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DRILL OVERVIEW
Jack Nicklaus Metronome Pre Shot Routine Drill
Your drill at a glance
Mind gameDrill category
Pre-shot rhythmPractice focus
15 minutesPractice time
5 / 10Difficulty
Club, balls + metronomeEquipment
This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.
The Jack Nicklaus metronome drill helps you practise a steady pre-shot routine. Use a comfortable beat to give your preparation a familiar rhythm, then judge how well you followed the routine rather than judging every attempt by the ball’s finish.
Think of your preparation in two parts. In the THINK zone behind the ball, assess the shot, choose your target and make your decisions. In the PLAY zone, step into address and carry out the routine you have chosen.
The metronome is a practice aid for the flow of that routine. You do not need to force every movement onto a click or rush your swing to keep up. Find a beat that supports your natural pace, then repeat it consistently.
Watch the pre-shot routine demonstration
Watch on YouTube. Use the original post’s video alongside the practice steps below.
Step 1. Find your beat and plan the shot
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Set up your metronome | Use a metronome or a phone metronome app. Place it safely outside your swing area. |
| Find a comfortable beat | Rehearse your normal preparation and choose a pace that feels natural. There is no single required tempo for this drill; the 80 BPM shown in the illustration is only an example. |
| Use the THINK zone | Stand behind the ball. Assess the lie, select your club, choose the target and picture the intended shot. |
| Try five practice balls | As in the original drill, begin with five unscored balls using the metronome and your full routine. Adjust the beat before starting the scored attempts. |
Step 2. Step in and play with a flowing routine
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Cross into the PLAY zone | Once you have made the decision behind the ball, step into address with a clear intention. |
| Follow your full routine | Use the same preparation sequence on every attempt. Let the beat support the flow without forcing your swing. |
| Keep attention on the shot | Use your chosen target and intended flight as your focus. Save technical analysis for between attempts. |
| Reset when needed | If you are unsure of the target or alignment, step back, resolve it and begin again. Do not hit while uncertain merely to stay on the beat. |
Quick routine checks
| Watch for | Try this |
|---|---|
| A pause caused by indecision | Return to the THINK zone, make the decision and restart the routine. |
| Doubting your alignment | Check it before committing. A reset is better than forcing a shot while unsure. |
| Losing the target | Picture the intended shot again before stepping in. |
| A technical checklist | Work through technique between attempts, then return to a simple intention for the shot. |
| Staring too intensely | Relax your gaze and let yourself see the target comfortably. |
| Expecting a perfect result | Judge the routine you carried out. Record the shot result separately if useful. |
Use these checks between attempts to notice where the routine loses its flow. Pick one adjustment, rehearse it and then return your attention to the next shot.
Step 3. Score 18 complete routines
What to do
After five warm-up balls, play eighteen attempts with the metronome and your full routine.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | You complete the full routine with a clear intention and a comfortable flow. |
| 0 points | You skip or interrupt the routine. |
Add your points for a total out of eighteen.
George’s Conclusion
The Jack Nicklaus metronome drill gives you a simple way to practise your preparation. Make your decisions behind the ball, step in with a clear intention and give your routine a steady pace.
Score the routine over eighteen attempts and look for consistency. For another way to simplify your attention before a shot, try the Nick Faldo Golf Shot Nicknames Drill.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
