The pre-shot routine is important. Watch any professional golfer and you’ll see them go through a routine before they take a swing. The routine can vary depending on the type of shot (tee shot, fairway, chip, putt, etc.) but they have a specific process they follow.
If you’ve ever wondered why your best range sessions never translate to the golf course or why you can’t play a consistent or steady round of golf, the answer may be in your pre-shot routine.
The pre-shot routine prepares you for a shot. It’s more than just aiming and a quick waggle. Here are some of the biggest pre-shot routine-related mistakes and practical tips to fix them.
You’re standing over the ball for a LONG time
The longer you stand over the ball (10, 15, 20 seconds), the more you invite the opportunity for second-guessing and tension buildup. A faster pre-shot routine is often better than a slow one.
In their book Golf’s 8-Second Secret, Mike Bender and Michael Mercier suggest that once a golfer steps into the shot, the actual execution should take about eight seconds.
Before stepping in, the pre-shot routine should take about 10 to 12 seconds so the entire process of hitting a golf shot takes around 20 seconds.
How to fix it
Time your pre-shot routine by taking a video of you hitting a golf shot on the range. How much time does the whole thing take? How long are you standing over the ball before you pull the trigger?
Are there areas of your pre-shot routine that take longer than they should? Make adjustments and practice a new routine.
Your routine is inconsistent (or non-existent)
Let’s be honest. Do you have a pre-shot routine? Is it repeatable? Constant tinkering makes it hard to be mentally stable and predictable in your golf game. You need a pre-shot routine.
How to fix it
Establish a simple, repeatable process. A good full-swing routine might look like this:
- Stand behind the ball to confirm the shot and target line.
- Take one or two practice swings behind the ball (not right beside it)
- Step in. Set the clubface first, then your feet.
- Take one or two last looks to the target.
- Pull the trigger within eight seconds.
You don’t have a trigger
A good pre-shot routine needs a trigger. The trigger is a small, repeatable motion like a waggle, forward press, a breath or a final look at the target that tells your body it’s time to hit the shot.
Without the trigger, you may feel like you have a hard time taking the club away from the ball or you don’t know when to start it.
My trigger is feeling a little pressure on the inside of my trail foot. It’s not a weight shift. It’s just a trigger I’ve established and then I’m ready to go.
Find something small that you can repeat and use as your trigger.
You’re taking too many looks at the target
This one makes me a little nervous to mention because we don’t want to abandon the idea of looking at the target as part of the pre-shot routine. However, some players stand over the ball and look at the target three, four or five times.
The problem with this is that you can introduce indecision each time you look.
How to fix it
Limit yourself to one or two looks at the target. The first glance is when you confirm your target. The second can help increase confidence and help you visualize the proper shot. Use your looks to picture the perfect shot, not the bunker you’re afraid you might not carry.
You think you need a set number of practice swings every time
Some players think they “must” take two practice swings before every full shot. If they don’t take the two, they can’t hit. Rigid rules like this can backfire.
What happens if your practice swings aren’t good? In addition, too many practice swings can make your routine take more time and feel forced. As repetitive as you want the pre-shot routine to be, it should also feel natural.
How to fix it
Instead of being stuck on two practice swings, take one. If it feels good go with it. If you need more sometimes, take them. Save your swing thoughts for your practice swings and try to free them when you step up to hit your actual shot.
Bonus tips for the short game
Your routine doesn’t have to be the same for every type of shot. In fact, most PGA and LPGA tour pros adapt their routine for full swings, chips and putts.
- Chipping and pitching: It can help to take practice swings next to the ball to feel the turf interaction. Keep all “bad shot” thoughts out of your head.
- Putting: Some top players take no practice strokes while others take one or two behind the ball or next to the ball. Always pick a clear target and never think about missing the putt in the final seconds before you pull the trigger.
Final thoughts
A solid pre-shot routine won’t guarantee a perfect shot but it does create a reliable mental framework for every swing. If this element is missing from your game, make it a goal this season to set up a solid pre-shot routine and avoid these common mistakes.
Dr Tee
1 year ago
I ascribe to the method used by the greatest female player in history, Annika Sorenstam and her coaches Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott as put forth in their book “Every Shot Must Have a Purpose”: Divide your routine into a Think Box behind the ball where you make your decisions, take one or two practice swings visualize and commit to your shot, then cross an imaginary decision line into the Play Box where you focus on the target, step up to the ball and let it go…neither box needs to be a slow box !!!