How often do you step back from the ball?

[rubin]

Serious question.

During my round on sunday, this was one of the things that i wanted to do (weird I know).

I have recently found myself standiong over a ball about to play a shot and thinking that something was wrong (too close to the ball, to far away, lined up in the wrong spot etc.) and just swinging away anyway thinking i'll fix it up during the swing (which you can never do).

It is something that I have practiced at the range during the past few weeks as well (again - a bit weird)

I only did it twice, one time because i wasn't settled and couldn't get comfortable, when i went up to it again, i put it to within a meter of the flag, so the result was ok.

The second time was when the group behind us yelled out the green next to the tee as i was about to swing.

It also got me thinking that I can't recall many people doing this during a round.

[Puji]

I wish I did it more often.

I do the whole "and just swinging away anyway thinking i'll fix it up during the swing " too often - and it NEVER ends well. I really need to work on a pre-shot routine. I need to break up the swing into two parts 1) What you do before the swing - Club selection, alignment, Shot type and 2) The actual swing. I do this with success on the putting green.

I do pull out (maybe once every two rounds) at the top of my backswing though.

[Yossarian]

It make you look more like a pro so I strongly encourage it.

[rubin]

I wish I did it more often.

I do the whole "and just swinging away anyway thinking i'll fix it up during the swing " too often - and it NEVER ends well. I really need to work on a pre-shot routine. I need to break up the swing into two parts 1) What you do before the swing - Club selection, alignment, Shot type and 2) The actual swing. I do this with success on the putting green.

I do pull out (maybe once every two rounds) at the top of my backswing though.

setting yourself up on that one.......

[Webster]

Just hit it and get on with it.

[Dotty]

Just hit it and get on with it.

+ 1.

I plan to have half a million shots on the course over my lifetime.
Wasting 10 seconds on each pre-shot routine will equate to 1388 hours less drinking time.

[aym]

+ 1.

I plan to have half a million shots on the course over my lifetime.
Wasting 10 seconds on each pre-shot routine will equate to 1388 hours less drinking time.

Lol ... I like the way you think.

And no, never step away, execpt when I realise I haven't actually aimed because I am in a hurry to play the ball due to my playing partner been too freaking slow ...

[Jarro]

Just hit it and get on with it.

When you're sure you're set and ready to go though 'eh ?

I need to do it a bit more .... mainly later in the round when the mental game goes AWOL

[Johnny Canuck]

I will step away once or twice a round. I should do it more often as I always seem to know when something is amiss and I still go through with the swing and screw up in the manner that I thought I would.

I seem to hit my best shots after I step away. Maybe I should do it every shot.

[Jarro]

I will step away once or twice a round. I should do it more often as I always seem to know when something is amiss and I still go through with the swing and screw up in the manner that I thought I would.

I seem to hit my best shots after I step away. Maybe I should do it every shot.

I hope you play in Jacks group @ the WAnker champs

[Yossarian]

Is this related to pushing back?

[Johnny Canuck]

I hope you play in Jacks group @ the WAnker champs

So do I. I look forward to taking some Victorian internet money.

[RobNewy]

I physicaly cant do it.
Half my brain says, step away, go again.
The other half says , just friggin hit it!

That side wins.

[Ferrins]

Had a habit of backing off from the urinal.

[TheTrueReview]

.... mainly later in the round when the mental game goes AWOL

I know that mental game ...

[IanO]

I wish I stepped back more often. The number of times I have felt I am in the wrong position and then hit it anyway (with a crap result) is too many to tell. If I could step back more often I am sure I would play better.

[LarryLong]

I hit it anyway. The number of times I feel good and hit a shocker has convinced me that my subconscious has no idea what's about to happen.

[Toolish]

I need to do it more often. Rarely a physical thing with me where it feels wrong, but mentally there are times where I am not ready to hit and follow through with it where I need to back off.

In all honesty I can not remember backing off a shot in the last 5 years.

[Veefore]

They're called "anyways". Where you know something is wrong but you hit it "anyway".

There is a great book called Zen Golf by Joseph Parent and he talks a lot about them. For most of us, "anyways" can cost up to five or six shots a round and the better the player the more it hurts.

A great tip for reducing them is to mark it on your card every time you think that you've had one and count them up after the round. As you play more rounds you'll find that just the awareness that marking them down brings will also help to make you conscious of those situations BEFORE you pull the trigger and you will be able to step away and reset and reduce the damage that they cause.

[dave1]

I do it somtimes simpy because of a wind gust (add your own joke )

I know on the greens the rule has changed if the ball moves and so forth but on the fairway its no so clear cut

I also do if it if i have thoughts in my head other than target before I hit the ball. My back away and start again is very quick though - just a few seconds