Ever let a doubt enter your mind just before your swing? Perhaps it might be something like one of these completions to the phrase “I doubt I…”
- Choose the right club
- Checked the wind direction
- Took into account for the ball being above/below my feet
- Lined up to that far tree
- Marked my ball
- Have enough club to get over the bunker/lake/tree
- Will keep it out of the woods
- Am standing far/close enough to the ball
- Can get up and down to save par
- Can beat my opponent
- Am hitting my own ball
We all have these from time to time. Some are much more frequent than others. So, when a doubt enters your mind, what do you do? Here’s my suggestion: S-T-O-P.
As you are preparing to take a shot and doubts enter your mind stop your swing right there and restart your pre-shot routine. Make sure that your routine covers the area of doubt. If it’s not there then add it. Rememer that the one purpose of the preshot routine is to eliminate doubt and enable you to take the shot that your mind saw and your body felt.
By the way, if you haven’t written down your pre-shot routine, what are you waiting for? It’s a great way to make sure you’ve got your doubts covered.