Golf practice swing - the rehearsal!!

No matter who i am teaching, whether it be a beginner or a low handicap player, i always encourage practice swings whether working on the range or on the golf course.

We hear a lot of people saying they have given up on practice swings because they always do them well but then mess up when it comes to hitting the ball. But ask yourself a question, What were you actually trying to hit? The answer is nothing. You were just having a swing of the club that had no end result, you can't even tell if you were skimming the grass that would have been directly under the ball.

There are a couple of good reasons for doing practice swings prior to hitting the ball:

1.Managing the change in scenario

Every shot you play in golf is different. Whether it be putt, chip or drive or down to the conditions such as lie, undulations or wind. This means that you must rehearse for each scenario prior to taking the shot. This will allow your muscles to adapt to the change from your previous shot and also a slight stretch in preparation for an athletic movement.

2. Helping swing changes

When on the driving range you will also find that you will swing smoother, and more than likely better, when doing a practice swing. This means you are practicing/rehearsing the correct method.  When there is a ball in front of you then your natural instinct is to try to do a HIT a good shot, rather than do a good SWING. So a couple of practice swings with the correct movement will help your muscle memory develop in the correct way.

3. Pre shot routine on the golf course

A consistent pre shot routine helps to put you into a comfort zone on the golf course. As well as the benefits listed above, doing the same number of practice swings behind the ball and taking aim in the same way each time will put you in a familiar, more comfortable position in pressure situations. Whether it's because you need a par on the last to beat your best score, chipping over a bunker or trying to win the British Open. A consistent routine of practice swings will help you manage this tense position.

So next time you head to the range or out onto the course make sure you have a few swings prior to hitting each shot. It will definitely help you get round the course in lower scores and help when trying to improve your swing.

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com