Browse by category
A Clearer Golf Pre-Shot Routine
Your practice at a glance
These golf drills are from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.
A clear pre-shot routine helps you make your decisions before you swing.
These three drills connect a practical shot plan with a clear picture and a comfortable preparation rhythm. Begin by talking through the shot behind the ball with Chew the Fat, use Jack Nicklaus Visualisation to give it a destination and practise the routine with the Jack Nicklaus Metronome drill. Work through one drill at a time, resetting between attempts, and split the session if you prefer so every ball keeps its purpose.
Drill 1. Chew the Fat: Make the Decisions Behind the Ball
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Stand behind the ball and choose a specific target and landing area. Check the distance, wind and lie, including a slope when it matters. Select a club and shot you can play comfortably. |
| 2 | Describe the shot you want in one brief, positive sentence, quietly or in your head. For example: “Seven iron towards the left half of the green. Smooth swing.” Keep the plan practical and brief enough for the normal pace of play. |
| 3 | Walk into address, finish the discussion and play with that clear intention. Complete eighteen full routines in two sets of nine, resetting behind every ball. Change the target or club when you want a fresh decision; indoors, rehearse without hitting a ball. |
See the full Chew the Fat Behind the Ball Drill and shot-planning examples →
Drill 2. Jack Nicklaus Visualisation: See It, Feel It, Play It
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a target from behind the ball and picture where the ball will finish. Work back through the flight: starting direction, height and shape, then the landing, bounce and roll. Match that picture to the lie and available landing area. |
| 2 | Make a comfortable rehearsal that fits the intended shot. If a clear visual image is difficult, use the feeling of the movement instead. Keep the picture or feeling simple, then step into address and commit. |
| 3 | Play eighteen shots in two sets of nine, giving every ball a fresh target and intention. Notice whether you pictured or felt the shot before swinging, separately from how well the ball finished. If you lose the intention or become unsure, step back and restart. |
Explore the full Jack Nicklaus Visualisation Drill and mental-movie method →
Drill 3. Jack Nicklaus Metronome: Give Your Routine a Steady Rhythm
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Place a metronome or phone metronome app outside your swing area. Rehearse your normal preparation and choose a comfortable beat. Begin with five warm-up balls using the full routine, adjusting the beat as needed. The illustrated eighty beats per minute is an example, not a required tempo. |
| 2 | In the THINK zone behind the ball, assess the lie, choose the club and target and picture the shot. Once the decision is made, step into the PLAY zone at address. Follow the same preparation sequence and let the beat support its flow without forcing every movement or your swing onto a click. |
| 3 | After the warm-up, complete eighteen full routines in two sets of nine. Keep attention on the intended shot and notice how comfortably the routine flows. If the target or alignment becomes uncertain, step back, resolve it and restart rather than hitting just to stay on the beat. |
Watch the full Jack Nicklaus Metronome Pre-Shot Routine Drill →
