In this video tip, Ted Frick and Stefany King of the Classic Swing Golf School at Legends Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C. walk us through the progressions of a solid pre-shot routine. There are three commitments to make in the process, and Ted and Stef are here to show them to you!
Ted Frick:
All right, so I'm Ted Frick from Classic Swing Golf School. Here's my LPGA Class A teaching professional, Stef King. She is going to demonstrate out here on Hole Number 10. We're going to go through our pre-shot routine, and we use the pre-shot routine at our schools that was delivered by Annika Sorenstam at the Coaching Summit 2013.
We use the Thinkbox Playbox method, and let's go right through this. Just the same way we handle our tour players to the beginners to all course instruction. First thing behind the golf ball, Annika suggested take a deep cleansing breath. She uses her box method of breathing, two, two, four. Breathe in through the nose, two seconds, hold in the mouth for two seconds, exhale for four. Relax. As you're getting that oxygen to the brain, it actually helps you think better and it helps you feel better and it helps you visualize better.
Now, this is what Annika has in her book, every shot must have a purpose. She says, when you're behind the ball, make three commitments. Now, remember in golf you've got 40 seconds to hit a shot, and we like speeding up pace of play. So play ready golf. Those Bushnells and those apps are work and know your distance.
We're out here on Hole Number 10, we've got a red flag at the Legends. That red flag brings us to the front of the green. We have a sprinkler right off here to the right, but Stef was still shooting this with a Bushnell. All right, first commitment in golf, when you're behind the ball is what? To your number. What's the distance?
Stefany King:
Distance is 90 yards.
Ted Frick:
It's 90 yards to the pin. Now, here's what we’ve got in this 90 yards. Little elevation and a real gentle breeze kind of in our face left to right.
Now, what number are you going to tell yourself to hit this?
Stefany King:
I'm going to hit it 95 to 100.
Ted Frick:
All right, so 95 to 100. So commitment number two is now going to be the golf club. What club are you going to hit 95 to 100?
Stefant King:
Pitching wedge.
Ted Frick:
All right, so before you choose this golf club, you’ve got to know where you can and cannot miss it. On this hole to an elevated green, we have a false front. So short's not a good miss when the pin’s in the front and you have a false front. She knows if she gets something 95 to 100, she's real safe. Also on the screen left or right where's the good miss?
Stefany King:
A little right.
Ted Frick:
Good. Know your misses. It's all part of course management. Her line right now with this ball a little bit above her feet and when the ball is a little bit above her feet, she's going to grip down on the golf club a little bit. She’s going to play for a very soft little draw. Where's your direction line, which is commitment number three?
Stefany King:
I'd say just about five yards, 10 yards right of the pin.
Ted Frick:
Okay, so in between five and 10 yards right. We're sitting here going to hit a shot 100 yards. We’ve got three commitments. We’ve got yardage, we’ve got club selection and we’ve got direction. Now when she gets over the golf ball, there's no doubt and when you're standing in front of the golf ball and there's no doubt, and you're breathing well, you're going to hit some good golf shots.
Go for it, Stef. She's got real good alignment. Take a look at this shot. This is going to give us a birdie opportunity here. All right, great shot. Thinks you may have hit the stick. All right, good play!