Pre-shot Routine or "Waggle"?

[warbirdlover]

Okay, I don't do this. I'm watching all the pros and all the good golfers and they have a pre-shot routine, waggle or whatever you want to call it.

How many here do this and if so what do you do?

I need some "waggle" ideas!!

[SiberianDVM]

Just watch "Tin Cup". Rene Russo has a great waggle.

[Pa Jayhawk]

This sight tells you how to waggle and why, it also tells you some of the flaws in the reasoning of the waggle, and why it may not be the best for all players. I waggle my driver, I don't with my irons and hybrids for the reasons mentioned in the linked site. On occasion I will if I notice I feel tense over a shot, which is not very often. I know anytime I have concentrated on waggling my irons it results in a bad shot. I more just concentrate on relaxing my hands, kind of a zen method to replace the waggle.

Another consideration is to do things like what Dimarco does, actually bring the club back to waiste high, may achieve the same results of the intended result, relieving tension. I do this on occasion as well, when I am consistently hitting poor shots.

Not saying a waggle is a bad thing, it just is for some.
http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline...7_3_hh,00.html

[warbirdlover]

Some don't "waggle" but come down in "steps" kind of like Ed Norton (Honeymooners) would do. Now don't tell me you aren't old enough to know who Ed Norton was....

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Some don't "waggle" but come down in "steps" kind of like Ed Norton (Honeymooners) would do. Now don't tell me you aren't old enough to know who Ed Norton was....

Basically, the longer you stand still over the ball, more you tend to tense up. You need be loose to make a free swing, and the whole idea behind waggling the club is to keep your arms and hands loose. I waggle (not hugely, but enough to keep my limbs from locking in position) with all clubs until I'm ready to ground the club immediately prior to triggering my swing. If I stand too long thinking after I ground the club, I will usually step back and start the process over again.

I very rarely ever need to back off though... don't want to give the impression that I'm one of those slow players who takes forever to make a swing. I usually start my routine even before the guy ahead of me has hit is ball. That way, once his shot is on the way I'm already in address position and ready to make my shot immediately.

[MCDavis]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Some don't "waggle" but come down in "steps" kind of like Ed Norton (Honeymooners) would do. Now don't tell me you aren't old enough to know who Ed Norton was....

Isn't he some old guy in the re-runs from when I was a kid??

[JEFF4i]

Ed Norton? Isn't that some horse that talked?

As far as wa wa waggling, I do sometimes, when my hands are feeling terribly comfortable. Usually helps.

[limpalong]

I really think the secret is to develop a routine that is the same shot to shot... day to day... week to week. That routine becomes a ingrained reaction that allows much more consistency. Whether it is driver, irons, or wedges I make the same three abbreviated waggles and then just hit the da** ball. It's a habit, now. I never think about it. My concentration can be on the shot at hand because the shot routine is the same.

Over the years, it has certainly been fun to watch some of the pre-shot routines. The one who takes 3 or 4 waggles and then a practice swing... another 3 or 4 waggles and another practice swing... on and on until you want to say... "Just hit the ball!!!!" Or, the fella whose knuckles turn completely white as he grips the club as if he's squeezing the life out of it. He then freezes over the ball and just stands there. Finally, after you could have named all seven dwarfs and all 12 reindeer... he takes a mighty swing at the ball. "Just hit the ball!!!" Or, the one who can't get his feet in proper position over the ball. A practice swing and then move 1/2" forward. Another practice swing and then move 2" back. After about the 5th change in foot position, he finally flails helplessly at the ball. "Just hit the ball!!!!"

Whether sitting in a mall watching people or playing this crazy game with crazy people (you need to be about half crazy to even play this game) you see a lot of interesting things.

[warbirdlover]

Now that's what I want to hear. The pre-shot routine that helps you make solid sweet spot contact over and over shot to shot but not necessarily a waggle or time consuming. Just do this thing that helps you make solid contact. And I agree on your assessment of many golfers limpalong!!!

[Canadriver]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

I waggle my driver, I don't with my irons and hybrids for the reasons mentioned in the linked site. On occasion I will if I notice I feel tense over a shot, which is not very often.

That's what I do as well ... although, I must admit, I've "frozen" over the occasional difficult shot as someone else has alluded to.

[flomarilius]

Usually a waggle could be your swing in steps. Kinda like Tiger before most of his shots he goes in order:
1) Waist high
2) Top of the backswing
3) back to address
4) Full practice swing

My waggle is sort of like Appleby's; Bring the club somewhat back and then to the ball but then bring it up vertically when your getting close to the ball.
It keeps your hands fore arms loose while your visioning your shot.

[ezra76]

Funny you should mention this. I have stopped "waggling" for a while now. Maybe I should start again.... As far as freezing, I actually seem to hit a better shot when I freeze for a few seconds. Maybe it puts that impact point in my head?

[Sandpiper3]

1. Practise swing behind ball w/feet together (to promote solid release)
2. stepup right foot forward, place clubhead first, then align body off club
3. as stepping out, waggling a little (about from ball to a foot and a half back) 3-5 times im guessing, i dont actually count but its quick
4. club down look up quick and back down, look back up, deep breathe, exhale, look down
5 pull the trigger.

My preshot routine is that for every club except my putter.

Putter routine

1. step up beside ball, two back and forth strokes feeling the weight (4 strokes if its a terribly tough looking putt, ONLY 2 or 4)
2. put putter head behind ball and align it, then stepup, ball always off left toe.
3. look along line to hole, back to ball, back to hole, stare at little spot in the back of the cup, deep breath in and out, look down
4 pull the trigger.

Those two routines are followed every single time, the full shot takes me approx 40 seconds, the putting about 30. I have the deep breath in and out to relax all my muscles and stay focused.

[JEFF4i]

Driver/iron/wedge shot routine: Hit the ball all perty like.
Putter shot routine: Hit the ball all perky like into zee hole.

[benk]

This is a really good question.

I also read in hogans book about the waggle and wondered about it. After some research into it, I think I've figured it out. It is not neccessary to have a waggle, but to just keep moving. You don't want to be in a static positition before you swing, you can either waggle, or move your feet or any other body part to keep moving. I watched a playing with the pros clip that solidified this, where rocco mediate said "Not many people think about this, but its something all pros know. You have to keep moving before the shot, you don't wanna be in a static position. When you stop moving, you swing. [ or close to that ]."

When it coems to a pre shot routine, I cannot stress enough the importance of it, especially in putting. I think what you do before the shot is almost as important as what you do during it, especially for better players. I think a pre-shot routine is almost necessary to be a good putter, and it helps a ton in all the other parts of the game. The only pro I know of that doesn't have a pre-shot routine is Adam Scott, but I think he might have one subconsciously, without knowing it.