Why do I need a pre-shot routine for good golf?

The preshot routine may be the most overlooked part of your mental golf game.  When you are over the ball you are concerned with (1) your target, (2) the ball, and (3) how your body and club will move to get the ball to the target.  Your conscious mind cannot focus on all of this at once.

A solid preshot routine is the way to program your brain to focus on the task at hand.  It is a signal to you to begin concentrating. It is the process to move you from the analytical thinking into the subconscious mind where you can “Just do it!”

A precise preshot routine includes, (1) decisive club selection, (2) visualization of the target, (3) a practice swing, (4) choosing an intermediate target for alignment, (5) breathing deeply through your diaphragm for relaxation, (6) getting comfortable over the ball (waggle), and (7) enjoying the feel of swinging!

For additional information from Joan go to Archived Newsletters and The Mental Game at Golf Out Loud