Southern California's No. 1 Golf Source
 |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Instruction
|
||||
 A pre-shot routine is essential to making a good swing and playing better golf. And just like a swing, everyone’s pre-shot routine is different. However, no matter what your routine is, be consistent. The more consistent you are, the more comfortable and confident you’ll be when hitting a shot. Here are some tips, drills and ideas to help you develop your own pre-shot routine. 1. Know what kind of shot you want to play — straight, draw, fade, high or low. This will depend on factors such as lie, wind, trees and hazards. Drill: When hitting on the range, pick targets and practice various types of shots to those spots. This will give you more confidence when faced with these shots on the course. 2. Choose the right club, and be confident with your selection. This also depends on factors such as lie, stance and distance. Tip: Sometimes there’s more than one correct club for a shot. For example, around the green you don’t always have to use a pitching wedge. You might be able to use a gap, sand or lob wedge and get a better result. Always keep your options open.   3. Don’t get too technical when taking a practice swing. Focus more on smooth tempo and feel. Tip: The purpose of the range is not only to hit balls and warm up before a round — use range time to also practice your pre-shot routine to make it more consistent.   4. Before hitting, stand behind your ball, look at the target and mentally visualize the shot you want to hit. Tip: Have a positive attitude. If you think about hazards or trees before your shot, you’ll probably hit it there. Only focus on your target, and picture yourself making a good swing.  5. Alignment is key to hitting the ball where you want it to go. First, aim and set your clubface behind the ball to your target. Second, finalize your grip. Third, set your stance and body. Tip: When hitting a straight shot, make sure your feet, knees, hips and shoulder lines are parallel to your target line. Aligning your body prior to setting the clubface can create inconsistency with your target. 6. Trust your pre-shot routine and swing, and then pull the trigger. Tip: Too many swing thoughts get in the way of a good swing. If you need one thought, just think about keeping your swing tempo smooth. Ryan Martin is PGA general manager and head professional at Hemet Golf Club. For more information or to schedule a lesson, call (951) 926-4653 or e-mail ryanmartinpga@gmail.com. |
||||
RSS Subscribe