Elements Of A Good Amateur Golf Pre Shot Routine
Author: Glenn Hughes | Category: Golf, Golf Tips For BeginnersI am too old to ever become a great golfer. I took the game up far too late in life. One area though that I have been able to master though is the Pre shot routine. As amateurs, we may lack the physical skill and strength of the professional golfer. Making a commitment to a great Pre shot routine though is something that we cal all do, no matter what our actual shot making capabilities
The first part of the process is deciding on which sort of shot you are going to hit. Take account of the lie of the ball, the intended target area, the climactic conditions, etc. Wind is often the biggest factor that will make a difference to the ball flight. The professional golfer is meticulous when looking at wind strength and direction and so should we be
Visualization (seeing the desired result of a shot) is a skill that must be mastered to become a better golfer. Some people actually see the shot being hit in their mind, others just believe that the ball will go to the target. Some people see themselves in a sort of video that they play in their mind, actually hitting the perfect shot. It really doesn’t matter which method you use, the effect is the same, commitment to the target
There is obviously a physical element in hitting a golf shot. Preparation to hit the shot can begin as soon as you have made the absolute commitment to the shot that you will be hitting. A mental trigger may be helpful to you to quieten your mind and tell your mind that the execution phase is about to begin. Putting on your glove,taking the club out of the bag, taking a practice swing, etc. will help you to commit to this process
The physical part of shot execution is best approached by starting to approach the ball from behind. All the time re-inforcing your commitment to the outcome of the shot, set up to the ball taking great care over your grip and ball position. Settle into a comfortable address position whilst setting the club face on line with the target line
You’re ready to go when all the elements of the Pre shot routine have been completed. Going through this process allows your mind to focus on the task in hand and not to dwell on past failures. One final look at the target and you can pull the trigger. For some, a forward press will get the swing going, for others, they are strong enough mentally to go when they are ready. The total time taken for the whole routine should not vary by more than a couple of seconds
Getting a Pre shot routine down is something that almost any golfer can do. This is definitely one area where amateurs are pretty awful yet it is the one area that can be mastered with some patience and commitment to a process. Something that will stand you in good shape no matter what you want to achieve in life, let alone golf
About this writer: Glenn Hughes is director of finance at Southerndown Golf Club. Wales is hosting the Ryder Cup next year, Southerndown is a links golf course in Wales You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.
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