The Master Pre-Swing Routine

1
The MasterPre-Swing Routine

• CraftSmith Golf Academy Online Presentation By
• James F. Smith

2
Integrate Your Whole Game

• This presentation describes a step by step method
  of getting ready to play every shot you will ever
  hit on any golf course. T might seem like a huge
  amount of information to digest and to use. After
  learning and practice, the correct execution of
  this routine will only take 10-15 seconds. The
  benefits of using a complete routine cannot be
  calculated. This method for getting ready for
  each shot will take you from the practice tee to
  the course and it will then tie all the pieces of
  the puzzle together into a cohesive whole!

3
General Concepts

• Using a Master Routine Makes Learning Easier and
  Performance More Consistent By Integrating the
  Pre-Shot Requirements for EVERY Shot in the Game
• Learn as little as possible focus your
  attention on mastering consistently executing a
  few critical, essential elements.
• Rely on technique more than talent some days
  chicken, some days feathers you will not have
  your A game every day, this is when technique,
  which you CAN bring to the course every day, is
  better than talent.
• Every shot, regardless of circumstances is
  reduced to its elementary requirements which can
  be approached in a systematic manner. A ITS
  JUST A PUTT attitude brings your fear of failure
  under control. A drive is played the same way as
  bunker shot which is played the same way as a
  short putt.

4
General Concepts

• A Master Routine reduces the requirements for ANY
  shot down to a manageable routine which controls
  ALL of the variables required for EVERY shot
• Confidence is developed. You learn to think that
  every shot is manageable because you have already
  played a similar shot
• Learning on the practice tee carries over to the
  golf course
• Your can perform much better under pressure

5
The Five Stanza Poem

• First Stanza Analyze, Select and Visualize
  (behind the ball)
• Analyze
• Distance to the hole
• Desired target and bailout point based on
  obstacles near the target area
• Environment between you and the ball wind, rain,
  altitude/temperature (extra carry)
• Lie conditions of the ball normal, deep grass,
  soggy/wet turf

6
The Five Stanza Poem

• First Stanza Analyze, Select and Visualize
  (behind the ball)
• Select Make a Positive Decision and Stick to it
• Choose the shot the more skill you have, the
  greater the number of choices
• Choose the club required for the shot
• Dont second guess yourself either now or after
  the shot

7
The Five Stanza Poem

• First Stanza Analyze, Select and Visualize
  (behind the ball)
• External Visualization of the Perfect Shot
• Take a long distance view of the perfect ball
  flight trajectory, landing and rollout
• You are not in this picture no reference to who
  is making the shot
• See in color and in great detail
• Internal Visualization of the Perfect Shot
• Put yourself into the picture See the motion
• Feel the kinesthetic swing ques required to
  execute the shot

8
The Five Stanza Poem

• Second Stanza Rehearse the Shot and Approach
  the Ball
• Take your practice swings
• Face the target look at the aiming point you
  have just visualized and pick the kinesthetic que
  you will use
• Three Part Practice Swings mini swing (¼
  impact area for hand action partial swing (3/4
  should turn full normal swing
• DO NOT hit any shot until you are fully focused
  and physically loose enough to execute the swing
  motion

9
The Five Stanza Poem

• Second Stanza Rehearse the Shot and Approach
  the Ball
• Approach the Ball
• Point and Paint dont wait for a visual image
  to appear like magic, create it yourself
• Point your finger at you aiming point and
  Paint a imaginary yellow line (like the yellow
  rope used on a driving range) back through the
  ball
• Locate two easily identifiable points about 9 in
  front of and behind the ball (correspond to your
  shoulders)

10
The Five Stanza Poem

• Third Stanza Setup to the Ball
• The Club is Your Boss if it moves, put it back
  you setup to the club, it does not setup to you
• Use the 5-Part Subroutine
• Club sole the club flat and square
• Grip a fundamental and an individual technique
• Point move your feet into place and position
  the forward press of the club
• Aim align your shoulders and knees
• Hangle hang and dangle your arms check your
  balance
• Learning Technique Bow, Squat and Hangle
• Critical Concept Posture creates the
  Possibility for a natural, free-flowing swing

11
The Five Stanza Poem

• Fourth Stanza Clear, Focus and Fire When
  Focused
• Clear Your Mind re-rehearse the visualization
  you used when making your practice swings
• Be process oriented not outcome oriented to
  reduce fear of failure its too late to learn,
  now is the time to perform
• See a successful shot
• Focus isolate a single kinesthetic swing cue
  use the same one you used behind the ball
• Fire When Focused when you mind is clear of
  extraneous thoughts and is sharply focused on
  your cue, swing away

12
The Five Stanza Poem

• Fifth Stanza Analyze, Correct and Reward
• Analyze Effect, 1st Cause, 2nd Cause
• Effect watch the flight of the ball enjoy the
  good shots and don't blow a gasket over mistakes
  composure
• 1st Cause compare what you see to what you know
  about impact physics
• 2nd Cause compare your knowledge of impact
  physic to what you know about swing mechanics
• Correct DO NOT try to fix single errors, ONLY
  fix patterns of mistakes
• Reward
• If the shot was successful, give yourself a pat
  on the back
• If the shot was less than successful, still give
  yourself a pat on the back for taking command of
  your game
• Learn from EVERY shot, even on the practice tee