Practice Swing
The practice swing is the swing without a ball directly before the actual shot.
The practice swing is reproducing the feel before things get serious. You swing the club once or twice without a ball to check rhythm, swing plane and ground contact. It is an integral part of the preshot routine, that is, the fixed sequence of aligning, practice swing and shot. Under the rules, the practice swing is allowed almost everywhere. One important exception is the bunker: there the club must not touch the sand during the practice swing, otherwise there are penalty strokes. The same applies in a penalty area if you improve your situation by doing so.
In practice, moderation decides. An example: your ball lies in the semi-deep rough on a slope. You take a practice swing on a similar patch of grass nearby, feel how the club moves through the grass and consequently choose a wedge instead of the iron. Then a look at the target, one final alignment, shot. The practice swing has secured your club choice without costing time. Many good players make do with a single practice swing per shot.
The typical mistake is collecting swings. Anyone who takes four or five practice swings before every shot slows down the group and loses focus. The pace of play suffers, the other players become restless. Also popular: the practice swing so close to the ball that the club tears up the ground or moves the ball. If you move the ball in the address position, it counts as a penalty stroke. Keep your distance, stick to one or two empty swings and then go to the ball decisively.
FAQ
How many practice swings make sense before a shot?
One or two; more achieves nothing and slows down the round. Anyone who takes four practice swings tends to lose focus rather than gain it, and puts a strain on the pace of play of the whole flight. One deliberate practice swing with a clear intention beats any mechanical repetition.
Am I allowed to take a practice swing in the bunker?
The swing itself is allowed, but the club must not touch the sand while doing so, not even behind the ball. If you violate this, there are penalty strokes. So it is best to take the practice swing outside the bunker and only step in for the shot itself.
What happens if I move the ball during my practice swing?
If you have already addressed the ball and it moves through your fault, there is a penalty stroke and the ball must be replaced. That is why the following applies: keep your distance from the ball and the ground behind it during the practice swing. If the ball moves without your doing, for example through wind, you play on without penalty.