I am too old to ever become a great golfer. I took the game up far too late in life. One area though that I have been able to master though is the Pre shot routine. As amateurs, we may lack the physical skill and strength of the professional golfer. Making a commitment to a great Pre shot routine though is something that we cal all do, no matter what our actual shot making capabilities
The decision needs to be made as to what shot is going to be taken on. This is a mental process that needs to be mastered. Taking account of the lie of the ball, the landing area and final resting place of the ball, and particularly the wind will all make a difference. Judging the wind strength and direction by looking at tree tops if there are any. Wind has more effect the higher the ball goes
Visualising and committing to a golf shot is absolutely vital. Some people actually see the result of the shot in their heads, some people (myself included) feel that the ball will go to the intended target. It does not matter whether you can actually see the shot in your mind, what matters is that you absolutely believe that the ball will go to the target using the club that you have selected
Starting the actual shot part of the process should commence as soon after you have made a positive decision on the shot choice as possible. It may help to use a mental trigger to this part of the shot. For example, pulling on or fastening your glove or actually taking the club out of the bag will be a good start point to the process. The important thing to remember is that the decision is now made, no time for second guessing
The physical part of shot execution is best approached by starting to approach the ball from behind. All the time re-inforcing your commitment to the outcome of the shot, set up to the ball taking great care over your grip and ball position. Settle into a comfortable address position whilst setting the club face on line with the target line
You're ready to go when all the elements of the Pre shot routine have been completed. Going through this process allows your mind to focus on the task in hand and not to dwell on past failures. One final look at the target and you can pull the trigger. For some, a forward press will get the swing going, for others, they are strong enough mentally to go when they are ready. The total time taken for the whole routine should not vary by more than a couple of seconds
With practice, you will get the Pre shot routine just right, one area where you can definitely do the same as the professionals. It doesn't matter how old you are or how good, the Pre shot routine can be mastered by anyone. All it takes is some dedication and commitment, qualities that will serve you well in lots of areas, not just golf. Keeping to a plan, however flawed is better than no plan at all
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About the writer: Mr. Hughes is a director at Southerndown Golf Club . Wales is holding the next Ryder Cup in 2010, Southerndown is a links golf course in Wales
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