Gathering Information Before Selecting a Club

Gathering Information

The golf course is a unique environment, constantly changing from shot to shot. If it takes you 90 strokes to complete a round, every single shot will be different. Each one demands a unique set of skills as the distance, lies, slopes, and weather conditions are never identical. That’s why this initial stage—gathering information—is vital. It requires you to ask yourself a series of questions to make an educated decision about the shot you’re about to play.
Example: Questions for a Typical Approach Shot on a Par 4

• How far is it to the flag? Is it at the front or back of the green?
• Lie: This is HUGE. Is the lie dry or wet? Is there grass behind the ball? How will the ball launch off the club-face, and how will it react upon landing on the green? Is the ball on a slope that will affect its launch direction (e.g., high, low, left, or right)?
• Stance: Is my stance compromising my ability to swing?
• Weather: Will the wind or temperature affect the ball?
• Risks: Are there hazards near the green, such as bunkers or trouble over the back?

While this may seem like a lot to consider, even recreational golfers can benefit from asking these questions. The goal is to paint a clear picture in your mind of how the ball will behave off the lie and where you want it to go. Gathering this information doesn’t need to slow down play; you can assess many of these factors while your playing partners are taking their shots. Typically, it takes about 30 seconds to complete this process.

Priming the practice swing

Once you have gathered your information on the shot, and have a picture we need to move into what I'd call the 'feel' stage. Here we are trying match the feel of the shot we want ot play with the picture with practice swings.
The difference between a standard practice swing above the ground and priming is critical. A practice swing often lacks focus and feel, whereas priming is an intentional rehearsal designed to prepare your body for the specific shot ahead. It allows you to adapt to the environment and increases your chances of making a confident, committed swing.

Steps to Priming Effectively

• Visualize the Shot - Once you have a clear image of the shot in your mind’s eye and have selected the club, don’t skip this crucial step.
• Rehearse with Purpose - Take a practice swing in a similar area that mimics the upcoming shot. For instance, if the ball is above your feet or on a slope, your practice swing should reflect these conditions.
• Adapt to the Environment - Evaluate how the slope or stance affects your ability to swing. Is your right foot significantly lower at address? Adjust your setup accordingly.
• Evaluate Ground Contact - During the rehearsal, observe where the club is bottoming out relative to the ball’s position. More adjustment will be needed on severe slopes. This step is often overlooked, yet it’s crucial for building the feel needed to execute the shot. While advanced players may go through this process more subconsciously, it’s still vital for golfers of all levels to engage in purposeful priming.
• Common Mistake - Many golfers take practice swings that don’t match the shot they’re about to hit. For example, on a side slope with the ball above your feet, you might take a swing without grounding the club or adjusting your setup. This lack of adaptation reduces your chances of success. While priming doesn’t guarantee perfect shots, it helps you ask the right questions and make necessary adjustments for better results.
• Developing a New Skill - Over time, engaging in this process will help you develop adaptability and a deeper understanding of how to handle a variety of shots. These skills will become more intuitive and subconscious with practice, making it easier to execute consistent swings under different conditions.

How to Practice Priming - The best way to develop this skill is through experimentation on the course. Test yourself with various lies and slopes, and observe how adjustments affect your results. Here are some key areas to focus on:

• Ball Position: Experiment with how ball position affects contact and trajectory.
• Grip: Adjust your hold on the club for different lies. 
• Clubface Direction: Understand how loft changes club-face alignment at address and impact, especially on uneven lies.
• Stance Pressure - Modify your weight distribution to match the slope.
• Pivot Changes - Quite often the pivot is comprimised when playing shots from uneven lies. We may feel a lot more hands and arms in a swing and also be limited in the length of the swing especially as the lie become more extreme.
• Balance adjustments at setup - Gravity may want to pull you a certain direction, make sure you stabilise yourself - example being when the ball is below the feet, the tendency is for the player to move forward in the backswing. A simple adjustment of moving the pressure towards the heels at address will balance you and allow for more consistent ball striking.

Final Thoughts

Priming is a powerful tool that helps you connect your mind and body to the demands of each unique shot. By dedicating time to this process, you’ll not only see improvements in your shot execution but also in your overall confidence on the course.

What are your thoughts on priming? Have you tried incorporating any of these steps into your routine?