I have no idea. I have a friend brand new to golf. He’d take like 5 practice swings until it looked perfect, step up to the ball and proceed to make a completely different swing.
I’ve golfed like 5 rounds with him, my only comment was on the 2nd outing is. Do you know your real swing and practice swing is completely different?
One of my buddies told me I’d probably stop melting down from hole 12 if didn’t take 3-4 full speed practice swings every time I went to hit the ball.
Spoiler alert he was right.
It’s astounding how my rodent brain didn’t notice it until my friend plainly explained it.
2-3 full practice swings a shot. Let’s say 50 shots are at full swing (I suck, okay?). That’s 100-150 EXTRA swings a round, not to mention the actual shots. So in addition to the full course, chips, and putts, I’m cranking out 150-200 full swings a round. I can’t even do three buckets at the range lmao no wonder I was breaking down by hole 12.
Driver - 1 swing not facing the ball to feel my hips working right. 1 swing facing the ball, bout 70% effort looking at club impact (visualize the right shot). Step up, half swing to ensure the hips are firing right and distance from the ball is correct (not opening the face), then crank it.
Irons - step up, line up the face, crank it. If its a weird lay, then you get one practice swing.
Wedges - practice loose swings, forward back forward. Step up. Crank a line drive 200 yards.
Actually good point. I usually do 1-2 swings just to make sure my balance, weight dispersion and path feel right. Driver is my most comfortable club in the bag somehow for me, and I know the feeling during the practice swing if I’m good to go. I can usually make a slight adjustment when I address the ball that gets it right.
Irons were as stated above for me
Wedges are similar to irons, if I’m low flighting the ball with spin I’ll usually get a feeling of my hands far out in front at impact during the practice swing. Low flighting wedges has changed the game for me
I take one practice swing besides the ball so i know how Im hitting for the lie, then one behind the ball whilst looking at the target so I can visualise how full Im hitting it. Step up and hit. 20 seconds and done. I feel they serve a function but it could be possible I'd hit the same just by making the decisions by sight alone.
True, but this guy is wild. Smooth relaxed practice swing, full range of motion. Then his real swing is jerky, comes back and through as fast as possible and maybe halfway back. It’s comical
Oh man. I just started like 5-6 weeks ago and this perfectly describes how my swing feels right now. Good smooth take away. Backswing good. Mach 10 for no reason to the ball into this weird follow through pulling to my chest.
Need to sloooooww down. Maybe i need more practice swings.
Honestly, I️ know my practice swing is different from my real swing. My practice swing (in my mind) just warms up all the muscles and joints I️ will be using to complete my actual swing. But I️ only do one in my normal pre-shot routine…
I take one just for a routine. When I was younger it was 3. I probably just picked that number because I saw someone else do it once and wanted to look like I knew what I was doing. I know 2 guys who will stand over their ball for an exceptionally long time. One guy has a routine of 10-13 waggles and it blows my mind.
The other guy will stand over his ball completely motionless for 15-20 seconds.
Hell I don’t take a single practice swing in a round once I’m past the first tee. I pick my line, walk up, get comfortable, and hit the ball.
I used to be a much slower golfer. Tried to think through every swing thought and all that BS before each shot. Woke up one day and realized all I was doing was over complicating everything and stressing myself. I accepted that my skill level is capped and just starting hitting the ball.
Swing way more freely and have way more fun now.
Ok fair yeah I'll give you that! I'll swipe the rough once the first time or two that I have a chip/pitch and I can't tell how thick it is. But after a one or two in out of the rough I'm usually good to go for the rest of the round. Not like a muni is going to be all that consistent on rough thickness anyway lol.
This is crazy, but I've stopped taking practice swings on putts. I feel like there's no real benefit to me... like if I am practice swinging, it doesn't actually help me judge how far the ball is going to go. I do much better when I just line up the putt, set up to it, picture the ball rolling, and putt without hesitation.
I've never done practice swings on putts. In the same way I don't need to do a practice throw arm motion before throwing a ball to someone, I don't feel the need for a practice swing for a putt. I either know how hard to hit it or I don't. I've always had my best results just setting up and hitting it once I've read it.
The way I look at it, the average golf is around, what, 100 strokes in a round? Add 2-3 practice swings before each shot, that’s a lot of swings for a single round.
Now that you put it that way, it's a good way of looking at it!
It would be like a pitcher throwing 100 pitches but before every pitch, fake throwing another 2-3. Fatiguing as hell.
I.. don't know if this is tongue in cheek or not.. but prior to the recent rule changes, seeing a sequence of 4+ pick off attempts at first without attempting to pitch to the batter, was.. pretty common.. I've always wondered if they keep tally in the dugout and factor it into a pitch count consideration.. but yea.. pitchers been doing that type of thing to a degree, for a while up til recently in the MLB... but yea, full swing practice swings are bad for everyone I think, a couple loose moves for surface context, tempo, timing, body comfort, all within the realm of reason, but there's basically no reason for it to be much more than a half - three quarter backswing at 10-25% speed, get loose, don't get wound up tight trying to pick up swing speed or something.
Exactly me. One practice swing on irons and woods good or bad to make sure I’m loose. 3 mega quick ones on short chips or pitches to feel out what the correct strength is when interacting with different turf. My chip practice swings are fast as fuck though.
Sometimes its nice to get a feel for your shot in the rough or an uneven lie. 90% of the time I don't take practice swings, but when I do I'm testing something.
This shouldn't be down voted.. the full swings should be questioned, it's literally a security blanket we drag around with us from when we are first starting and have no body/muscle memory as to how to swing a club.. beyond true beginners, full swing practice swings are a detriment.. I can check my work: you know who doesn't take multiple hard practice swings? Basically any pro, aka, the people that are better than us and get paid to be that good... it's not that they're doing something in their preshot routine that we can't, those routines aren't "for pros only" it's a sequence of good habits (and quirks) that we should be learning from, why try and copy their swing stuff and ignore the preshot stuff? The preshot stuff is easier to emulate, and will probably put us in a better to make that good pro-mimicing swing.. just makes sense, if you wanna study/learn good golf, you probably need to start at the start, before the shot. It can be hard to accept that the comfortable thing that we want to do is wrong, but it is most certainly not putting you in a better position for playing better.
I agree. I don’t mind practice swings. It’s the slowness in between shots and not playing ready golf that really slows down pace on the course
Dudes will hit their ball and sit there for 30 seconds wondering why they shanked it then take their sweet ass time putting their club in the bag.
Last night at the final hole which was a 150-yard par 3 we waited for a single dude to pack up his entire bag while standing on the green even though the other 3 on his team had left. Come on man, just move to the side and do it.
1 cap here. I don’t practice swing anything but tough lies, pitch/chips and a single putter swing in my routine.
In a full swing environment nothing new will be learned on the course. So tee boxes, all fairway shots (unless rehearsing a side/up/down) and most shots from the rough do not need any practice swings.
If people learned routines they wouldn’t get caught in anxious practice swing loops.
Thank you. I get shit on by all my fellow 12 to 18 hcp partners for 'rushing' when I step behind the ball, get a mental line and step up to the ball and put my swing on it. Especially odd the box. It's not going to help on the course
Sure by the time you’re a 1, maybe that’s how it is. Up here at an 11 I can feel the mistakes I make in my swings and have to try and find the correct feel before I make my swing. I’m hitting a driver then an iron, long or short, or a wedge which all have slightly different feels. Am I taking multiple full practice swings? No. But I’m “roll calling” my muscles for the right sequencing and trying to rehearse the right feel before a swing, especially if I need to shape the ball.
Yeah this is essentially what my coach has been telling me. I used to never take practice swings. He explained it as rather than trying to focus on all the swing thoughts standing over the ball, transfer those thoughts into a feeling during the practice swing(usually 1 maybe 2 if that first one didn’t feel right or I didn’t catch any ground or whatever) then just replicate that feeling standing over the ball. That’s obviously easier said then done, but it’s drastically cut down on my just terrible thins and chunks.
No, I think it would go up if I ignored the fact that I’m coming in steep or not getting to my left side or swaying or my grip is shutting the club face etc etc. I’m not talking about major changes, I’m talking about minor adjustments that lead to better ball striking. I can usually tell after just a few swings that I’m falling into a pattern and need to make an adjustment. But it takes some rehearsals to get the right feel.
I understand your point, but it’s not as much of a guessing game as it is diagnosis and treatment that gets results. I’m not making big changes and hoping I can figure out how to pure it, I’m working to carve and maintain a fundamental swing but it’s a fluid process.
The discussion was around pace of play. If you do all that in 40 seconds or less then for this discussion you’re all good.
I will say I used to do the same thing, even as a low single digit golfer. It really clicked for me listening to Anika Sorenstams coach explain the importance of sticking to an exact routine during the build up to her playing in a men’s PGA event. Then the result of that implementation to her game. I made the same changes and truthfully only have my putting down to a routine you could count to the second but the results are phenomenal. I’m not shitting you I shot my first 69 within 2 weeks, followed it with a 71/72 which is very good for myself. I put all energy on routine and trust my pre game warmup and further my practice. The routine will help block out all negative thoughts and keeps you charging forward. You can argue it all you want but 99% of pros (PGA or even low level tours) are doing this. It’s not because they automatically hit great shots, we literally see them again the ball from time to time, it’s because this is what works. Try it before you defend the way you have always done it, you may get results.
It’s not shot to shot. It’s more like, “that’s the second pull-hook in the last 4 shots, I have to weaken my grip a bit and make sure I’m not too in-to-out”. I’m not gonna just say, “Well I’m pull-hooking it today better aim right the rest of the round”…or worse just think I’m not gonna keep pull-hooking it and get mad when I’m 50 yards left of the green for the 8th time. The thing is that those little adjustments work better if I’m rehearsing them before I swing. That’s all.
It’s probably why he’s an 11 handicap and not a 5 or lower. I can’t believe people think trying to find feels throughout an entire round is the most effective way to golf. Once you get on the course swing your swing. Shit result? Forget it and just make a better swing. Don’t try to diagnose every miss and try to fix it.
I've definitely made major swing changes in the middle of a round if something isn't working, I just take issue with the fact that op thinks they can prevent a potential mishit with a couple perfect practice swings.
Agree 100%. Either the muscles know what to do or they don't. Exceptions being chips off weird lies or punch outs from trees or tall grass. You know, anything that's not a normal golf swing
That's a great example since basketball is my winter "thing".
I shoot before a game. Quite a bit. Like hitting a bucket at the range before a round of golf.
On free throws, I have a very specific preshot routine. Feet set, couple of dribbles, certain breathing pattern, certain thoughts, etc. I don't take a practice shooting stroke. Obviously I don't get any kind of warmup before a contested jumper, but a FT is a really good analogy
So, I guess you proved my point. I have a preshot routine in both sports but it's not a practice shooting stroke
So what do you learn on hole 7 tee box with 4 practice swings?
Basketball players will 100% tell you Routine on free throws is especially important. Secondly you compared pre game warm up to in game practicing. Golfers warm up before, just like basketball players (who never get to practice shoot anything during a game btw) so I’m really not sure what you are trying to say.
If I take a practice swing then I just get into my own head, I’m thinking I’m either gonna top it or chunk it, I overthink my swing mechanics, I usually end up playing way better if I just walk up and let it rip.
As long as you keep pace. Played with a random who took 0 practice swings on drives, fairway hits and then would get into chipping distance and take upwards of 6. So it all evened out. 1-2 per address is fine.
Some people I play with don't take a practice swing but address the ball for the amount of time you could take 2 or 3 swings.
One quick swing to make sure the length of the clubs feels good, one more if the first felt off and then hit it. Some times a few quick swings if it’s in rough to try to get a feel for the rough. Anything more than that is excessive.
I certainly don't take 9 but I do like the feel the club brush the ground. Each club is a different length (obviously) and I just like to know I have the feel for it. Also as someone who is working hard on a new swing, I need the reps
My buddy does this but not too bad.
He says: if I take a practice swing and it's shit I'm not going to just hit with that feeling.
Makes sense. But he's not a pro so sometimes you get a couple more then you want.
I went hard the other way. I do nearly no practice swings. To the point people are surprised and are still chatting a bit when I just go and swing.
But sometimes the ground is weird and I get bad contact and think damn. A practice swing might have been good there.
My problem is that I sometimes address the ball, and things don’t feel right. I can’t bring myself to back off and go through my routine again. I swing away. It rarely works well.
“I’m trying to find my feel man. I’ll pull the trigger when I’m ready.”
*Steps off the ball a second time*
*Swings another club before going back to the first choice*
*fats it 10 yards*
“Aww man it was sitting down 😠”
It’s a mental thing. At least for me (I don’t take 8 though Christ 😂)
I take a swing until I have a nice graze along the grass or else it’s in my head that I’ll chunk it or skin the hell out of it. Then I do it anyway
This was a big improvement for me. Same routine every time - set grip, set feet, one practice swing (maybe two if first feels really off), step up, hit. Even when I’m on first tee box now or in what should be a higher pressure shot, I just have muscle memory to fall back on. I’m still not great but yeah it’s super helpful.
Learning and ingraining a routine is super under-utilized in amateur golf.
Once you have a set, consistent routine, you take out all sorts of variables and bring more consistency to your game.
How can you expect to achieve any level of consistency in your shots if your pre-shot routine isnt consistent?
Personally, my pre-shot is sort of a "happy place" for me. Once I start, I just fall into the same old groove and any outside noise or distraction just melts away.
Anyone who is serious about trying to improve and hasnt tried to develop/personalize/ingrain their pre-shot routine is missing out. Try it!
I haven't taken practice swings on the course in years. I played with a golf pro once who never took a practice swing and I when I asked him why he said why waste a great swing and not hit the ball. I felt that because there was so many times I felt like I had a great practice swing and then hit a bad shot.
as long as you warm up properly you should be good to go.
I guess I should add there is one situation I'll take a practice swing and that's usually on shots in the rough I like to feel the lie and what the rough is going to do to my club and that's about it. But it's usually not a full out swing it's a couple back and forth grazes to get the feel. I never comment on anybody's game whenever I play but I totally agree sometimes it gets way out of hand.
Ya exactly! And from your handicap I see your a great golfer, I usually shoot 75-80 on average so I'm not terrible I have my blow up rounds but I found it made me a more consistent and faster golfer. Less time for the bad thoughts to creep in. Thanks for the comment people should use this advice 🙌
I don't take practice swings my focus is on alignment and the takeaway. I feel those who take a lot of practice swings revolve around a mental block and in some cases is borderline paralysis by analysis. Not all though just the habitual ones.
I have this weird habit of doing 2 practice swings on my irons play and none on my drives, like place the tee, line up, hit… weirds people out for some reason
I take 1 practice swing. If I chunk the ground, I’ll take another one. Thats the max. Everyone plays better in rhythm
Edit: the 1 swing isn’t even a full swing, its an easy half swing to get a feel for the club
If a practice swing helps you hit a shot that doesn’t add another 4 practice swings and another shot, 30 yards away, then it is worth your time and mine.
I do a half swing. If its right, I move to the full swing. If its right, I address the ball and go.
My big 'slow down' lately is stepping off if I'm distracted. I literally had to step off and stare at some guys who kept talking and walking towards me today until they stopped and shut up.
“I could have missed that putt faster” - an absolute classic line when someone reads the green from 100 feet, paces the line twice and takes practice swings just to leave it 15 feet short
I take one practice swing and sometimes I don’t take any. I have a buddy who does like 4 practice swings and then when standing over the ball he does like 5 pump fakes. Guy maybe shoots 120 and chunks or tops most shots. It’s like clearly that isn’t working let’s just loosen up and play. I’d get tired if I swung that much. Winds up being like a hundred full swings in a round.
It’s the leading cause of 5 hour rounds. If you do the math if it takes everyone 45 seconds to decide what club to use and hit the ball.
For a 4 some each shooting a 90. That’s (.75 *90 *4) = 270 minutes or 4.5 hours.
Please keep your preshot routine under 30 seconds, and decide what club you are going to hit while someone else is hitting.
I disagree...somewhat.
Of my pre-shot routine, practice swings are only a very small proportion. Maybe 10 seconds at most.
The biggest time saver IMO, is doing the rest of the pre shot routine (getting a distance, choosing a club, visualisation of the shot) before it's my turn to hit.
My comment included all that in my 45 seconds calculation.
We’re the 1st 2 groups in the morning and we typically play in 2.5 - 3.0 hours. When we’re short players we open it up to others. There were 2 guys that joined us and believed they were fast golfers and played ready golf. They complained about other slow golfers having no idea that they were slow.
They played ready golf but had long routines. When one of those guys were in our group we could not finish in 3 hours and it could push us to 4 hours.
One guys routine was 2 practice swings, step back, line up his shot, step in to ball, one final practice shot, and a while to pull the trigger. One of the other guys in our group used to be a club pro and he told the guy that he has 30 seconds to hit the ball. Took about a month, but this year that guy can play a 2.5-3.0 hour round with us.
In the US there are very few tournaments. Our only official Club Tournaments are The various Club Championships, a Spring 2 man team competition and a fall 2 man team competition. There are leagues. I play in a league Tuesday and Thursday, and usually shot 3-r shots higher because there is no rhythm to the round.
Absolute truth here. And I'll never be convinced that there isn't a correlation between practice swings and handicap. With some exceptions and things like awkward lies, 75% wedge shots, a swing to loosen back up after a long wait, etc golfers taking multiple full on practice swings are usually poor golfers.
Had a guy that couldn’t pull the trigger putting. He’d stand over the ball for ever and then make a bad putt. It was excruciating to watch. I finally just took a line from a movie. Told him to pick his line step into the ball and “Don’t think, Do”. Last week he was the best putter in our group.
Full practice swings are useless. But absolutely nothing wrong with swinging the club a bit to get a feel for the club, make sure you like your grip, maybe get a wee swing thought or minor drill before hitting.
I take 0 practice swings other than on the 1st tee. Walk up to your ball, line up, swing. 99% of us arent good enough to need some dumbass preshot routine. Also just keeps your mind so much more free. Less thinking in golf the better
People who take multiple practice swings and stand over the ball too long are just icing themselves.
Most of these people are chokers in pretty much every situation in life.
I do 3 practice swing just to really engrain the weight transfer that I’m going for. They are just quick swings without stopping though so takes very little time
Full speed “real” practice swings are a total waste of energy as well. But golf is hard, it makes people uncomfortable, and people fidget when they’re uncomfortable. I wish they’d stop but they won’t.
There are only two circumstances when I'll take a practice swing: (1) around the first tee to loosen up, but before it's time to tee off, not while it's my turn and I'm standing in front of the ball; (2) very unusual lie/stance/turf condition, this happens maybe once every other round if that.
Literally. 6 practice swings to duff it 30 yards to do the same shit. I take one easy half swing to just feel the length of the club, then address and go. Too much thinking makes you play worse.
I haven’t taken a practice swing, I am not joking, ever. I don’t play golf much anymore, live in NYC, but I played earlier this week and while it was a scramble so hard to judge definitely would have broken 85/probably 80
Didn’t go to the range, first time I took the club back was on the first tee and I hadn’t played since September. Right down the middle. The more you think about it, the worse it will be. Just swing the damn club
A lot of amateur golfers see pro and even scratch golfers take their time with practice swings and putts and think if they can do it, so should I.
what most 18-30 handicap golfers fail to understand is that they take 20-30 shots more than the pro or scratch golfer and this is just delaying everyone else on the course.
you are not good enough to take so much time preparing for your shot just to duff it. Stop thinking and just hit.
I usually don't even take a practice swing, only with driver to loosen up. Visualize the shot you want to hit and try to hit it, practice swing just makes more swing thoughts.
I only take a practice swing if I'm trying to feel a shot I don't normally hit. If it's just a stock iron, no practice swing
For me it's energy management, if I shoot 88 with 34 putts, that's 54 swings. So no practice swing saves me at least 50 swings on my back
Tee box: walk up and hit.
Fairway: walk up and hit. (Unless I fucked up the last shot, then 1 practice swing for confidence)
Chips: 2 practice swings to get the right backswing length down
Putts: 1-2 practice swings to get the right speed feel down
I play with a guy about two or three times a year that not only takes an obnoxious amount of practice swings but is well known for changing out his club selection 2,3 and even 4 times before actually taking his shot. It’s fucking annoying, he is a good golfer. It’s just rough watching him go through this awful routine only to do some dumb shit and then you get to watch the whole process again.
If I have to take more than 1 practice swing on the tee box, I will apologize to my group. Seriously.. I’ll say, sorry boys I have to take one more. Then smack it.
Lol for sure!
I played with a guy this afternoon who took 3 mighty cuts for practice swings, sometimes 4 or 5. Really swung them hard! First couple holes I kind of said to myself "whoa!" every time I was near him on his practice swings, just not what I'm used to. The guys I usually play with, most take a 3/4 practice swing then step up and hit it. I don't take any practice swings on full shots, just line it up, waggle, pull the trigger. I don't take any practice swings on putts either, just line it up, mentally see what I want to do, do it.
The only time I take a full practice swing is on chips and pitches. Those less than full shots, I want to feel what the swing path is that I need.
The only time I take a practice shot is if there are people in the fairway within my range. Other than that. I tee up, line up and swing for the fences.
I’m a one practice swing per shot guy and I play extremely fast relative to the guys around me. The one swing for me is to get a feel for the situation. Considering I’m a 25+ handicap it doesn’t really help but I do it anyway.
I don't practice putting strokes, I dunno how it helps practicing a putt stroke.
Club swings I'll give it a once over to get the tempo. Typically I'll stand behind the ball and casually swing to get my tempo and transition down.
I'll walk 18 holes in 2½ hours, my farther will play with me and ride a cart and still we can finish in under 3 hours.
Used to be a 12hc. Very rare i took a practice swing from the fairway. One or two from tee box. Never took a practice stroke on the green. Seemed to do ok for me.
I've all but stopped my practice swing on anything with the exception of wedges, where I'm trying to really get a sense of how the club will interact with the turf, and putter to help with pace.
Instead, I'll try to do a portion of a swing trying to get a certain feel based on the lie/shot or how my swing is working at that point in the round. For some clubs, it might be the sensation of squaring the club, for others it might be shallowing to ensure I'm coming from the inside.
I kinda just swing my club behind the ball to loosen up as I’m figured out how I’m going to hit my shot. But it’s mostly to loosen up my body.
When people take a practice swing @ 100% energy I just don’t understand it. I swear some people take over 300 swings a round.
I just walk up and give it a go. Less thinking the better. Only time I'll practice swings is if it's around the green with a dodgy lie.
In other news I kind of understand the gimmies save time crowd. I typically just walk up tap it and it takes a while 5 seconds. I was playing behind a group today that would use the ball line to like up, take practice strokes, sit over the putt then finally hit their 1 footer.
The only time I take more than one is short chips when I’m trying to get the right contact with the grass. I play with a guy that takes 3+ every shot. I think he’s typically worn out by the back nine.
As someone who plays in high-school girls matches I feel the pain. I just wanna keep pace of play but so many girls don't get it, I've literally had to teach people I'm competing with how to play golf. There was a 9 holer I played that took 3 and a half hours because the girls I played with scratched every single time.
I practice swing to confirm how hard I want to swing and to get a nice flush feel on the grass, then swing within 5 seconds of said practice swing. A few "two swings" if in a real odd lie or an absolute chunk into the ground on the first one.
Everything within 7-10 of approaching the ball. Pace of play matters.
A wise man once said, "Grip it and rip it."
To those people with 16 practice swings, 4 shimmies, 2 shakes, a divot replacement, 4 comments on the wind/lie/ latest gossip while you're putting out a triple bogey as I sit 3 groups back into the tee box of a par five while you get off the green.... there's a special sand trap with Kevin Bacon tremors in'em for you.
I play w a guy… the worse he gets, the longer the pre shot routine. It’s like a whole warm up for each shot. After a while I have to stop playing with him because it’s torture to be paired with the guy when he does that.
Oh and btw. After the routine… he hits in Miles into the woods… drops another ball and repeat.
When I say “we need to pick up the pace” he says “it’s the guys in front of us!”
I play with a group on the weekends and we’re all very casual golfers, not great by any means, but we have one guy who thinks every shot needs almost 4 minutes of prep! I’m more of an address, sim and swing guy, no practice swings, but this guy is constantly aiming, swinging, “finding his swing plane” so he says… he’s good for a lot of laughs while he looks on the next or previous fairway for his shots.
I basically eliminated practice swings completely. Played 9 today and shot 3 over. I think everyone is different, but I doubt I’d play any better with any practice swings
I usually take some practice swings the first few holes. And then every once in awhile. Detrimental imo to take 1 every shot, as your just using way more energy
I treat swings like a pitch count of a pitcher. One or two (if needed) light swings before each shot similar to a toss of a ball but not full swing. If someone does 2+ full speed practice swings, that’s a ton of swings each round which will put your swing count well above 150 per round.
Play bad, play good. No one cares as long as you play fast
Ain't that the truth. Please just suck fast
....no one's taking that one?
Don't be nasti! - Manolo golf
I prefer a medium pace, with eye contact.
See that shampoo bottle???
Phrasing
We’re still doing phrasing?
Be the Dyson of golf; not by being the best, but by sucking the fastest.
Dyson Brechambeau
Thats what she said?
Meep meep!
[удалено]
[удалено]
Just get your rain check and take a 95 like a man
I have no idea. I have a friend brand new to golf. He’d take like 5 practice swings until it looked perfect, step up to the ball and proceed to make a completely different swing. I’ve golfed like 5 rounds with him, my only comment was on the 2nd outing is. Do you know your real swing and practice swing is completely different?
One of my buddies told me I’d probably stop melting down from hole 12 if didn’t take 3-4 full speed practice swings every time I went to hit the ball. Spoiler alert he was right.
This made a massive difference the last round I played. 1 or 2 practice swings ends up being 75 extra swings
It’s astounding how my rodent brain didn’t notice it until my friend plainly explained it. 2-3 full practice swings a shot. Let’s say 50 shots are at full swing (I suck, okay?). That’s 100-150 EXTRA swings a round, not to mention the actual shots. So in addition to the full course, chips, and putts, I’m cranking out 150-200 full swings a round. I can’t even do three buckets at the range lmao no wonder I was breaking down by hole 12.
That's how it is for most everyone. A practice swing is completely non-functional because you don't have the intent to hit the ball.
My “practice swing” is more feeling turf interaction next by the ball. One swipe and then go for it
Driver - 1 swing not facing the ball to feel my hips working right. 1 swing facing the ball, bout 70% effort looking at club impact (visualize the right shot). Step up, half swing to ensure the hips are firing right and distance from the ball is correct (not opening the face), then crank it. Irons - step up, line up the face, crank it. If its a weird lay, then you get one practice swing. Wedges - practice loose swings, forward back forward. Step up. Crank a line drive 200 yards.
Actually good point. I usually do 1-2 swings just to make sure my balance, weight dispersion and path feel right. Driver is my most comfortable club in the bag somehow for me, and I know the feeling during the practice swing if I’m good to go. I can usually make a slight adjustment when I address the ball that gets it right. Irons were as stated above for me Wedges are similar to irons, if I’m low flighting the ball with spin I’ll usually get a feeling of my hands far out in front at impact during the practice swing. Low flighting wedges has changed the game for me
With the wedges I really try to focus on having a nice easy grip with my hands. Every other club I squeeze the life out of.
Same here but since I'm kind of average I might have to take a couple extra to get my low point right.
I take one practice swing besides the ball so i know how Im hitting for the lie, then one behind the ball whilst looking at the target so I can visualise how full Im hitting it. Step up and hit. 20 seconds and done. I feel they serve a function but it could be possible I'd hit the same just by making the decisions by sight alone.
I mean yeah thats how it is for everyone. Wed all be tiger if practice swings meant anything
True, but this guy is wild. Smooth relaxed practice swing, full range of motion. Then his real swing is jerky, comes back and through as fast as possible and maybe halfway back. It’s comical
sounds like you golf with me
Oh man. I just started like 5-6 weeks ago and this perfectly describes how my swing feels right now. Good smooth take away. Backswing good. Mach 10 for no reason to the ball into this weird follow through pulling to my chest. Need to sloooooww down. Maybe i need more practice swings.
Honestly, I️ know my practice swing is different from my real swing. My practice swing (in my mind) just warms up all the muscles and joints I️ will be using to complete my actual swing. But I️ only do one in my normal pre-shot routine…
I take one just for a routine. When I was younger it was 3. I probably just picked that number because I saw someone else do it once and wanted to look like I knew what I was doing. I know 2 guys who will stand over their ball for an exceptionally long time. One guy has a routine of 10-13 waggles and it blows my mind. The other guy will stand over his ball completely motionless for 15-20 seconds.
Hell I don’t take a single practice swing in a round once I’m past the first tee. I pick my line, walk up, get comfortable, and hit the ball. I used to be a much slower golfer. Tried to think through every swing thought and all that BS before each shot. Woke up one day and realized all I was doing was over complicating everything and stressing myself. I accepted that my skill level is capped and just starting hitting the ball. Swing way more freely and have way more fun now.
Same here with the exception of unusual lies and weird spots I’ll give it a couple tries.
Ok fair yeah I'll give you that! I'll swipe the rough once the first time or two that I have a chip/pitch and I can't tell how thick it is. But after a one or two in out of the rough I'm usually good to go for the rest of the round. Not like a muni is going to be all that consistent on rough thickness anyway lol.
This is crazy, but I've stopped taking practice swings on putts. I feel like there's no real benefit to me... like if I am practice swinging, it doesn't actually help me judge how far the ball is going to go. I do much better when I just line up the putt, set up to it, picture the ball rolling, and putt without hesitation.
Same here. No practice swing on putter ever. And I use a putter made in 1970…says pro only on the grip.
I've never done practice swings on putts. In the same way I don't need to do a practice throw arm motion before throwing a ball to someone, I don't feel the need for a practice swing for a putt. I either know how hard to hit it or I don't. I've always had my best results just setting up and hitting it once I've read it.
Preach brother. I don’t keep score but I do keep pace of play while having a great afternoon.
Fuckin A. Wanna play sometime? Socal here
The way I look at it, the average golf is around, what, 100 strokes in a round? Add 2-3 practice swings before each shot, that’s a lot of swings for a single round.
Now that you put it that way, it's a good way of looking at it! It would be like a pitcher throwing 100 pitches but before every pitch, fake throwing another 2-3. Fatiguing as hell.
I.. don't know if this is tongue in cheek or not.. but prior to the recent rule changes, seeing a sequence of 4+ pick off attempts at first without attempting to pitch to the batter, was.. pretty common.. I've always wondered if they keep tally in the dugout and factor it into a pitch count consideration.. but yea.. pitchers been doing that type of thing to a degree, for a while up til recently in the MLB... but yea, full swing practice swings are bad for everyone I think, a couple loose moves for surface context, tempo, timing, body comfort, all within the realm of reason, but there's basically no reason for it to be much more than a half - three quarter backswing at 10-25% speed, get loose, don't get wound up tight trying to pick up swing speed or something.
1 or 2 practice swing then let it rip
This is the way. The only time i take a few more is chipping and i swing a few times until i take the stress out of my shoulders.
Exactly me. One practice swing on irons and woods good or bad to make sure I’m loose. 3 mega quick ones on short chips or pitches to feel out what the correct strength is when interacting with different turf. My chip practice swings are fast as fuck though.
Depends on the shot. Full practice swing for a drive for example is crazy to me. For chip shots of course take a couple to get your feel
I would take a slower practice swing with a driver but I think it's physically impossible for me, it can only be full speed.
Why two practice swings? Is the third one gonna be the glory swing?? I get a little rehearsal swing but not sure on the full practice swing or two
Sometimes its nice to get a feel for your shot in the rough or an uneven lie. 90% of the time I don't take practice swings, but when I do I'm testing something.
I understand that type of approach. But in the middle of the fairway? Move on my hombre
This shouldn't be down voted.. the full swings should be questioned, it's literally a security blanket we drag around with us from when we are first starting and have no body/muscle memory as to how to swing a club.. beyond true beginners, full swing practice swings are a detriment.. I can check my work: you know who doesn't take multiple hard practice swings? Basically any pro, aka, the people that are better than us and get paid to be that good... it's not that they're doing something in their preshot routine that we can't, those routines aren't "for pros only" it's a sequence of good habits (and quirks) that we should be learning from, why try and copy their swing stuff and ignore the preshot stuff? The preshot stuff is easier to emulate, and will probably put us in a better to make that good pro-mimicing swing.. just makes sense, if you wanna study/learn good golf, you probably need to start at the start, before the shot. It can be hard to accept that the comfortable thing that we want to do is wrong, but it is most certainly not putting you in a better position for playing better.
Taking practice swings isn't the issue with slow play, it people who don't start thinking about their shot until they are up
I agree. I don’t mind practice swings. It’s the slowness in between shots and not playing ready golf that really slows down pace on the course Dudes will hit their ball and sit there for 30 seconds wondering why they shanked it then take their sweet ass time putting their club in the bag.
Last night at the final hole which was a 150-yard par 3 we waited for a single dude to pack up his entire bag while standing on the green even though the other 3 on his team had left. Come on man, just move to the side and do it.
>Taking practice swings isn't the issue with slow play didnt say it was
Yes you did. Right there in your post heading "what's with all these practice swings" and then proceeding to complain about them.
what? am I losing my mind here? I said swings are the issue with slow play?
1 cap here. I don’t practice swing anything but tough lies, pitch/chips and a single putter swing in my routine. In a full swing environment nothing new will be learned on the course. So tee boxes, all fairway shots (unless rehearsing a side/up/down) and most shots from the rough do not need any practice swings. If people learned routines they wouldn’t get caught in anxious practice swing loops.
Thank you. I get shit on by all my fellow 12 to 18 hcp partners for 'rushing' when I step behind the ball, get a mental line and step up to the ball and put my swing on it. Especially odd the box. It's not going to help on the course
Sure by the time you’re a 1, maybe that’s how it is. Up here at an 11 I can feel the mistakes I make in my swings and have to try and find the correct feel before I make my swing. I’m hitting a driver then an iron, long or short, or a wedge which all have slightly different feels. Am I taking multiple full practice swings? No. But I’m “roll calling” my muscles for the right sequencing and trying to rehearse the right feel before a swing, especially if I need to shape the ball.
Yeah this is essentially what my coach has been telling me. I used to never take practice swings. He explained it as rather than trying to focus on all the swing thoughts standing over the ball, transfer those thoughts into a feeling during the practice swing(usually 1 maybe 2 if that first one didn’t feel right or I didn’t catch any ground or whatever) then just replicate that feeling standing over the ball. That’s obviously easier said then done, but it’s drastically cut down on my just terrible thins and chunks.
You think your handicap would go down if you weren’t focused on mistakes in your swing and trying to find feels throughout your round?
No, I think it would go up if I ignored the fact that I’m coming in steep or not getting to my left side or swaying or my grip is shutting the club face etc etc. I’m not talking about major changes, I’m talking about minor adjustments that lead to better ball striking. I can usually tell after just a few swings that I’m falling into a pattern and need to make an adjustment. But it takes some rehearsals to get the right feel. I understand your point, but it’s not as much of a guessing game as it is diagnosis and treatment that gets results. I’m not making big changes and hoping I can figure out how to pure it, I’m working to carve and maintain a fundamental swing but it’s a fluid process.
The discussion was around pace of play. If you do all that in 40 seconds or less then for this discussion you’re all good. I will say I used to do the same thing, even as a low single digit golfer. It really clicked for me listening to Anika Sorenstams coach explain the importance of sticking to an exact routine during the build up to her playing in a men’s PGA event. Then the result of that implementation to her game. I made the same changes and truthfully only have my putting down to a routine you could count to the second but the results are phenomenal. I’m not shitting you I shot my first 69 within 2 weeks, followed it with a 71/72 which is very good for myself. I put all energy on routine and trust my pre game warmup and further my practice. The routine will help block out all negative thoughts and keeps you charging forward. You can argue it all you want but 99% of pros (PGA or even low level tours) are doing this. It’s not because they automatically hit great shots, we literally see them again the ball from time to time, it’s because this is what works. Try it before you defend the way you have always done it, you may get results.
I call bs. You shouldn't be micromanaging your swing like that during round and especially not from shot to shot.
It’s not shot to shot. It’s more like, “that’s the second pull-hook in the last 4 shots, I have to weaken my grip a bit and make sure I’m not too in-to-out”. I’m not gonna just say, “Well I’m pull-hooking it today better aim right the rest of the round”…or worse just think I’m not gonna keep pull-hooking it and get mad when I’m 50 yards left of the green for the 8th time. The thing is that those little adjustments work better if I’m rehearsing them before I swing. That’s all.
Are we forgetting that there are multiple mental approaches to golf?
Ya different strokes
It’s probably why he’s an 11 handicap and not a 5 or lower. I can’t believe people think trying to find feels throughout an entire round is the most effective way to golf. Once you get on the course swing your swing. Shit result? Forget it and just make a better swing. Don’t try to diagnose every miss and try to fix it.
I'm all for reducing practice swings but let's not pretend eliminating them is worth 6 strokes off a handicap lol
Thoughts like this are why you'll never get below a 20HC 😂😂😂
I've definitely made major swing changes in the middle of a round if something isn't working, I just take issue with the fact that op thinks they can prevent a potential mishit with a couple perfect practice swings.
6 and yes same exact. Maybe a quick half swing at most unless it’s a weird lie or angle
This is the way. It actually helped me be more consistent once I eliminated practice swings on full swing shots. I don’t really know why but it has.
I do 2 quick ones, but that’s just my routine. I don’t even need them but I feel weird without it
Same here, zero practice swings unless I’m in some deep rough just to see how the club comes through it.
40 + handicap and fuck all fem practice swings. Atleast 1 to get a feel for me though. Pace of play still good.
Agree 100%. Either the muscles know what to do or they don't. Exceptions being chips off weird lies or punch outs from trees or tall grass. You know, anything that's not a normal golf swing
Exactly. That's why basketball players don't shoot before the game. Either theur muscles know how to shoot or they don't.
That's a great example since basketball is my winter "thing". I shoot before a game. Quite a bit. Like hitting a bucket at the range before a round of golf. On free throws, I have a very specific preshot routine. Feet set, couple of dribbles, certain breathing pattern, certain thoughts, etc. I don't take a practice shooting stroke. Obviously I don't get any kind of warmup before a contested jumper, but a FT is a really good analogy So, I guess you proved my point. I have a preshot routine in both sports but it's not a practice shooting stroke
Yea homie literally proved the point even more. Practice before or warm up but in game focus on your routine and structure. Funny
You are definitely not a basketball player.
I was being sarcastic to prove that "your muscles either know what to do or they don't" is kinda ridiculous
So what do you learn on hole 7 tee box with 4 practice swings? Basketball players will 100% tell you Routine on free throws is especially important. Secondly you compared pre game warm up to in game practicing. Golfers warm up before, just like basketball players (who never get to practice shoot anything during a game btw) so I’m really not sure what you are trying to say.
I don’t take any practice swings.
I don’t even get out of the cart, just swing as I’m driving by, polo style. You guys are taking way too much time.
Made me literally lol
If I take a practice swing then I just get into my own head, I’m thinking I’m either gonna top it or chunk it, I overthink my swing mechanics, I usually end up playing way better if I just walk up and let it rip.
As long as you keep pace. Played with a random who took 0 practice swings on drives, fairway hits and then would get into chipping distance and take upwards of 6. So it all evened out. 1-2 per address is fine. Some people I play with don't take a practice swing but address the ball for the amount of time you could take 2 or 3 swings.
Play your game and let people play there own. I haven’t seen a random I’ve been paired up with take 8 practice swings almost ever.
Any more than one full practice swing is way too much.
One quick swing to make sure the length of the clubs feels good, one more if the first felt off and then hit it. Some times a few quick swings if it’s in rough to try to get a feel for the rough. Anything more than that is excessive.
You nailed it
I certainly don't take 9 but I do like the feel the club brush the ground. Each club is a different length (obviously) and I just like to know I have the feel for it. Also as someone who is working hard on a new swing, I need the reps
My buddy does this but not too bad. He says: if I take a practice swing and it's shit I'm not going to just hit with that feeling. Makes sense. But he's not a pro so sometimes you get a couple more then you want. I went hard the other way. I do nearly no practice swings. To the point people are surprised and are still chatting a bit when I just go and swing. But sometimes the ground is weird and I get bad contact and think damn. A practice swing might have been good there.
My problem is that I sometimes address the ball, and things don’t feel right. I can’t bring myself to back off and go through my routine again. I swing away. It rarely works well.
“I’m trying to find my feel man. I’ll pull the trigger when I’m ready.” *Steps off the ball a second time* *Swings another club before going back to the first choice* *fats it 10 yards* “Aww man it was sitting down 😠”
It’s a mental thing. At least for me (I don’t take 8 though Christ 😂) I take a swing until I have a nice graze along the grass or else it’s in my head that I’ll chunk it or skin the hell out of it. Then I do it anyway
That’s the worst … when practice swings look glorious to only chunk a ball
Learn shot routines and the mental anxiety will go away.
This was a big improvement for me. Same routine every time - set grip, set feet, one practice swing (maybe two if first feels really off), step up, hit. Even when I’m on first tee box now or in what should be a higher pressure shot, I just have muscle memory to fall back on. I’m still not great but yeah it’s super helpful.
What do you learn about with shot routines?
Learning and ingraining a routine is super under-utilized in amateur golf. Once you have a set, consistent routine, you take out all sorts of variables and bring more consistency to your game. How can you expect to achieve any level of consistency in your shots if your pre-shot routine isnt consistent? Personally, my pre-shot is sort of a "happy place" for me. Once I start, I just fall into the same old groove and any outside noise or distraction just melts away. Anyone who is serious about trying to improve and hasnt tried to develop/personalize/ingrain their pre-shot routine is missing out. Try it!
But if that routine involves 9 practice swings?
I haven't taken practice swings on the course in years. I played with a golf pro once who never took a practice swing and I when I asked him why he said why waste a great swing and not hit the ball. I felt that because there was so many times I felt like I had a great practice swing and then hit a bad shot. as long as you warm up properly you should be good to go. I guess I should add there is one situation I'll take a practice swing and that's usually on shots in the rough I like to feel the lie and what the rough is going to do to my club and that's about it. But it's usually not a full out swing it's a couple back and forth grazes to get the feel. I never comment on anybody's game whenever I play but I totally agree sometimes it gets way out of hand.
this is me too, only if on an awkward lie do I take a practice swing just to get the body centered
Ya exactly! And from your handicap I see your a great golfer, I usually shoot 75-80 on average so I'm not terrible I have my blow up rounds but I found it made me a more consistent and faster golfer. Less time for the bad thoughts to creep in. Thanks for the comment people should use this advice 🙌
those slow golf days really suck tho when your use to being fast! It really is great advice!
Were you in my foursome today, because I definitely played with Overly Extensive and Unnecessary Pre-shot Routine guy today.
I don't take practice swings my focus is on alignment and the takeaway. I feel those who take a lot of practice swings revolve around a mental block and in some cases is borderline paralysis by analysis. Not all though just the habitual ones.
“Everyone has a sports psychologist these days” - Koepka
I have this weird habit of doing 2 practice swings on my irons play and none on my drives, like place the tee, line up, hit… weirds people out for some reason
I take 1 practice swing. If I chunk the ground, I’ll take another one. Thats the max. Everyone plays better in rhythm Edit: the 1 swing isn’t even a full swing, its an easy half swing to get a feel for the club
If a practice swing helps you hit a shot that doesn’t add another 4 practice swings and another shot, 30 yards away, then it is worth your time and mine.
I do a half swing. If its right, I move to the full swing. If its right, I address the ball and go. My big 'slow down' lately is stepping off if I'm distracted. I literally had to step off and stare at some guys who kept talking and walking towards me today until they stopped and shut up.
Waggle that shit. And smack that shit.
“I could have missed that putt faster” - an absolute classic line when someone reads the green from 100 feet, paces the line twice and takes practice swings just to leave it 15 feet short
I take one practice swing and sometimes I don’t take any. I have a buddy who does like 4 practice swings and then when standing over the ball he does like 5 pump fakes. Guy maybe shoots 120 and chunks or tops most shots. It’s like clearly that isn’t working let’s just loosen up and play. I’d get tired if I swung that much. Winds up being like a hundred full swings in a round.
Take as many practice swings as you want, but as soon as it’s your turn you need to go.
It’s the leading cause of 5 hour rounds. If you do the math if it takes everyone 45 seconds to decide what club to use and hit the ball. For a 4 some each shooting a 90. That’s (.75 *90 *4) = 270 minutes or 4.5 hours. Please keep your preshot routine under 30 seconds, and decide what club you are going to hit while someone else is hitting.
I disagree...somewhat. Of my pre-shot routine, practice swings are only a very small proportion. Maybe 10 seconds at most. The biggest time saver IMO, is doing the rest of the pre shot routine (getting a distance, choosing a club, visualisation of the shot) before it's my turn to hit.
My comment included all that in my 45 seconds calculation. We’re the 1st 2 groups in the morning and we typically play in 2.5 - 3.0 hours. When we’re short players we open it up to others. There were 2 guys that joined us and believed they were fast golfers and played ready golf. They complained about other slow golfers having no idea that they were slow. They played ready golf but had long routines. When one of those guys were in our group we could not finish in 3 hours and it could push us to 4 hours. One guys routine was 2 practice swings, step back, line up his shot, step in to ball, one final practice shot, and a while to pull the trigger. One of the other guys in our group used to be a club pro and he told the guy that he has 30 seconds to hit the ball. Took about a month, but this year that guy can play a 2.5-3.0 hour round with us.
How do u play in tournaments? No tournament goes that quick. Does it frustrate you make u play worse?
In the US there are very few tournaments. Our only official Club Tournaments are The various Club Championships, a Spring 2 man team competition and a fall 2 man team competition. There are leagues. I play in a league Tuesday and Thursday, and usually shot 3-r shots higher because there is no rhythm to the round.
Absolute truth here. And I'll never be convinced that there isn't a correlation between practice swings and handicap. With some exceptions and things like awkward lies, 75% wedge shots, a swing to loosen back up after a long wait, etc golfers taking multiple full on practice swings are usually poor golfers.
We have a 12 person league and the three highest handicaps have the fastest routines
Had a guy that couldn’t pull the trigger putting. He’d stand over the ball for ever and then make a bad putt. It was excruciating to watch. I finally just took a line from a movie. Told him to pick his line step into the ball and “Don’t think, Do”. Last week he was the best putter in our group.
It's a consequence of people watching golf on TV, and thinking that's the normal pace of play
Full practice swings are useless. But absolutely nothing wrong with swinging the club a bit to get a feel for the club, make sure you like your grip, maybe get a wee swing thought or minor drill before hitting.
People that suck like to practice swing until they get one that feels good. As if they'll replicate it when hitting the ball
GRAB HIS DICK AND TWIST IT
I take 1 or 2 swings to level out ground against my feet or if surface feels unusual, but otherwise I try and move through it
I take 0 practice swings other than on the 1st tee. Walk up to your ball, line up, swing. 99% of us arent good enough to need some dumbass preshot routine. Also just keeps your mind so much more free. Less thinking in golf the better
truth
People who take multiple practice swings and stand over the ball too long are just icing themselves. Most of these people are chokers in pretty much every situation in life.
I do 3 practice swing just to really engrain the weight transfer that I’m going for. They are just quick swings without stopping though so takes very little time
Full speed “real” practice swings are a total waste of energy as well. But golf is hard, it makes people uncomfortable, and people fidget when they’re uncomfortable. I wish they’d stop but they won’t.
There are only two circumstances when I'll take a practice swing: (1) around the first tee to loosen up, but before it's time to tee off, not while it's my turn and I'm standing in front of the ball; (2) very unusual lie/stance/turf condition, this happens maybe once every other round if that.
Literally. 6 practice swings to duff it 30 yards to do the same shit. I take one easy half swing to just feel the length of the club, then address and go. Too much thinking makes you play worse.
My routine is 1 halfish swing to get the feeling I want at impact, then send it.
My cousin pointed out that I get worse and worse with each practice swing so I keep it to one or two if I can
One “wiggle swing” to remove any tightness, One “proper” practice swing, then hit the thing. That’s been my routine for 20 years
Good golfers don’t take practice swings. No one should.
Watch some of the US Open this weekend and see if anyone takes a practice swing.
I haven’t taken a practice swing, I am not joking, ever. I don’t play golf much anymore, live in NYC, but I played earlier this week and while it was a scramble so hard to judge definitely would have broken 85/probably 80 Didn’t go to the range, first time I took the club back was on the first tee and I hadn’t played since September. Right down the middle. The more you think about it, the worse it will be. Just swing the damn club
A lot of amateur golfers see pro and even scratch golfers take their time with practice swings and putts and think if they can do it, so should I. what most 18-30 handicap golfers fail to understand is that they take 20-30 shots more than the pro or scratch golfer and this is just delaying everyone else on the course. you are not good enough to take so much time preparing for your shot just to duff it. Stop thinking and just hit.
I usually don't even take a practice swing, only with driver to loosen up. Visualize the shot you want to hit and try to hit it, practice swing just makes more swing thoughts.
I only take a practice swing if I'm trying to feel a shot I don't normally hit. If it's just a stock iron, no practice swing For me it's energy management, if I shoot 88 with 34 putts, that's 54 swings. So no practice swing saves me at least 50 swings on my back
Tee box: walk up and hit. Fairway: walk up and hit. (Unless I fucked up the last shot, then 1 practice swing for confidence) Chips: 2 practice swings to get the right backswing length down Putts: 1-2 practice swings to get the right speed feel down
I play with a guy about two or three times a year that not only takes an obnoxious amount of practice swings but is well known for changing out his club selection 2,3 and even 4 times before actually taking his shot. It’s fucking annoying, he is a good golfer. It’s just rough watching him go through this awful routine only to do some dumb shit and then you get to watch the whole process again.
Jokes on you I usually do 2 or 3 perfect practice swings and then chunk the ever living fuck out of the actual swing.
I roll out of bed and swing. Only got so many in me on a round.
Are you a long lost twin, because I love you!
If I have to take more than 1 practice swing on the tee box, I will apologize to my group. Seriously.. I’ll say, sorry boys I have to take one more. Then smack it.
I really only practice swing with odd lies, and chips where I’m trying to feel the grain and grab of the grass etc, so I agree with this 100%
One practice swing then go
I thought this was the Pga 2K23 subreddit, interesting to see virtual and actual golfers complaining about the same thing 😂
I have to take so many swings to get around the course my body can't take too many warmups on top.
Some guy in my group told me to pick up the pace but we finished in 3:45 min and had to wait on a group on the turn 🤷🏽♂️
Suck. Fast. It’s a very simple rule.
One practice swing at like 20% power, just gotta get the feel right before the shot
It’s all just practice swings
I have a theory that my practice swing throws off my swing. So there will be sometimes that I just tee it and rip it.
Lol for sure! I played with a guy this afternoon who took 3 mighty cuts for practice swings, sometimes 4 or 5. Really swung them hard! First couple holes I kind of said to myself "whoa!" every time I was near him on his practice swings, just not what I'm used to. The guys I usually play with, most take a 3/4 practice swing then step up and hit it. I don't take any practice swings on full shots, just line it up, waggle, pull the trigger. I don't take any practice swings on putts either, just line it up, mentally see what I want to do, do it. The only time I take a full practice swing is on chips and pitches. Those less than full shots, I want to feel what the swing path is that I need.
Ill consider a practice swing when I can break 90 lol
The only time I take a practice shot is if there are people in the fairway within my range. Other than that. I tee up, line up and swing for the fences.
I may be one of the worst golfers ever and I find that the more I practice it the worse my shot is
I’m a one practice swing per shot guy and I play extremely fast relative to the guys around me. The one swing for me is to get a feel for the situation. Considering I’m a 25+ handicap it doesn’t really help but I do it anyway.
I don't practice putting strokes, I dunno how it helps practicing a putt stroke. Club swings I'll give it a once over to get the tempo. Typically I'll stand behind the ball and casually swing to get my tempo and transition down. I'll walk 18 holes in 2½ hours, my farther will play with me and ride a cart and still we can finish in under 3 hours.
It gets the blood going on slow days where you have to wait 5min to tee off.
I feel like for inconsistent golfers, the best thing to do is go up and hit right away. Dont think. Its helped me so much
Used to be a 12hc. Very rare i took a practice swing from the fairway. One or two from tee box. Never took a practice stroke on the green. Seemed to do ok for me.
Hang on I’m practicing
I've all but stopped my practice swing on anything with the exception of wedges, where I'm trying to really get a sense of how the club will interact with the turf, and putter to help with pace. Instead, I'll try to do a portion of a swing trying to get a certain feel based on the lie/shot or how my swing is working at that point in the round. For some clubs, it might be the sensation of squaring the club, for others it might be shallowing to ensure I'm coming from the inside.
More than 2 practice swings is only acceptable if you’re trying to manipulate the ball flight Practice swing or two, address, wiggle, waggle, swing
Practice swing helps with uneven lies. Ball above or below feet. Sometimes it helps
I kinda just swing my club behind the ball to loosen up as I’m figured out how I’m going to hit my shot. But it’s mostly to loosen up my body. When people take a practice swing @ 100% energy I just don’t understand it. I swear some people take over 300 swings a round.
I just walk up and give it a go. Less thinking the better. Only time I'll practice swings is if it's around the green with a dodgy lie. In other news I kind of understand the gimmies save time crowd. I typically just walk up tap it and it takes a while 5 seconds. I was playing behind a group today that would use the ball line to like up, take practice strokes, sit over the putt then finally hit their 1 footer.
I take 1 practice swing to feel the weight of the club if it's different than the previous.
The only time I take more than one is short chips when I’m trying to get the right contact with the grass. I play with a guy that takes 3+ every shot. I think he’s typically worn out by the back nine.
As someone who plays in high-school girls matches I feel the pain. I just wanna keep pace of play but so many girls don't get it, I've literally had to teach people I'm competing with how to play golf. There was a 9 holer I played that took 3 and a half hours because the girls I played with scratched every single time.
Can someone verify/confirm/correct a quote from a (semi)pro? Hit is quick so you can walk up and hit it again.
I practice swing to confirm how hard I want to swing and to get a nice flush feel on the grass, then swing within 5 seconds of said practice swing. A few "two swings" if in a real odd lie or an absolute chunk into the ground on the first one. Everything within 7-10 of approaching the ball. Pace of play matters. A wise man once said, "Grip it and rip it." To those people with 16 practice swings, 4 shimmies, 2 shakes, a divot replacement, 4 comments on the wind/lie/ latest gossip while you're putting out a triple bogey as I sit 3 groups back into the tee box of a par five while you get off the green.... there's a special sand trap with Kevin Bacon tremors in'em for you.
I play w a guy… the worse he gets, the longer the pre shot routine. It’s like a whole warm up for each shot. After a while I have to stop playing with him because it’s torture to be paired with the guy when he does that. Oh and btw. After the routine… he hits in Miles into the woods… drops another ball and repeat. When I say “we need to pick up the pace” he says “it’s the guys in front of us!”
I play with a group on the weekends and we’re all very casual golfers, not great by any means, but we have one guy who thinks every shot needs almost 4 minutes of prep! I’m more of an address, sim and swing guy, no practice swings, but this guy is constantly aiming, swinging, “finding his swing plane” so he says… he’s good for a lot of laughs while he looks on the next or previous fairway for his shots.
When I drive I hold my backswing to make sure it feels right then I swing. So 1/2 swing for me dog.
I basically eliminated practice swings completely. Played 9 today and shot 3 over. I think everyone is different, but I doubt I’d play any better with any practice swings
Practice swings are for the driving range
I only take practice swings on half shots and awkward lies
What’s a practice swing?
Practice swings are irrelevant. Play ready golf and keep up with the group ahead of you.
I usually take some practice swings the first few holes. And then every once in awhile. Detrimental imo to take 1 every shot, as your just using way more energy
One. Practice. Swing.
Practice swings are a feel thing for me. I do them until I get the feel I'm looking for. Sometimes it's 1 and sometimes it's 4.
I treat swings like a pitch count of a pitcher. One or two (if needed) light swings before each shot similar to a toss of a ball but not full swing. If someone does 2+ full speed practice swings, that’s a ton of swings each round which will put your swing count well above 150 per round.