preshot routine
The preshot routine is the fixed, always identical sequence of thoughts and movements before every shot.
The preshot routine is the invisible foundation of good golf. It begins before you address the ball and ends with triggering the swing. Typical building blocks are: forming a clear picture of the target behind the ball, one or two practice swings, addressing the ball with your eyes on the target and the last calm breath before the swing. Professionals repeat their routine with every shot in exactly the same order and duration. The point: under pressure the body should not have to think but should recall what has been practised a thousand times.
In practice it looks like this: you are standing on the tee of a narrow hole, with out of bounds lurking on the right. Instead of immediately whacking away, you walk behind the ball, choose a concrete target point on the horizon and visualise the ball flight. Then one practice swing with the feel you need. You address the ball, one look at the target, one look at the ball — and swing. This sequence takes perhaps 20 seconds, but it prevents doubts from creeping into the swing. Especially on the tee shot and on the green, the routine pays off the most.
The most common mistake is abandoning the routine under pressure. After a bad shot, many players rush to the next ball and swing out of emotion — the result is usually the next mistake. The opposite is true: the more important the shot, the more important the routine. Also popular is the routine without content, i.e. mechanical waggling without a target picture. A good preshot routine is individual, short enough for the pace of play and taken just as seriously on the range as on the course.
FAQ
How long may a preshot routine take?
Keep it to about 20 to 30 seconds per shot. Anything above that slows down your flight and annoys your playing partners; anything below is usually no longer a routine but rushing. Practise the sequence on the range often enough that it runs automatically on the course without you having to think.
How do I build my own preshot routine?
Define three or four fixed building blocks, for example choosing a target point, one practice swing, addressing the ball, one last look at the target. What matters is the same order with every shot, not the length. Train it on the driving range with every ball, otherwise it will fall apart on the course.
What do I do when my routine falls apart under pressure?
Abort the shot and restart the routine from the beginning instead of swinging out of emotion. One conscious deep breath behind the ball is the best reset button. Especially after a bad shot, it pays off to run the routine deliberately slower rather than faster.