Preshot routine?

[Woodpecker]

I started playing disc golf last August. I've been a pool player for over 45 years. The sports are similar in what I call being stroke orientated.

In pool, the term "preshot routine" comes up a lot. It starts with approaching the table, visualizing the shot you want to make, placement of your body starting with your stance, grip on the cue, practice strokes with eye movement between the cue ball and object ball and last, a quick mental check that everything is in line to make the shot.

If something felt wrong or looked wrong, I backed off the shot and started over.

When I played pool, most of the time, it was for money and sometimes, a lot of money. So, it was in the best interest of my wallet that I take my time and make sure everything was right.

I have a preshot routine in DG that is somewhat unorganized since I'm still learning and experimenting with different things. But, for the life of me, when I know something doesn't feel or look right, I don't back off the shot and I normally flub it.

The only thing I can figure is in DG, I play casually without the pressure of money being on the line. Also, when I play with my friends on a crowded course, I try to keep things moving at a good pace.

I've watched some of the DG pros play, and all of them have a set preshot routine while driving, approaching or putting.

I know this is a hinderance to me advancing my game and I will have to get mentally toughter if I want to get better.

Anyone else have this problem?

Woodpecker



I guess this is

[garublador]

It's difficult to come up with a pre-shot routine before you really know what you're supposed to be doing. I find that as I've been improving my form and finding my shortcomings, my pre-shot routine has come together on it's own. Mine is about focusing on what I need to do to make the shot I wat and not doing stuff that's wrong. An example would be that I remind myself not to roll my wrist and to kick off my back foot to get my weight forward. What I specifically do for each shot depends on what problems I happen to be having at the time and what I want the disc to do once it leaves my hand.

[DSCJNKY]

Pre-shot routines are definately helpful. I suppose the routine you do depends on the type of shot you are about to throw (drive, upshot, putt). I know one guy who walks onto the teepad with two discs in his hand and then practices his motion with both discs to determine which one feels best in his hand at that moment - seems to work pretty good. It's also a good idea to walk through your approach, especially if the teepad is sketchy or the angle to the basket is skewed when compared to the teepad.
DSCJNKY

[Guurn]

I have a preshot routine but it doesn't take that much time and I can't remember ever being behind someone whose routine took so long that it irritated me. I do remember being behind a new player whose routine was so stupid it irritated me though.
Mine is about focusing on what I need to do to make the shot I wat and not doing stuff that's wrong
Hehe Back when I raced mountain bikes I learned early on that whatever you look at you will hit. The same holds true in disc golf.

I use visualization along with a quick walk down the teepad. Some things of note. My main reasons for walking down the teepad is to move my arm in the release angle I want to use and to check the end of the pad for slippery areas. Many teepads have areas that are so worn they are too smooth for a good release. Then I walk back to the beginning of the pad and check my grip and go. Checking my grip on the disc has made a huge difference in my consistency.

[DiscChainBasket18]

I love to play pool & now recognize that there are pre-shot routines for me in almost every sport. I think a routine allows you to focus on the task at hand. Muscle memory is in there too. I remember being at the bowling alley & a friend of ours (who is a league bowler) had this big long drawn out pre-shot routine. We were all harassing him because it took so long for him to shoot. But he bowled the best (by far) out of all of us so we had to respect him for it. Bottom line: Dont get crazy with your set-up & if your routine is super long, you better make a great shot (every time).haha

[Fore]

I have a preshot routine but it doesn't take that much time and I can't remember ever being behind someone whose routine took so long that it irritated me. I do remember being behind a new player whose routine was so stupid it irritated me though.

Hehe Back when I raced mountain bikes I learned early on that whatever you look at you will hit. The same holds true in disc golf.

I use visualization along with a quick walk down the teepad. Some things of note. My main reasons for walking down the teepad is to move my arm in the release angle I want to use and to check the end of the pad for slippery areas. Many teepads have areas that are so worn they are too smooth for a good release. Then I walk back to the beginning of the pad and check my grip and go. Checking my grip on the disc has made a huge difference in my consistency.



I do the same as above before I tee off. My putting routine consist of taking stance, focus on middle chain, two pumps to clear my mind and throw on the third. If there is a distraction before I throw I will start the whole thing over. If for some reason I don't follow this I normally miss my mark.

[BrotherDave]

I don't know about preshot routine but I've gotta pretty consistent post shot routine. *whack!* f-bomb, stomp feet, look to sky, "You gotta be sh!ttin' me!" Yeah, that's pretty much it.

[TalbotTrojan]

The key word for me in regards to my preshot routine is consistency. If I do my pre shot routine for whatever kind of shot I intend to make then I feel a lot more confident and the shots are much more consistent. The tough part is when I should have done a different kind of shot or try and put a little extra on a putt shot, then I mess up and get mad at myself.

[jace]

I don't know about preshot routine but I've gotta pretty consistent post shot routine. *whack!* f-bomb, stomp feet, look to sky, "You gotta be sh!ttin' me!" Yeah, that's pretty much it.

lmao - and this was probably a good throw :D

[swellerdiscgolf]

I don't know about preshot routine but I've gotta pretty consistent post shot routine. *whack!* f-bomb, stomp feet, look to sky, "You gotta be sh!ttin' me!" Yeah, that's pretty much it.

I was kind of the same way until my 4 year old copied me, throwing his disc and saying sh** muthafu***.:o Now my post shot routine is all in my head.

[BrotherDave]

I was kind of the same way until my 4 year old copied me, throwing his disc and saying sh** muthafu***.:o Now my post shot routine is all in my head.

Fortunately I play at a very sparsely populated park and the dominant language is Espanol.

And yeah, the perfectly lined throw does tend hit trees. I use to aim at the tree I wanted to miss thinking that if I tried to hit it I would just miss it and this worked pretty well when I started playing but now I'm slightly more accurate and I forget to NOT aim at the tree.