| What is a preshot routine and why does every | | | | course management and this is where the rational |
| golf book mention it? Why is a little routine so | | | | brain comes to the fore. It takes in all the data |
| important? The answer to these questions lies in | | | | from your eyes, ears and prior knowledge if any, |
| the realms of psychology and psychology is a | | | | of the course, and processes this into a decision |
| hugely important factor in any and every | | | | as to where the best place to land the ball would |
| endeavour. To succeed at any sport you need to | | | | be. This part of the routine is normally done |
| have your brain 'onside'. | | | | standing behind the ball looking down the fairway |
| To understand a little of how a preshot routine | | | | and you will see every good golfer doing it, the |
| helps you play better golf you first need to | | | | calculations going through their mind and quite |
| understand how the old noggin works, why it | | | | often a club in their hands just swinging back and |
| does what it does. The brain is a fluid thing and | | | | forth. |
| constantly adapts and changes with each | | | | The next part of the preshot routine engages the |
| experience we have. It actually changes physically | | | | emotional brain, the earliest brain sometimes |
| by growing new connections which form neural | | | | referred to as the lizard brain. This is where your |
| pathways which allow it to make connections | | | | fight or flight response lies, there is little by the |
| which enable you to live in the world. You know a | | | | way of rationale here it is all emotion and feeling. |
| chair is a chair because of these connections. | | | | It is also where your golf swing lives. |
| The brain can be broken down into two very | | | | Your preshot routine now engages the emotional |
| rough parts, the emotional brain and the rational | | | | brain by visualising your golf shot, you notice how |
| brain. The two parts can work together and often | | | | the professionals become still and focused. They |
| do but they can equally fight and cause trouble. | | | | are playing the shot in their lizard brain, a film |
| When playing golf you need both parts but in | | | | show of how the shot will look, how the ball will |
| different ways and that is exactly where a | | | | fly and where it will land. They will then take two |
| preshot routine helps by lining up the brains and | | | | or three practice swings and only then will they |
| letting them do what they do. | | | | address the ball. They are now solely using the |
| A successful golfer will always use a preshot | | | | emotional brain, no thinking is done here only |
| routine, it helps focus his thoughts, prepare his | | | | feeling. |
| body for action and then let his body perform | | | | By performing your preshot routine before every |
| that action. So what do we need for a good | | | | shot you will grow the path ways in your brain |
| preshot routine? | | | | which will allow you to perform at your highest |
| Firstly, we have to decide what we want to | | | | and play your best golf. |
| happen, where we want the golf ball to go, this is | | | | |