Sports psychologists have got a lot to answer for. To my mind, they must bear some (if not most) of the blame for the interminable rounds of golf I've had to endure - and follow - in recent years.
For far too many golfers these days, it's not good enough to "have a knock" with your pals - tee it up, belt it, find it, belt it again, line up the putt and strike it at the hole.
Oh no - that simply won't do any more. These mind gurus tell us to imagine the shot you want to play - which involves standing motionless behind your ball, then picking your target line and the spot on the fairway or green to land the ball - even if your eyesight is a bit blurred after 100 yards or so.
Next you have to spend more time in the visualisation zone, re-creating the perfect arc the ball takes through the air to its intended destination.
Ready to strike then? (Sorry, no, please try to stay awake!)
There's more to be done yet. We haven't even started the pre-shot routine.
Having stood behind the ball to picture your shot, it's now time to move alongside it to take your stance. (Still with me? You've not nodded off?)
Place the clubhead behind the ball, feet together, move the left foot the required distance to the left, now the right foot to the right. Comfortable?
Gently bend the knees slightly, shuffle the feet a little to get more comfortable. Get ready for the wrist waggle (is that one waggle or two?), look up to the target, back down at the ball, up at the target again, down at the ball again.
FORE! (a plaintive cry is heard nearby)
Hell and damnation... concentration's gone to pot, I'm out of my zone. I'll have to start again... visualise the shot, shuffle into my stance - and so on.
Is it any wonder competitions and corporate golf days take five and six hours when golfers with a range of abilities from scratch to 36 handicap are taking ages to hit each shot?
At my local course we've got members who go through this whole rigmarole every time and take at least 100 shots in a round.
For goodness' sake! Decide where you want to hit it then stand up to it and give it a clout. The object of golf is to propel the ball towards a 4.25 inch hole, so just do it!
Do you have a pre-shot routine that works or a swing thought that improves your game? Tell us on the forum.
