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Elements Of A Good Amateur Golf Pre Shot Routine

October 25, 2009 by Glenn Hughes  
Posted in: golf

A world class Pre shot routine is not just the preserve of the professional golfer. No matter what our physical capabilities, we can all manage an excellent Pre shot routine. Executing and committing to a good Pre shot routine will pay dividends for you. It did for me, my physical capabilities are not that good, my ability to commit to a routine, however is excellent. This does not happen by accident, and you can do it too

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

Approach your ball positively from behind- you are just about to hit the best golf shot that you have ever hit. Approaching the golf ball from behind, place the club face square to the target line whilst settling into a comfortable address position at the correct distance from the ball. Make sure the ball position is correct and look at the target one last time, swiveling your head toward the target to retain good physical posture

Having completed all the elements of a great Pre shot routine, you’re ready to go. If it helps, use a forward pres of the hands to trigger the swing itself. Swing thoughts- I don’t really like them but back slow, let it go is as goos as I’ve found. Avoid any thought of technical elements- the swing should be a flow, not a series of jerky movements,each triggered by a quick though that has no place in a fluid swing

With practice, you will get the Pre shot routine just right, one area where you can definitely do the same as the professionals. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how good, the Pre shot routine can be mastered by anyone. All it takes is some dedication and commitment, qualities that will serve you well in lots of areas, not just golf. Keeping to a plan, however flawed is better than no plan at all

About this author: Mr. Hughes is director of finance at Southerndown Golf Club. Wales is holding the next Ryder Cup in 2010, Southerndown is a links golf course in Wales

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