Address routine
All Preparation Prior To Start-Up
The Foundation to Consistency is Through a Consistent Pre-Swing Routine
Leave nothing to chance
Most miss-hits are simply because we have not gone through a proper Routine
It is through a proper address routine that we make sure that our grip and address position is correct. A good pre-swing routine will enable the golfer to be both trusting and decisive and at the same time focused on the target.
If you have ever been to a golf tournament or watched one on television, you will notice that every Golf Professional goes through their routine. A routine is not just for the Professional it is also necessary for "YOU" and everyone else who plays this game.
I have been fortunate to have spent a great deal time with the legendary Norman Von Nida winner of over 100 tournaments world wide and whether he is helping a beginner, average player or a Touring Professional he will insist on you going through the routine on every stroke. This routine must be done religiously on every stroke that you play whether it be a chip or a drive from the tee.
The pre-swing routine is just one part of the whole package of swinging a golf club, it must be incorporated into the whole procedure. There may be various routines but once that you have established your own routine that best suits you then you must practice it so that it becomes ingrained.
You may feel that it is a waste of time, takes forever, I am slowing up play on the course, “why can’t I just hit that little white ball and get it over with.” This is because you are thinking of each point in a step by step procedure.
After a little practice and time it will becomes an automatic part of the procedure. The golf swing starts from the time you go through your routine to the time you finish in "balance" at the completion of the swing.
Do not be concerned with what other people are thinking. Take your time when preparing for the shot at hand but do make sure that you are not taking to long over the ball. Keep play moving between shots. As you practice your routine it will become second nature.
Once you have gone through your Pre-Swing Routine, Waggle the club, then have your Forward Press and without any hesitation pull the trigger and fire. Do not hesitate once you have had your last Waggle, swing and play the shot. Standing over the ball to long can result in the mind thinking of so many swing mechanics, negative thoughts creep in, and tension builds up.
Your thought throughout the swing should be as smooth as possible to the finish.
The downfall is we start thinking of the mechanics of the swing whilst we are playing golf, leave that for the practice fairway. Play golf on the golf course and don’t play swing mechanics. Leave the technique side of the swing for the practice fairway.
Most miss hits are due to an incorrect address routine. All preparation prior to the take-away is classified as address. This includes the following, adapting a routine whereby we can be assured of a square clubface, grip, address position, body alignment, waggle and forward press.
Set Up For Success
Approach every shot from Chipping to Driving with the following procedure.
1. Practice Swing
Take a practice swing away from the ball. This is a full-scale rehearsal of the pivot especially the hips and shoulders. It is a feel of your total motion for the shot that you are about to play.
2. Intermediate Target
Stand behind the ball and select a marker a few centimetres in front of the ball and directly in line with the target, this is your intermediate target. It is a lot easier to line up a point just in front of the ball rather than a target 300 metres away down the fairway.
3. Relaxation
Relax, slow yourself down. Whilst standing behind the ball taking a few deep breathes for relaxation. As you walk around to the ball do the same.
4. Tilted Stalk
Place right foot directly inline with ball. Left foot placed behind right foot with body in an open position in relation to the target. Right knee slightly flexed. Tilt upper body forward from hips and place club behind ball. As you tilt forward from your hips lower your right elbow so that the right forearm and club are in a line . This places your right forearm on the same plane as the Clubshaft. At impact the right forearm must be in a line (on plane) with the Clubshaft.
Setting the right forearm and Clubshaft on-plane can be done with some right elbow bend which moves the right shoulder down and makes it easier to avoid round housing (coming from out to in on the downstroke).
5. Texas Two Step
Adjusting left foot for ball position and then adjust the right foot for width and balance. Ball position for woods opposite left heel and irons 2-3 cm inside left heel. Right foot shoulder width apart.
6. The Special “K”
Tilting upper body to the right. Left hip must be directly above left heel. Because of body tilt to the right, your head is positioned towards the right knee. Weight evenly distributed. Your right elbow must be tucked in and pointing to your right hip.
7. Waggle - from the Wrists
As the old Scotch saying goes, "As ye waggle so shall ye swing".
Always waggle the club back and forth to the Inside Aft Quadrant of the ball.
Your eyes should always be focused on the Inside Aft Quadrant of the ball and your mind always in your hands.
8. Forward Press
This is a trigger to start the swing, it is a slight turn of the hips to the left and then backs again as you continue into the backswing pivot.
Going through the Pre-Swing Routine
Aim and Alignment
The Railroad Track
Aim and Alignment - The Railroad Track
As you take your grip you must make sure the leading edge of the clubface is square. The leading edge is the edge closest to the ball, NOT the top edge.
Always set the clubface first, perpendicular to the target line. Then set your feet, knees, hips, eyes, and shoulders parallel to your target line.
THESE LINES ARE PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER! NEVER AIM YOUR BODY AT THE TARGET!
To aid in alignment it is imperative that you utilize a procedure called an "Intermediate Target". The intermediate target is something between the ball and the target.
It could be a piece of discolored grass, an edge of a divot, a broken tee, etc. It should be within your peripheral vision, so that you don't have to lift your head.
drills - pivot
Educated Hands Through the Work of the Pivot
The Pivot is the first and foundation of your golf swing. Most players are just using their hands in an effort to use sheer determination and muscular effort to get the ball down the fairway, which of course is helpless.
Learning to build a very stable, reliable and effective golf swing you must first learn and understand the roll of the pivot within the golf swing. So in a matter of speaking hit he ball with the body , not with the hands.
Yet we will eventually come to understand that the hands are the most important aspect of the golf swing as they hold and control the golf club but they are useless if they do not follow the correct body pivot. The hands will have to compensate in whatever way they know how to arrive the clubhead at the ball.
So develop a good pivot first.
Drill #1
Left elbow to wall for a better turn
This drill will give you the feeling of a complete upper body turning and at the same time allowing your weight and upper body to turn over your right side and well behind the ball.
1. Stand upright and face side on to a wall.
2. Place the outside of your right foot about 3-4 inches away from the wall.
3. Place your right arm behind your back.
4. Place your left thumb on your sternum with your left forearm parallel to the ground.
5. Keeping your eyes looking straight ahead, turn your upper body to the right until your left elbow touches the wall.
6. Allow your head to move slightly to the right when doing this drill.
7. Now your upper body has turned over your right side and your weight is positioned on your right side with your chest.
All areas of the golf swing should be constantly Monitored on a regular basis. This is the easiest and quickest way to make sure that you are practicing your drills, swing positions and full practice swings in the correct way.
Drill #2
Sit Down Position
This drill will help you make one of the most important moves in the golf swing. It is referred to as the transition period, which is the change over from the top of the backswing to the starting down.
1. Take your address position
2. Place a beach ball or a similar object between your knees (refer to image) and gently apply pressure so that the ball stays there.
3. Swing back to the top of the backswing and hold. You will notice that you will be squashing the ball as your left knee has moved over towards your right knee.
4. Commence the downswing by leaving your right foot, knee and hip in its original position and move your left knee and hip back to where it was positioned at address. The ball should now fall to the ground.
5. Your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet and the body in a centred position.
