Golf Teaching Aid - Do You Have a Pre-Shot Routine?

How often do you play golf and see a golfer who quickly tees up his ball and whacks away at it, only to watch it go screaming into the woods? Probably more often than you'd like to. For most golfers the missing element is having a pre-shot routine.

It is very rare when someone can simply walk up to their ball, swing at it, and hit it straight down the fairway. When you watch the PGA players on the weekend, you will notice every one of them has a pre-shot routine. You'll see them?

-Look at the layout of the hole before even teeing their ball up.
-Look at the hole from behind their ball.
-Get properly aligned.
-Get comfortable over the ball.

Then, and only then, will they swing away. Now I'm not suggesting that you need to model your game after the PGA pros, weekend golf takes long enough to play as it is, but you should develop your own pre-shot routine. It can dramatically improve your golf game. Here are a few quick tips to get you started.

1. Once you determine where you want to tee up your ball, stand behind it and look down the fairway. Visualize where you want the shot to go. See yourself making the correct swing and hitting the ball to that spot down the fairway or onto the green. Remember, golf is 90% mental.

2. Walk up to your ball and begin to get set up. Grip your club and square the clubface with your intended target line. Get a comfortable stance and relax.

3. Take a moment to be sure you're lined up parallel to the left of your target line. Are your shoulders and feet aligned properly?
4. See yourself hitting the shot. Then, make a confident swing.

Granted, you may not hit your target each and every time, but you should notice your golf shots being more online than before. Practice your own pre-shot routine until it becomes a habit. Over time, you will notice yourself hitting better quality golf shots and lowering your score.