The "in's, out's and why's" of a Pre shot routine

I must admit that for most of my playing career I did not understand the need for a pre-shot routine. It is only in recent years that I have become a big fan. I can find no reasons to not have an effective pre-shot routine and a number of critically important ones that support having one and using it on every shot in play and practice. Here are some of my reasons for having one;

1. If and I believe it to be true that 80% of all golf shots are missed before the golfer ever takes the club away away from the ball then the primary function of a pre-shot routine is to eliminate that 80%. The following is a list of the things that a pre-shot routine takes care of;

a. Gets you aligned correctly to your target

b. Gets the golf ball in the proper position in your stance

c. Puts your center of gravity in the correct position for the shot you are trying to hit.

d. Gives you a mental checklist to go over which when completed gives you the emotional security of knowing that you have made all the preparations that you can for the shot to be hit.

I teach the same pre-shot routine to all. Here are the steps involved

1. After making my club selection and practice swings I stand behind the golf ball holding the golf club in my right hand about 1/3 of the way down the shaft and at a 45 degree angle to the ground. I sight down the shaft through the center of the ball and my target. I'm looking for an intermediate target not more than 3 feet in front of the ball. I believe it is easier to line up with a near target than one is farther away. (Quick note. There are a number of sports psychologists and some instructors who say that it really doesn't matter if you are lined up correctly because your body will make the adjustments so that you can still hit the ball to the target. I answer, why would I want to create an environment where I have to make an adjustment to my swing? The game is hard enough without have to make up a new swing just because I'm to lazy to learn how to line up correctly.)

2. While behind the ball I place my hands on the club in the grip position.

3. I then step into my address position and place the club first behind the ball so that the grooves are at right angles to the target line.

4. I place my right foot at right angles to the target line in a position where a line drawn through the center of the ball would go through the middle of my middle toe from toe to heel.

5. I put my left foot next to my right so that both sets of toes are parallel to each other and the target line.

6. I flare my left foot out a couple of inches, something less than 45 degrees

7. I then step to the right with my right foot so that the heels of each foot are parallel to the target line. The amount that I step back is dependent upon the club I'm hitting and where I want my center of gravity to be. The shorter the club the less I step back with my right foot in order to promote a more decending blow. The driver requires a wide stance so that my center of gravity is further behind the ball which promotes a level to ascending blow.

8. I then tilt my upper body slightly to the right to compensate for my right hand being lower on the club.

I check the accurateness of this by placing my club on the ground at my heels and then placing a club behind the ball so that it is parallel to the first club. By sighting down the 2nd club I'm able to determine where I'm actually aimed.

If at anytime I get interrupted or lose my focus I start over. In practice I asked my students to do this on ever shot.

This pre-shot routine places the ball in the same position relative to the left heel for every shot, approximately 1 1/2" inside the left heel. Don't panic. When instructors talk about different ball positions they are really talking about where the your center of gravity is located. That's why the amount the right foot steps back varies.

This takes practice but is really worth it.