Instruction
The Ultimate Putting Program (Part 5): The Pre-Shot Routine
The essence of putting is the ability to roll your ball on your intended line as far as the hole, which we have discussed in previous articles. There is one last variable to putting that I believe is most important. At the end of the day, golfers are only as strong as their pre-shot routine. I imagine that close to 100 percent of golfers are seeking to become more consistent this year. The pre-shot routine is a sure way of developing the skills necessary to be more consistent under a variety of circumstances.
You may be familiar with a pre-shot routine that includes a few practice strokes, a look at the hole and a few waggles. That is fine, but in my opinion a true pre-shot routine is based around a mental process that allows golfers to get in the right state of mind to perform at their highest potential. As you watch golf on TV this year, pay close attention to how the players mentally visualize the shot at hand. Notice how they walk into the address position with a sense of rhythm, while remaining focused on the target. Listen to how they speak to the media and how it relates to their mental preparation. Tiger Woods frequently addresses the media with statements about “the process” or that he likes the feeling of “being in his own little world.” He is probably referring to the zone-like state where time stands still, he is free of distraction and is solely focused on the task at hand.
Free throw shooters, field goal kickers, baseball pitchers, bowlers, archers and golfers are among the athletes that rely heavily on their pre-shot routine for peak performance. Michael Jordan once said that he spent the majority of his practice time developing a zone-like atmosphere that he could rely on under the most intense pressure.
Often times, field goal kickers are relied upon to win games for their team. The pressure involved in kicking field goals that decide the outcome of games with all of the fans and your entire team relying on you must be astonishing. Field goal kickers rely on their pre-shot routine and their commitment to the target to free themselves of the distractions that are associated with kicking game-winning field goals.
I suggest learning the pre-shot routing that Dr. Bob Rotella outlines in his audio disc, Putting Like A Genius. I have paraphrased it for you.
No. 1: Assess the Situation
The first step of the pre-shot routine is to assess the situation. In the long game, it includes determining the lie of the golf ball, the wind conditions, potential hazards, etc. In putting, you should identify the speed of the green, the degree of the slope, the position that the ball sits on the slope, the length of the putt and sometimes the grain of the grass. Once that data has been collected it is important to use it to visualize the ball rolling on the intended line and into the hole.
No. 2: Visualize The Shot
Jack Nicklaus said, “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head.”
It is important to visualize the shot at hand with as much detail and clarity as possible. The more detailed your visualization, the more your brain will believe it. You can actually increase your confidence by developing a clear and vivid visualization of the shot that you intend to play. You must see it to believe it.
In David Cook’s story, “Seven Days in Utopia, Golf’s Sacred Journey,” Johnny teaches Luke to visualize his shot from behind an old tree by having him paint his intended shot onto a canvas. After spending the time to paint the picture, Luke hit the shot with great accuracy. This part of the story portrays the importance of a player’s visualization of the shot that he intends to play. Remember, the more clearly and vividly you visualize, the more confidently you will be to execute the shot.
And don’t tell me that you can’t visualize,because that is completely false. Right now visualize an apple, a house, your house, a loved one’s face. Pretty easy, right?
A practice drill: Get a pencil and a piece of paper. Write the letter “A” while visualizing the letter “B.” If the letter “A” creeps into your mind, stop and start over. You’ll find that is impossible to write an “A” while thinking about anything other than the letter “A”. So how do you think you’re going to putt the ball into the hole when you’re thinking about missing? Or when you’re worried about what your buddies are thinking? Or if you’re worried that you may be taking too long? The point is to visualize your intention and maintain that image for the amount of time it takes for you to execute the shot. Easy right?
No. 3: Feel The Shot
The next step in the routine is to take practice strokes that represent the amount of force for the intended shot. Far too many golfer take practice strokes that don’t resemble the length of putt that they are about to hit. I suggest looking at the target while taking practice strokes so that your mind and body can better match the feel required for the intended putt. It doesn’t matter if you stand to the side of the ball or behind the ball; the important thing is that you do it while looking at the target. For instance, I am a spot putter so as I take my practice strokes, I clearly focus on the spot that I selected and imagine rolling my ball to it.
Note: I suggest practice putting while looking at the target to enhance your awareness.
No. 4: Execute The Shot
Next, place your putter behind the ball and settle into the address position while remaining mentally aware of the target. After taking your final look at the target, return your eyes to the ball and without hesitation begin the stroke. It doesn’t help to stand over the ball waiting for something magical to happen, so keep the time from when your eyes return to the ball to when you begin your stroke as short as possible (1 to 2 seconds). I believe it is important for your mind to remain aware of the target even during the stroke and trust that you are capable of producing the desired result.
It is important to not allow thoughts of putting mechanics to enter the brain at this stage of the routine, as it will disrupt you from the natural state of awareness.
No. 5: Accept The Outcome
The last and most important part of the routine is to accept the outcome of the shot. You don’t have control of whether or not the ball goes in the hole. For instance, you could have made the perfect read, the perfect stroke and the perfect routine, and the ball could have still missed the hole because it was forced offline by a spike mark on the green. The only thing to do is to assess yourself on your commitment to you pre-shot routine; the rest must be left up to faith.
A few years ago I disciplined myself to practicing this pre-shot routine everyday for 15-to-20 minutes. I also made it a habit to listen to Putting Like a Genius and Putting Out of Your Mind, both by Dr. Bob Rotella. At the peak of my putting performance I played nine holes and didn’t miss a putt. I made every one of them, finishing with a total of eight putts and shooting seven under par. You could say that I was in the zone. So I know it works! But I did it by making a true commitment to developing the enjoyment of the process, rather than focusing on the results. Stay patient and I am sure you will reap the rewards of this article.
If there is one thing you learn from this series, learn this; develop a mental routine and use it on every shot. Do this, along with the other information discussed in this series, and you are on your way to playing better golf.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Ed
Jan 9, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Henry, I think it is critical that the player understand that they must be “using” their visualization of the putt during the stroke. Once the player is at address, their total attention should be directed to visualizing the the ball rolling to and stopping at their target. It is only with this visualization active in the brain that the unconscious can then formulate its instructions to the muscles. When the player is successful at doing this they will be unaware of the club swinging or ball contact. To your example, when you write and “A” you are conscious of the mental image and unconscious regarding which muscles and joints are being used and how much grip pressure is needed. All of the physical action is an unconscious reaction to the conscious visualization.
Henry Stetina
Jan 9, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Ed!!! I am glad to hear from you! I will always remember the lesson that you gave me at McCromick Ranch a couple of years ago on how to maintain full awareness/visualization of the target during the stroke. I have thought about that a lot and I believe it is the only way great performers excel in at their task. Artists obviously maintain a mental visualization of what they are painting, drawing, sculpting, etc. Musicians use a mental sound or rhythm that they maintain throughout their performance. It is the way we process information naturally but so much of golf instruction has forced golfers to become more aware of physical movements that many of us have lost track of the underlying objective of sending the ball to the target.
Sam
Jan 6, 2014 at 5:50 pm
That’s awesome I’m gonna read over each part once every 2 weeks great knowledge very helpful
paul
Jan 6, 2014 at 9:10 am
Reading a pre shot routine article still only helps if i am on a practice green and can use it. to bad it is -30 right now.
Henry Stetina
Jan 6, 2014 at 9:18 am
THIS IS A GREAT COMMENT!!! It is actually easier to develop a pre-shot routine at your home because you will be less concerned with the results. Rotella actually suggest practicing it at home. This is a great opportunity for you to develop a solid pre-shot routine so when the snow melts you will be ready to take it to the course.
Henry Stetina
Jan 6, 2014 at 9:59 am
By the way… -30 sounds awful!!! It should get to 68 in Phoenix today.
Adrian
Jan 6, 2014 at 3:49 am
Excellent article….I was really drilling home number 4 just yesterday because I found the more I hesitated when I took my eyes away from the target the more erratic my results became. It doesn’t take long at all for you to lose focus of the target if you don’t execute the shot immediately. Very helpful article.
Henry Stetina
Jan 6, 2014 at 9:12 am
Thanks Adrian. You are spot on. We lose focus of the target very quickly. Dr. Bob Rotella gave this advice to Davis Love III and it really hit home for him too.
DIRK
Jan 6, 2014 at 3:12 am
I was able to write the letter A while visualizing a B.
marty
Jan 6, 2014 at 2:06 am
and you’d also better get used to playing 5+ hour rounds.
this is exactly whats wrong with golf, everyone thinking they are playing for the Open.
Henry Stetina
Jan 6, 2014 at 9:09 am
I completely disagree. From my experience this speeds up play. Slow rounds are caused by golfers’ minds filled with fear and doubt. 4 guys shooting 100 is what takes a long time.
AJ
Jan 6, 2014 at 11:39 am
Agree Henry. I’m not an overly quick player (nor am I slow) but play off a 0-1 handicap and therefore shoot anywhere between 10 and 20 strokes less than most guys at my club.
3 of me vs 3 of them would be about an hour quicker to the ‘me’s’, despite me seemingly taking longer over each shot – I take less shots because of the time I sometimes take.
I agree touring professionals have become far too deliberate though – a 3 ball of scratch golfers at my club (in the UK) would take no more than 3.5 hours to complete 18 holes on an average day. 5+ hours for the pros is ridiculous.
Henry Stetina
Jan 6, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Agreed. A foursome of scratch golfers will probably take the same amount of time and strokes as a threesome of 100 shooters.
You are correct in that touring pros have become a bit slow. But they are also playing for a million dollars every week. Their slow play is definitely a bad example for the weekend golfer.
Golf as a whole is played much quicker in Europe than in America. Surprisingly walking is usually faster than taking a cart.
DaveMac
Jun 30, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Please develop a SHORT pre shot routine, imagine the outcome if the guy who takes 40 putts a round buys into this but does not improve.
A routine is good but make it a fast one. (Jim Furyk likes his so much he does it twice)
amateur
Jan 5, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Ok, I’ll try to do this.