JAMES HOPKINS PART 2
PRE SHOT ROUTINE...
Pre shot routine
What is a pre shot routine?
Very simply it is a set series of movements and thoughts that a golfer performs identically before every single shot.
Why do you need a pre shot routine?
A pre shot routine is important for 2 reasons.
1. To give the golfer the highest percentage of success for each shot. A pre shot routine focuses the golfer mentally and physically on the shot at hand. Once the routine has started whatever happened previously disappears, any thoughts about the surroundings disappear and concentration towards the task ahead is heightened.
2. To aim the golfer in the right direction. Imagine training a marksman to shoot a rifle perfectly but not actually showing them how to point the gun at the bulls eye. A perfect golf swing can be trained but if the golfer then on the golf course is not pointing themselves at the target, the brain will not let the golfer swing perfectly. It will try to adapt the swing to strike the ball at the target thus generally promoting a poor shot.
What is a good pre shot routine?
A good pre shot routine consists of three phases.
1. The instructions
2. Aim
3. Pulling the trigger
1. The instructions
Before any shot is hit on the course it needs to be rehearsed. A golfers practice swings are the blueprint for what the golfer wants to happen upon hitting the shot. Two practice swings are ideal. Both should be performed directly behind the ball (Photo 1) so that the golfer can swing and imagine watching the ball fly out right down the line toward the target. The visualisation of the shot should not be taken lightly. Be as vivid as possible and imagine the ball fly through the air into the hole. Why? This action provides the exact set of instructions that the brain needs to hit the shot into the hole!! If it cannot be imagined the chances of it happening are less. If all the golfer can see is water or trees then that is where the ball will end up!
2. Aim
Pick a line
Following the practice swings the golfer needs to aim in the right direction and should stand behind the ball (Photo 2) and trace an imaginary straight line on the floor between the target and the ball (photo 3). Be very precise about the target, pick out something very small. If it is the flagstick fine, but for a tee shot pick out a tree in the distance or a stripe of cut grass in the fairway. Narrowing the focus like this means that the ball will end up closer to the target if the target is missed. For example; aim generally at a fairway or green and miss and the ball is in the trees. Aim at a divot in the middle of the fairway and miss and the ball ends up in the semi rough.
Pick a spot
On this imaginary line pick a spot but no more than 12 inches from the ball (Photo 4). Any farther away when looking at the ball the spot will be outside the field of vision therefore there will be no idea whether the clubface is aiming at it?!
Aim the body
Then forget about the target, step up to the ball and imagine another line connecting the ball with the spot on the floor. Now the feet should be aligned parallel to this line (Photo 5). If done successfully the feet, knees, hips and shoulders will be aligned anywhere between 5 and 10 yards to the left of the target for right handed golfers and to the right of the target for left handed golfers.
Why not aim the body straight at the target?
The club never swings on a straight line. The golfer is stood still therefore the clubhead, if swung correctly, will travel on a circular path around the body so when the club reaches the ball it will be travelling on a line parallel to the feet. Imagine a railway track. One rail travels through the ball straight to the target, while the feet stand on the other rail which travels parallel to the side of the target.
3. Pulling the trigger
Once lined up things should happen fairly quickly. If the golfer stands over the ball for too long thoughts about technique or worries about where the ball might go will start to occur. When comfortable the golfer should take one long look right at the target, imagine the ball disappearing into the hole or bouncing down the fairway, look back at the ball and let it go. Pull the trigger and trust the swing.
Remember none of the pre shot routine will guarantee a good shot however, on the course all we can do is give ourselves the best possible chance of hitting that good shot. The execution comes down to how good the swing is and if great shots are not happening then the swing needs a little more work back at the range or in the lessons.
Profile
James Hopkins
Age: 29
Full time PGA teaching professional
Based at The North West Golf Academy - Playgolf Manchester
Qualifications: BA(hons) Sport and Fitness Studies
PGA Qualified Level 3 Coach
Started Playing: 1998 (Aged 21)
Turned Pro: 2001
Biggest Boast: Starting handicap 1998 – 4.0 (never been higher than 4.6)
Best Round: 68 Shrewsbury G.C./Emporda G.C. (Spain)
Teaching Experience: Currently 6 Years experience of teaching players of all levels (Pro to Beginner/Jnr
to senior/Men and Ladies.
Teach approximately 3,000 lessons per year.
Favourite Player: Ernie Els
Favourite Golf Course: Wallasey G.C.
Teaching Philosophy: “To find out what each individual wants, and to help them reach their goal as simply
and logically as possible. With time and motivation anybody can achieve anything.”