In this article you'll read about one of the most important elements of golf: the routine.
Routine is a highly neglected area by poorer golfers. It is part of the problem of consistency. I know a guy who has about as bad a swing, short game technique, and putting stroke as you'd ever want to see. He will never be a really good player until he fixes some of that, and I doubt he ever will… But he has a consistent, and I mean consistent routine. He does the exact same thing before every shot he takes, putting included, and it is not a routine I would even recommend. But because he repeats his routine so religiously, he is able to shoot consistently in the 80's. It's truly amazing. It's also disheartening to his opponents who can't figure out how in the world a guy like this can beat them. But beat them he does. I kind of admire the guy's tenacity and commitment to his own unique game. I'm just pointing this out to show how much a part of winning golf and consistency has to do with routine.
Every pro goes through a routine. Everyone. Each one has a normal consistent repeatable routine. Watch for yourself! Am I making myself clear here? Are you getting the point? Every pro goes through a set routine every shot!
This cannot be viewed as a coincidence. I guess I don't need to point out at this time that you should too? Here's a basic routine for a non-putting or chipping golf shot. (Putting and chipping is not much different though.) Stand behind the golf ball while taking your grip. Get your grip, club is pointing toward the target. Then envision the shot you are going to make. Slowly, calmly, and assuredly step up to the side of the ball while still looking at the target. Now you will use various setup procedures on different days, but you usually keep the same one for weeks or months. It only varies in that sometimes you set up with only your left hand on the club, sometimes only your right (rarely; although there is nothing wrong at all with that) and sometimes with both hands on the club.
Then get in a balanced athletic position lowering down to the hitting position. Once you are in position, look at the target again, waggle until you feel good (3-4 times). Waggle slight back and forth motion imitating small swing, used to keep motion going and feel what the back swing will start with. Keep looking at the target during setup and waggle until you've got the target in your head. Then key in your starting move and go. This is a pretty standard routine.
Use it or another one that works for you. Once again, observe and copy pros if you like. They all have routines that work for them. You can certainly incorporate most of what you observe them doing into your own routine. The big thing is, is to have a repeatable routine and use it for every shot, every time.
It's very important. Maybe the most important…