Pre-shot routine
The Best Drills for Pre-Shot Routine
Inside a pre-shot routine, drills that give immediate feedback instead of just filling a bucket.
Feedback beats volume
The best pre-shot routine drills tell you something right away. Stand behind the ball, pick a tiny target, rehearse once, step in and go works because the result is visible: start line, strike, face angle, or speed. Inside a pre-shot routine, you do not need a complicated station; you need a drill that makes the miss obvious.
Three reliable options
- Inside a pre-shot routine, gate drill: set two tees just wider than the clubhead or ball path.
- Before you step in, landing-zone drill: pick a towel, fringe spot, or painted range target.
- When the target is chosen, random-call drill: change club, target, or shot shape every ball.
Coach’s tip: If the routine takes longer after a bad shot, it is probably carrying too much baggage.
Match the drill to the course
Before you step in, a drill should eventually look messy. Before you step in, golf gives you sidehill lies, odd yardages, different speeds, and nervous hands. Under first-tee pressure, once you can do the drill in place, randomize it. Inside a pre-shot routine, that is where range skill starts becoming golf skill.