” is one that you will hear frequently when it comes to the game of golf.
Very few golfers, however, actually take the time to develop and stick with a consistent routine, and that’s a major mistake for a number of reasons.
Most notable among those reasons is that a sound pre-shot routine will help you stay in the moment and focus completely on the shot at hand, while at the same time eliminating potential distractions that can adversely affect the shots you play.
Additionally, being committed to your routine is a great way to alleviate pressure on the golf course, whether you’re competing in an important tournament or just trying to beat your best friend on a Saturday morning, because you’ll find yourself focused on the shot itself and not the consequences of its outcome.
And the beauty of the pre-shot routine, and one of the surprising reasons that more golfers won’t make the commitment to establishing and utilizing one, is that what you choose to do as part of your routine is completely up to you.
There is no right or wrong, just what’s comfortable for you.
Some pre-shot routines are extremely detailed and might even start when a player is selecting the club they’ll hit, an approach you’ll see from many PGA and LPGA Tour players, while for others it might just involve a simple alignment check and a quick waggle before they pull the trigger.
The only thing that really matters is that your pre-shot routine should match your personality on the golf course. If you play fast, you’re not going to want to establish a detailed, extensive routine, something that would likely work better for a more deliberate player.
But the key is to work on establishing a routine that you’re comfortable with and then commiting to it before every shot you play.
If you do, you will play better golf. That’s pretty much a mortal lock.