Hit Down Dammit! Golf Instruction

Committing to a Game Plan

For many of us who just play recreational golf, a game plan may never even enter our mind. For the next few weeks we are going to discuss how having a game plan can help your recreational golf, and how that plan can be as simple or as involved as you want it to be. We’ll start with the simplest of all game plans, and if this is all you ever implement it will still be a big help. It is oft talked about, but I know under listened to. Pre-shot routine.

What is a pre-shot routine? The better question is, what is the definition of routine? I teach a routine to beginners for taking their grip and stance. (If you want I can explain that particular routine in a future newsletter.) It is amazing how many of these students, only a few lessons later, abandon the routine. And when I comment as such, they stare back with amazement and ask, “Oh, did you want me to keep on doing that?”  Jokingly (sub in retort if you like) I ask whether they know the meaning of the word routine?  Routine means routine! All the time, habit, regular, usual, custom. It does not mean “for a little while”, “occasionally”, “until lesson three”.

So, for us a pre-shot routine essentially means the steps taken immediately prior to swinging the club to take a shot. In many respects, it does not matter what those steps are so long as they are routine. In other words, the same steps, all the time, every time. If your pre-shot routine includes doing a handstand, you may want to re-consider unless you are willing to do that handstand every time. If your pre-shot routine includes a single practice swing, make sure it is always a single practice swing. This is a huge point and I’ll say why: many players take a practice swing before they hit their shot. Many players have been on a great round up to the 18^th tee. These same many players, standing on that 18^th tee, sensing the importance of the drive, resort to not one, but several practice swings. Boom. Change of game plan.

On a seemingly logical level it may seem to make sense to take extra care, thus extra practice swings, in such an important situation. However, looking at the big picture and even more logically really, if a single practice swing on every shot led to this being your best round ever, why change? If four practice swings seems smart now, was a single practice swing on every other shot careless? Clearly not, as this is your best round so far. Stick to your pre-shot routine.

There are countless examples of identifiable pre-shot routines on the big tours. Stephen Ames always takes a full practice swing on every shot. Mike Weir always checks his backswing plane before every shot. Jim Furyk always walks away from every putt to check his line. Sergio Garcia always re-grips the club the same number of times before hitting. (You may recall when Sergio re-gripped his club an insane number of times before hitting. Thank goodness he’s reduced this number but even then, interestingly, the number was always the same. 14 times. Not 13, not 15. 14.)

So let this become the beginning (or extent) of your game plan, but make sure you have a single pre-shot routine from which you never waiver. Not when facing a birdie, not when facing your best round ever. Importantly, make it an easy to execute routine. If your pre-shot routine is too complicated you are more likely to abandon it, or even be pressured to abandon it by your three playing companions who think your handstand is slowing down play.

your blog

06:56, 2007-Nov-30 .. Posted by Rob

Very nice blog which isn't dutch clothing!

Your swearing

07:00, 2007-Nov-30 .. Posted by Anonymous

I really wish you didn't swear Clive. It's not nice, damn it!