Saturday on the professional tours is known as moving day. Naïvely, I thought that meant those who made the cut would move into the better hotel rooms of those who missed the cut. While that might occur, moving day is actually a strategy where golfers take riskier shots on Saturday to move up the Leaderboard and once on top they sit on the lead and play more conservatively on Sunday. While this might be great for the person leading on Sunday morning, it doesn’t make for good drama for the TV broadcast.
With this in mind, the USGA saw an opportunity at the recent US OPEN to set up the final four holes with birdie and even eagle scoring opportunities. Thus, the leader with a three or four shot lead couldn’t sit on the lead and coast to a win. Instead, they needed to press ahead and make a birdie or two to secure a win.
Playing aggressively while in the lead is challenging. Pressure mounts with every shot. Nerves become frayed. A little extra adrenaline adds a dozen yards to the golfer’s typical swing and all of a sudden the leader is faced with a certain double bogey. So, how do professional golfers handle the pressure?
After winning the recent US Open, Jordan Spieth redirected the crowd’s applause toward his caddie, Michael Greller, who Jordan said kept him cool and rolling along all day. But, we don’t have caddies who know and understand the situation, our abilities, and interject the right words at the right time to calm us down. But, professionals have another tool that we can use.
Each tour pro spends time developing and practicing a pre-shot routine that fits their temperament, style of play, and decision making process. A well-honed pre-shot routine can vent pressure, soothe frayed nerves, and ground the golfer into a process they trust. Development of the pre-shot routine begins with:
- Writing down each step enables them to settle on one routine and eliminate unnecessary steps.
- Timing the process ensures good rhythm in the pre-shot routine that can carry over into the execution of the shot.
- Practicing the routine with each shot on the range and practice rounds engraves it in the mind of the golfer (and caddie).
What about you? Do you have a pre-shot routine or do you suddenly realize that it’s your turn, frantically survey the situation, quickly reach for a club, race to the tee, and nervously take your stance. I’ve been there and done exactly that, but that’s not the way golf’s meant to be played. If you don’t have a pre-shot routine, today is a great day to start. A pre-shot routine will help you play better golf. It’s also a great way to live life. Find your rhythm and use it before and during each shot.
