Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
Most recreational golfers don’t have much of a pre-shot routine. They simply step up to the ball and hit it. There’s no structure or consistency in what they do in the moments before their swing. Then, when the pressure turns up — the last hole of a match, or with a career-best on the line — they stand over the ball far too long and freeze themselves out.
Watch the pros play, and you’ll see quite the opposite. Before each shot, they do through the same routine. Everything is intentional, and there is consistency every time.
In a game like golf where consistency is rewarded above all else, it makes sense that the pre-shot routine should be consistent as well. If you want to hit shots that behave consistently, you need to approach each shot consistently.
For most recreational players, they have no idea where to even begin when it comes to building a pre-shot routine. If that sounds like you, check out the video below for tips from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Christopher Smith.
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Build the perfect pre-shot routine
Smith is not just a Top 100 Teacher — he’s also one of the best speed golfers in the world. He’s a Guinness World Record holder in speed golf, and is the self-proclaimed “Old Tom Morris” of the sport.
In speed golf, your score is calculated not only based on the number of strokes you take, but also how fast you play. That means, if you want to be competitive, you have to do things fast, including your pre-shot routine.
“What we do when we get to the golf ball in a round of speed golf is a little different than traditional golf,” he says. “And there are some elements in there that can help a lot of people, especially those that spend too much time in their pre-shot routine.”
When Smith played his first ever round of speed golf, a funny thing happened: He posted a great score despite not thinking very much over any given shot. And for any golfer looking to perfect their own pre-shot routine, borrowing some elements from speed golf could prove very useful.
1. No practice swings
In speed golf, you don’t have time to make practice swings. When you play “slow” golf, that can also be a wise strategy.
“When it’s time to play, the practice is over,” Smith says.
In some instances — such as when hitting a specialty shot — a practice swing can be helpful. But when facing a stock shot, trust in your practice away from the course and don’t waste your time with a practice swing.
2. Identify your target
Always choose a target to aim at before you step into your shot. If you don’t have something to aim for, it’s difficult to execute at a high level.
“The brain likes to chase things,” Smith says.
3. Get a distance
Speed golfers rely on ballpark yardages rather than getting exact numbers, and for most recreational golfers, that’s not a bad strategy, either.
Face it, your distance control is not good enough to worry if the distance is 165 yards or 168 yards. Simply get a ballpark figure (about 165 yards) and make a committed swing.
4. Visualize the shot
Now take a moment to visualize the shot. If you are trying to hit a fade, imagine the ball moving left-to-right in the air and landing near the pin. The power of positive thinking is a powerful thing.
“I’m a fan of picturing the shape of the shot,” Smith says. “Others will just connect to the target and hit it there.”
5. Go
Once you’ve identified your target, gotten a ballpark yardage, and visualized the shot, it’s time to step in and hit the ball. Don’t waste time fretting over every little detail or worrying about your technique. Simply step into the shot, commit and make a swing.
“It becomes a lot more like other sports,” Smith says. “It’s a bit more reactionary.”
If you’re someone who’s never used a pre-shot routine before, give this method a shot. Sometimes the key to playing better golf is being reactionary and athletic — and this method certainly promotes that.
