Clarity of vision
martin robinson shares a pre-shot routine employed by those who go consistently low
THINKING CLEARLY AND SEEING CLEARLY can have a dramatic and hugely positive impact on each and every shot you play. This starts by having a clear idea of what you want to achieve with the shot, from picking a starting line to imagining how the wind will affect the flight and how the ball will react upon landing. Planning in this detail is the best start to any pre-shot routine.
The opposite is trying to hit the ball in the general direction of your target without a clear thought of how the shot will play out. Even worse is thinking about what you don’t want – “I don’t want to hit the water”, “I don’t want to miss this short putt”. Not having crystal clear intention and a precise target allows for more doubt surrounding your shot, ultimately impeding your execution.
As you go through your usual pre-shot routine, ensure that the last place you look is the precise target you have selected, like a tree in the distance if you are not aiming directly at the flag. When you are looking at the ball and about to pull the trigger, it helps if you can still ‘see’ the same image of the target in your inner vision.
A recent Trackman test (see graphic) undertaken at The Address Montgomerie Dubai shows what can happen if you don’t focus on your target. Our tester hit 30 shots, 10 each with a different focus: the first 10 shots (silver dots) after last looking directly at the target, the next 10 (yellow dots) when last focusing on a target 30 yards to the left, and finally the last 10 shots (white dots) after last seeing a target 30 yards to the right. All 30 shots were hit whilst correct physical alignment was maintained at a central target.
IMAGINE HOW DAMAGING IT CAN BE TO GLANCE AT DANGER SUCH AS WATER OR THE BUNKER BEFORE STARTING YOUR SWING.’
trackman clarity test
▶ By simply looking left or right before starting the swing, it moved the overall dispersion away from the central target. Your thoughts actually affect your muscles.
With this in mind, imagine how damaging it can be to glance at danger such as water or a bunker before starting your swing. The key piece of advice here is to ensure the last thing you look at before you hit the ball is your target. Sounds so simple, right?
play a movie in your minds eye
▶ The short game lends itself to a little more creativity and even sharper focus (see pic left). When chipping you should play a movie in your mind of the ball landing, taking the break and releasing to the hole. For putting, ‘see’ the ball rolling into the cup. From which direction? How fast would you like to see it drop into the hole? Occupying your mind with a still or moving image of your intended shot, in a realistic and detailed fashion, is the ideal way to prepare for any shot, from a three foot putt to a difficult drive.
about the monty’s head pro
▶ martin robinson is an accredited ‘Trained Brain’ performance coach and is available for a three-part Mental Performance course, inclusive of 90-minute Trained Brain indoor session, 90-minute playing lesson and 45-minute follow up. Contact The Academy by Troon at the Address Montgomerie Dubai for more information.