Pre-shot routine and alignment
Ready when: Putting grip and tick-tock (b1) done.
What you are learning
A pre-shot routine, the same few steps before every shot, and alignment: aiming the clubface at the target first, then setting the feet. A steady routine keeps a player calm after a bad shot.
Words on this card Club, Clubface, Putt, Pre-shot routine, Alignment
- Club
- The stick used to hit the ball. A set has clubs of different lengths and angles.
- Clubface
- The flat part of the club that hits the ball.
- Putt
- A gentle stroke that rolls the ball along the green.
- Pre-shot routine
- The same small steps a player does before every shot.
- Alignment
- Pointing the clubface, feet and body at the target.
Set up
A club laid on the ground pointing at the target; a ball.
Weather: any weather indoors
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand behind the ball and pick a target.
- Take two practice swings beside the ball.
- Set the clubface behind the ball pointing at the target.
- Then set the feet parallel to the club on the ground, and swing.
Your part while they practise
Watch the routine; do not change it.
Step by step
- Pick a target.
- Take two practice swings.
- Set the clubface to the target.
- Then the feet.
- Then swing.
How much: 10 shots 8 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Five spots
Putt from 5 positions round a hoop; all 5 in before you move back.
Who plays: the child against their own best, or against you.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Mark 5 spots round a hoop, each 1 m away
- Do the full routine, then putt from the first spot
- A ball that stops inside the hoop scores; move to the next spot
- When all 5 have scored, move every spot 50 cm further away. 3 minutes
- Fair play
- A grown-up starts from 2 m.
- Points
- 1 point for each putt that stops inside the hoop.
- Fouls
- No point for that putt
- Skipping a step of the routine
- Setting the feet before the clubface
- Changing the routine after a miss
- Winning
- Beat your best in 3 minutes.
- 5 points for 1 star
- 8 points for 2 stars
- 12 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A three-step routine.
The same routine while someone counts down.
What you will see, and what to say
- the routine changes after a bad shot
Same routine every time
The routine never changes. - feet point somewhere else
Aim the club first
Clubface, then feet.
Self-check
The same routine on 9 of 10 shots.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains routine, alignment, composure.
awiseathlete.com/sports/golf/golf-i2