My game was not up to par for a few weeks so I decided to seek advice from Carey Ferrell a PGA professional and friend who knew me and my game pretty well.  I told him that I was not happy with my game.  He did not even have to look at my swing and told me what I should do.  He told me to extend the number of seconds I take during my preshot routine and remain focused on the present.  I did just as he said. The result of adding more time to my routine made me feel comfortable and more at ease with myself.  It gave me more confidence to trust my swing.  I was happy again.

Golf has no hard set rules.  There is not only one way of performing a task. There is no perfect model. We must learn to enhance our natural abilities with the help of golf professionals. Expect the progress to vary from one individual to another, as we all are different.  Be patient and give yourself time to see the results.  You will notice an improvement in your game and confidence.  First we must start out on the right foot. It is imperative to develop a preshot routine that fits you and is your own. The preshot routine must be an effective and systematic method that improves one’s focus.  It may vary in details, thoughts, and steps. It is performed each and every time prior to a golf stroke.

Watch the professionals on the tour as they approach their ball and count the seconds that evolve before they stroke the ball.  It will vary from 16-22 seconds on the average.  Tiger Woods takes about 40-41 seconds to finish his routine, each and every time.  I like to follow a player that has the same physique as mine and a similar personality.  I study the way that individual approaches the game and how she or he handles certain situations.  I recommend doing this to my students.  Most recreational golfer’s preshot routine takes an average of about 10-12 seconds.  Some players that do not have preshot routines may take less than ten seconds or some a much longer time.  The time that it takes an individual to perform the preshot routine is a personal preference, should be unique, and it should match his tempo and personality.

A basketball player when he goes to the free throw line does the same procedure each time before his shot.  He may dribble the ball several times, focus on the basket, twirl the ball around and then take the free throw. A baseball player at bat, waggles the bat, taps the home plate, with is bat, tightens and retightens his gloves a number of times, digs his feet into the dirt, takes a few swings, and then awaits the pitch. A tennis player has a preshot routine which may include swaying or rocking back and forth, moving his head back and forth, taking a deep breath, and bouncing the tennis ball a few times before the serve.  A bowler sets himself on the lane placing his feet in comfortable position; he may bend up and down from his knees, focus on a dot or arrow, hold his ball in a particular angle and then shift it back just before he bowls.  These are all different preshot routines.

Establishing a preshot routine will increase your confidence, comfort, relaxation, awareness, concentration and help to get rid of tension. Tension inhibits a free rhythmic swing.  The result of tension can be disastrous! Do not rush your preshot routine especially under pressure conditions. The preshot routine will help keep unwanted thoughts, worries, and distractions from entering into your mind.

Use your imagination and take your time to develop your preshot routine. Experiment with your new preshot routine on the practice range.  Remember the preshot routine should be a consistent systematic procedure.  You are going to develop your own routine. Mold it, shape it, change it, and time it until you are content with it. When done stick to it.   Again I repeat the routine will help to keep unwanted thoughts, worries and distractions from entering into your mind. The routine may start when you approach the ball or when you take the club out of your bag. That is entirely up to you.  I will give you an outline with some of the elements that you should incorporate in the routine.

Elements to consider incorporating in your preshot routine which is done several feet behind the ball looking down the line:

The target line

Find a leaf, blade of grass or some marking about two to three feet in front of the ball. This will be an aid as you align yourself with the target line. At address place the clubface in line with that marking.

 The conditions

What is the wind like?  Is it a down wind, cross wind, or face on? How breezy is it? Toss small pieces of grass into the wind and notice the effects.

The direction

In which direction is the terrain or fairway sloping?  Do the fairways slope to the right or to the left? Is there a subtle or severe dogleg? Align yourself properly after making these observations.

The distance

How far is the green or a safe landing spot?

The elevation

Are you approaching an elevated green?  Does the green slope forward or towards the back?  Is the green at the bottom of a hill or on the other side of environmental areas?

The lie

Look at the lie before you choose your club.  Is it fluffy, is it buried, is it in a divot, is it on hard pan, is it lying in soft mud?

Obstacles

Are there sand traps, water hazards, rough areas, trees, or immovable obstructions that I must take into consideration when selecting the proper club?

Visualization

Form a mental image of where you want the ball to land.  See that mental image.

Club selection

Select a club that will land the ball where you have imagined it.  Make a practice swing.  If it does not feel right make another one.  A practice swing may loosen you up and calm your mind.  Something interrupts your preshot routine, start over.

 Visualize your swing, commit to it, trust it, then just do it.

As you perform your preshot routine you become calm, relaxed, positive, and you do not allow any chance for anxiety and negative thoughts to creep in.

I have a separate preshot routine for putting. The routine incorporates a few more elements such as the speed, direction of the grain, the slope, whether the greens are wet or dry. When I get lazy or tired of waiting for slow players ahead, I leave out a step or two out of my routine and end up making a mistake or an errant shot. Be patience stay in the moment.  If you get angry or elated about a stroke allow it to last for 5 seconds only and then forget it. Get focused on the shot at hand.  One shot at a time.  The most important shot is the shot at hand. Go immediately into your preshot routine.  Watch your favorite players and see how they handle each situation.  Watch and learn and ask questions.