Fix your pre-shot routine

Approach from behind, not the side
By Hank Haney
Photo By J.D. Cuban
April 2008

One of the biggest differences between a tour player and an average golfer doesn’t involve the actual swing.
Watch a tour player go through his pre-shot routine, and you’ll almost never see him walk in from the side and make a practice swing right next to the ball. He faces the target from behind the ball, to visualize his shot, and makes a couple of gentle practice swings with his eyes on the target before stepping in.
When you approach from the side, it distorts your view of the target and screws up your aim. Some players also tend to keep their feet in place after a practice swing and then reach for the ball to hit it. That’s another good reason to start your routine from behind.