Pre Shot Routine – Relax
Hi. Dave Cahill here at the Logger’s Trail Golf Course in Minnesota. You can play better golf when you are more relaxed. As part of your pre-shot routine follow this simple little procedure to relax your mind and body so you can perform. You might have seen major league baseball players do this when they are under pressure. They breath in and then out. While they do this they are relaxing their shoulders, relaxing their arms, relaxing their hands. As part of your pre-shot routine, try it. Stand back behind the ball. As you are looking at the target and with your club in hand just breath in. Then breath out relax you shoulders, relax your arms relax your face. Now that you are relaxed, do a practice swing, Set up to your target focus on where you are aiming, not so much what you are going to do during the swing. Hit that ball nice and solid, relaxed and without a lot of extra thoughts.
PRACTICE DEEP BREATHING
Inhale Sit or stand (using good posture) and place your hands firmly and comfortably on your stomach. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, letting your stomach expand as much as possible. Many people are “backward breathers” they tend to tighten their stomachs when breathing in. By placing your hands on your stomach, you can actually feel when you are breathing properly. When you’ve breathed in as much as possible, hold your breath for a few seconds before exhaling.
Exhale With your hands on your stomach, exhale slowly through your mouth, pursing your lips as if you were going to whistle. By pursing your lips, you can control how fast you exhale and keep your airways open as long as possible. As you exhale, your stomach deflates, while the large muscle under your lungs (the diaphragm) expands. When your lungs feel “empty,’ begin the inhale-exhale cycle again. Try to repeat this cycle three or four times at each session.
PGA Instructor Mike Cahill and PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill are here to help you play better and enjoy the game more. Please come see us in Palm Springs CA or Stillwater MN for golf lessons or visit us for a Palm Springs, CA or Las Vegas, NV Golf School.
PGA Instructor Mike Cahill 612-501-9015 mikecahill@cahillgolf.com
PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill 952-994-0387 davecahill@cahillgolf.com