Should I take a practice swing?

We have all seen the player who takes a zillion practice swings before each shot…ugh…beam me up Scotty!!! So, what’s the consensus on practice swings anyway? Should you take a practice swing or not? As with most questions in life, it depends.

For many golfers, their practice swing serves as a dress rehearsal for the “real shot.” They take a series of practice swings until they perfectly brush the grass. Then they address the golf ball and try to remember what they did 3 seconds ago so they can repeat it 3 seconds from now. If this sounds familiar to you, eliminate your practice swing. The only purpose it serves is keeping you from being in the present. Essentially your mind is digging into the past so it can perform something in the future. Not ideal given optimal performance requires a present focus. On a side note, I want to briefly address the notion of repeating your swing. Our goal is never to repeat, but rather create golf shots. This may sound like a debate in semantics, but the meaning behind each word is very different. Each shot is unique…course conditions, weather, current emotional and physical states, as well as the perception of a shot’s importance. The next time you address a shot…create your masterpiece!

Now, let’s get back to the topic of practice swings. Am I suggesting that no one ever take a practice swing? No. But, if you choose to take a practice swing, it must serve a purpose. Practice swings can be helpful when faced with an unusual lie (uphill, downhill, or sidehill) or a shot requiring less than a full swing (chip or pitch). They can also serve the purpose of simply staying loose between shots…let’s face it, as the years pass, we all have a few more squeaky parts!

If you choose to take a practice swing and have clearly established its purpose, the final question is where and when to use it. My preference is to keep your practice swing in a preparation routine rather than a preshot routine. Consider the following example:

You are 30 yards out with a bunker between you and the green. No wind. The pin position is tight with little green to work with. You choose your lob wedge.
Take a practice swing with the purpose of getting an overall “feel” for the shot.
After you have completed your practice swing, it is time to focus on creating the shot at hand. Begin your preshot routine by standing behind the ball to clearly establish your target and line. Imagine your ideal shot.
Step forward, address the ball (without taking an additional practice swing), take one last look at the target, and create your shot.

I encourage you to explore the purpose of your practice swings. Experiment…play a round with practice swings and play a round with no practice swings. What do you notice? The key is to determine what best serves your golf game.