Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: The importance of a pre-shot routine

Published

5 years ago

Apr 14, 2021

I believe one of the big differences between good amateurs and those who are not-so-good—and between the top professionals and those that can’t quite “get there”—lies in the consistency of their pre-shot routine. I read an interesting account on this subject after the final round of the 1990 Masters when Nick Faldo passed a collapsing Greg Norman. I know that was 30 years ago, but the lesson is just as relevant today.

This particular analyst timed the pre-shot routines of both players during the first three rounds and found that on the final day that Norman got quicker and quicker through his round, while Faldo maintained his same, methodical approach to every shot, not varying by more than a second or so. I think that is pretty insightful stuff.

Anytime you watch professional golf—or the better players at your club—you’ll see precision and consistency in the way they approach all of their shots. There is a lesson there for all of us—so, here are my ideas of how the pre-shot routine should work.

The first thing is to get a good feel for the shot, and by that, I mean a very clear picture in your mind of how it will fly, land, and roll. It is certainly realistic to have a different routine for full shots, chips and pitches, and putts, as they are all very different challenges. As you get closer to the hole, your focus needs to be more on the feel of the shot than the mechanics of the swing, in my opinion.

On any shot, I believe the best starting point is from behind the ball, seeing in your “mind’s eye” the film clip of the shot you are about to hit. See the flight path it will take, and on greenside shots, just how it will roll out. As you do this, you might waggle the club back and forth to get a feel of the club in your hands and take as many practice swings as it takes to “feel” the swing that will produce that visualized shot path for you.

Your actual pre-shot routine can start when you see that shot clearly and begin your approach the ball to set up. From that “trigger point,” you should work hard to do the exact same things, at the exact same pace, each and every time.

This is something that you can and should work on at the range. When you are out there “banging balls,” don’t just practice your swing, but how you approach each shot.

So, guys and ladies, there’s my $.02 on the pre shot routine. What do you have to add?

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Terry Koehler

Terry Koehler is a fourth generation Texan and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Over his 40-year career in the golf industry, he has created over 100 putter designs and dozens of wedges. In 2014, he put together the team that reintroduced the Ben Hogan brand to the golf equipment industry with his TK 15 wedges and Ft. Worth 15 iron designs. Since receiving a U.S. Patent for his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” in the wedge category. In addition to inspiring multiple companies to emulate this sole technology, the performance of his wedge designs have stimulated all other companies to reposition some mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges. Terry is retired from his role as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf, and remains active in the industry as an independent designer and consultant. But his most compelling work is in the wedge category. Since he first patented his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” reflected in ‘tour design’ wedges. The performance of his wedge designs have stimulated other companies to move slightly more mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges, but none approach the dramatic design of his Edison Forged wedges, which have been robotically proven to significantly raise the bar for wedge performance. Terry serves as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf – check it out at www.EdisonWedges.com.

8 Comments

Nick

Apr 16, 2021 at 9:46 am

Recently read “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” for the first time and the author stresses this exact point as critical to improvement. I’ve found it to be so helpful to my comfort early this season and excited to help building on the concept.

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Dennis

Apr 16, 2021 at 12:43 am

Here are my 2 cents: It all comes down to Setup, Balance, Timing and Focus. A good pre-shot routine will help you with all of that. The problem for me is the word “routine” in it. A routine lets you do things automatically without thinking. And that could cost you a lot of focus.

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Daz

Apr 15, 2021 at 11:53 pm

Good read however, 1990 US Masters Faldo won playoff against Ray Floyd.
Norman didn’t even make the cut.

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Tom Yost

Apr 14, 2021 at 7:41 pm

Thanks for the slow play justification. I just love playing with the pro pre-shot routine guys. Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z

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- Ectoplasm
  
  Apr 15, 2021 at 11:40 am
  
  The speed depends on how fast you and your friends walks between the shots.
  And moving on the course without loosing time because you put the bag on the wrong side of the green or because you’re not ready when it’s your turn, and so on.
  
  Reply Report comment
Horschels Lisp

Apr 14, 2021 at 7:26 pm

So dance around like Keegan (Kids Clubs) Bradley?????

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Dan

Apr 14, 2021 at 5:42 pm

The preshot routine is how to build consistency. It helps me mentally prepare to take the shot. It gets my mind from overthinking the shot to just focus on few important things. After setting my stance, I generally give two waggles, check/adjust my club face alignment, then I let club hang w my arms straight and barely touch the ground twice. On the second touch I take my swing. If any of these things get interrupted I start whole process again.

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HKO

Apr 14, 2021 at 4:03 pm

bigger importance of using Tiger’s photo on WRX on any occasion. haha

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Opinion & Analysis

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