IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR GAME

Plan each stroke in pre-shot routine

Good players all have a pre-shot routine that repeats: They do the same things in the same sequence for every shot.

The purpose of the pre-shot routine is twofold:

(1) It insulates you from outside interference such as gusting wind, annoying opponents, and cart girls who pop up out of nowhere just as you’re ready to hit; and (2) the routine calms your mind so you can focus on the task at hand, i.e., sending

the ball to the target.

To begin, imagine a line drawn between you and your golf ball. Call it the C-line, named for the commitment you’re going to make before you cross it and step to your ball.

The pre-shot routine starts with you behind the C-line, as former tour pro Brian Watts is doing in the left-hand photo below. He’s gathering data he needs to make a plan.

Every target you hunt sends out information as to its location, and all you have to do is be open, like a TV satellite dish, to receiving that data.

Your brain needs this information because to get the ball from point A to point B, you have to know where point B is.

The average player spends far too much time over the golf ball and not enough time behind the golf ball. It’s best to learn to play using a routine that goes from slow to fast like an avalanche: It starts slow with the gathering, processing and planning

behind the C-line, then the pace quickens, with minimal time spent over the golf ball.

During the 30 seconds or so it takes to hit the shot, you need to get a case of the “eyes” as opposed to the “I’s.” Note how Watts is focusing on the target in the right-hand photo as he swivels his head just before he swings. While you’re over the ball,

you should key on where you want it to go, not on how you’re going to get it there.

Standing behind the imaginary C-line drawn between himself and his ball, former tour pro Brian Watts takes care to follow his pre-shot routine even in practice.

Note that Watts is using an alignment aid on the ground. It’s all too easy to mis-aim during a practice session, so you’ll rarely see a tour player practicing without a guide on the ground.