Target Focus All clubs Beginner / Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 7 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Pre-shot routine under pressure: Harrington

Name: Pre-shot routine under pressure: Harrington
Uploaded: 2026-10-27T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 6 min 41 s
Channel: Padraig Harrington
Description: Do you change your mind over the ball and freeze under pressure? Padraig Harrington wraps up his series of ten lessons with the pre-shot routine: he shows all golfers how to make every decision behind the ball, then play with a single, familiar thought—always the same one.

Do you change your mind over the ball and freeze under pressure? Padraig Harrington wraps up his series of ten lessons with the pre-shot routine: he shows all golfers how to make every decision behind the ball, then play with a single, familiar thought—always the same one.

▶

Padraig Harrington · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

12 minSame problemDriver: Build a Fairway on the Range Like MorikawaCollin Morikawa · Beginner / Intermediate 23 minNext Level UpHitter vs. Thrower Swing: The Real DifferencesJérémy Goergen · Intermediate 9 minFrom the same proReading the Lie in the Rough: Padraig HarringtonPadraig Harrington · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

For Padraig Harrington, a good pre-shot routine is mainly about holding up under pressure. Behind the ball, you can do whatever you want: choose your shot, your target, your power, and practice your swing. He demonstrates this on a tee box facing to the right: he tees up on the right to correct the angle, chooses a fade, aims at the bell tower, and takes a few practice swings, sweeping his arms to the left to get a feel for the curve. Others will take a deep breath—it doesn’t matter. But there is a imaginary line: once you've crossed it, you don't change anything anymore. Not the target, and not the strength of the shot because the wind has shifted. If you change your mind, start the routine over.

Over the ball, you need a single, simple, familiar thought. His focus: the target, because there’s always a target. He doesn’t wonder where he’s aiming or how his grip is. Another crucial point: not staying still for long. The player who “chokes” stops over the ball and starts adding thoughts. Harrington lines up, waggles twice, and swings toward the target. This consistency applies to the short game, putting, and wedges: under stress, the mind falls back on what it always does.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Behind the ball, choose the shot, the target, the strength, and the shape.
Take a few practice swings to get a feel for the swing.
Take one last look at the target.
Cross the imaginary line: no more new decisions.
Set up thinking only about the target.
Do your usual waggles and hit without stopping.

Key Takeaways

All decisions are made behind the ball.

An imaginary line: once you cross it, there's no turning back.

If you change your mind, just start the pre-shot routine over.

Over the ball, a single familiar thought: the target.

Don't freeze: two waggles and hit.

Mistakes to Avoid

Changing your target or strength once you're over the ball.
Staying still over the ball and letting thoughts creep in.
Running through a technical checklist at address.
Having a different routine for every shot.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

A line on the ground behind the ball: decisions before, none after
One thought—the target—with every shot
Two waggles, then go immediately—even when putting

Your Questions

What do you do behind the ball?

Everything: shot selection, target selection, swing speed, practice swings, visualization, or breathing. Padraig Harrington doesn't set any rules as long as you stay behind the ball.

What is the imaginary line?

This is the moment when you move toward the ball. Once you’ve passed that point, you can’t change either the target or the force; if you change your mind, you have to start over.

What should you think about over the ball?

Just one—simple and familiar. For him, that’s the target, because there’s always a target, which means he doesn’t have to think about his grip or aiming.

Why not stay over the ball for long?

Because when you freeze up, you start overthinking things. That's how you crack under pressure; he lines up, does two waggles, and takes his shot.

Learn More

All “Target Intention” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Driver: Build a Fairway on the Range Like MorikawaA fairway winding between two driving range markers, a gentle rise up to waist height, and an outer target in sight: Morikawa’s driver. Hitter vs. Thrower Swing: The Real DifferencesCompare the swing of someone who hits the ball with someone who throws it to the target: intent changes the setup, the move, the release and the finish; change the start and the end. Predicting Ball Contact: Edouard Montaz’s DrillContact is a prediction, not an action: lower your stance in stages (swing at the air, top, clean ball, ball-grass-ground) while aiming at the target. Padraig HarringtonAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Padraig Harrington). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.