PRE SHOT ROUTINE

by Carey Mumford ©2009

Pre-shot routine, by definition should be fully complete before any movement toward making a golf shot takes place. Unfortunately that's not the way most players do it.

The “gospel” going around is that “every good player has a pre shot routine," so, if you want to be a good player, you need a pre-shot routine too, preferably one that is repeatable. What is offered is always the same, and generally includes five basic ideas: check conditions, pick a club, focus on the target, align yourself properly, and then words to the effect of "just do it." Curiously, this assumes that this procedure will also somehow help “control” anxiety. Sounds pretty good, but mostly because it's been said so often that we feel that familiarity is the only “proof” we need.

Now try thinking about "pre-shot routine" in a new way. Start by referring to it as "pre-shot planning," with the only “routine” being that it accompanies every shot. Your new pre-shot routine will vary slightly depending on what each shot requires.

The “automatic function” we are striving to develop during the swing delivers the habits we have built, good or bad. A problem arises if we haven’t developed enough “good habits” in our swings. Building good habits into our swings is best achieved through practice off the course. Use your new pre-shot planning to set the stage with what you want to do with "this shot," and then use your clear key* to change from the manual action in pre-shot planning to an automatic function when you actually take your swing. Got it?


Having said that, here is a recommendation for your new “pre-shot routine.” Before each shot, take a look at where you want to go, take into consideration the path, and any other factors like wind, water, sand, distance, etc. (once again, to be clear, swing keys are used for giving directions or commands, and that's what pre-shot is for.) Then pick your club and give your system ONE "dress-rehearsal" of the swing you wish to make. (More than one practice swing creates multiple commands to your “natural system”, which can only respond to one. If you make two, it doesn't know which one you want, so it may try to duplicate both or neither!) After your "dress rehearsal swing" your "pre-shot routine" is over. Now switch to a "Clear Key"* as you walk to your set-up position.

*A Clear Key™, simply put, is a systematic thought process, matching the systematic nature of the game, to be used during the execution of the golf shot. It is the "tool" for implementing the natural human automatic process. "Clear Keys", unlike "swing keys", guarantee that the player will be utilizing an automatic process.

The clear key while somewhat complicated to explain, is simple to apply. When you have given the commands (swing keys: distance, direction, elbow in, etc.), switch to a neutral phrase, mantra, saying, whatever you wish to call it, such as "If the goose is blue, the horse will eat." That phrase illustrates a clear key. It does not have to have meaning! It's enough that it takes you to automatic. For consistency, repeat your clear key in your head, or aloud, while walking to the ball, doing your waggles and executing each shot.

There is a commonplace cliche among coaches and players - "Just don't think about it." And that is correct, but it just doesn't provide the complete picture. One must add to that, "It is necessary to think about something other than the execution of the golf shot, something passive to action (not a swing thought!) and give no command of any kind to the human system." "Legalized bingo will keep grandma off the streets."

To illustrate a non-golf example, the great banjo artist, Earl Scruggs wrote in his book The Five String Banjo: "do not underestimate your ability. Take your time. Do these exercises (practice) over and over and over until after awhile, you will be doing them while thinking about something else". (as in using a Clear Key). That's how it works, whether you are playing a banjo, driving your car, brushing your teeth or making a golf shot. Practice off the course with your "swing keys" until your habits are built. Think about them only while preparing for the shot in front of you, choosing your club and making your rehearsal swing. Once you've done that focus only on your "clear key" and let the automatic process take over.

Learn about Clear Keys and use them. They will elevate your game to the next level, assuming, of course, that you have built golf skills well enough to be useful when they mature into habits.

To learn more about Clear Keys visit Carey's website: http://clearkeygolf.com

To read about Carey Mumford's amazing background in golf psychology click here