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Range PracticePre-shot routine All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Hank Haney's Pre-Shot Routine: Practice How You Play

The practice swing is often just a mechanical motion. For Hank Haney, it’s a dress rehearsal for the actual swing, so it needs to be practiced. Golf Digest summarizes this chapter of his book: practice the way you play, incorporating the practice swing into every shot.

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Hank Haney
Hank Haney · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

15 minNext Level UpTommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate / Expert11 minNext Level UpDeChambeau's Short Game Practice: Chips, Rough, BunkerBryson DeChambeau · Intermediate / Expert1 minFrom the same proOver-rotated finish: Hank Haney's adviceHank Haney · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

For Hank Haney, the important thing is to Practice the way you play. There's no way I'm just hitting balls aimlessly: I have to change clubs and targets with every shot, just like on the course. His most unusual recommendation: include a swing on the driving range in your practice sessions.

On the course, most golfers take a mechanical practice swing without thinking about what they’re doing—sometimes three, four, or five in a row. Hank Haney is clear: never more than one practice swing, but this one is very important. It must be be deliberate and be an exact replica of the swing what we're going to do with the ball. Practicing this on the driving range makes the sessions more like the actual game and refines this practice run.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. At the driving range, choose a different club and target for each ball.
  2. Before each shot, take just one practice swing.
  3. Make this practice swing a deliberate one, focusing on what you're doing.
  4. Make sure it's an exact replica of the swing you're about to take.
  5. Then hit the ball using the same motion.
  6. Follow this routine exactly as described on the course.

Key Takeaways

Train the way you play—don't just hit balls aimlessly.
Change clubs and targets with every shot.
Just one practice swing—never three, four, or five.
The practice swing should be deliberate.
It must be an exact replica of the real swing.
Practicing these shots at the driving range makes the session more like an actual round on the course.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Hit balls one after another without changing clubs or targets.
  • Take a mechanical swing, without thinking about it.
  • Perform several practice swings in a row.
  • Take a practice swing that's different from your actual swing.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A different target and club for every shot
  2. A deliberate swing before each shot
  3. A full session, just like on the course, including the pre-shot routine

Your Questions

How many practice swings should you take, according to Hank Haney?

Just one, and never again. But this practice swing is important: it must be deliberate and exactly replicate the swing you’re going to make.

Why practice your test swing at the driving range?

Because you do it on the course. Hank Haney wants the session to resemble the actual game, and the practice swing serves as a dress rehearsal for the real swing.

How can you practice the way you play?

By changing clubs and targets with every shot, avoiding aimless swings, and incorporating a practice swing into the pre-shot routine for each shot.

Learn More

All “Practice” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Pre-shot routine” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Tommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTo find the fairway, Fleetwood maintains his tee height, holds the club in the air, widens his stance, and hits over a tee placed behind the ball. DeChambeau's Short Game Practice: Chips, Rough, BunkerHis typical practice session around the green: three basic chip shots, three shots from the rough handled differently, and in the bunker, controlling the point of impact on the clubface. Justin Rose's putting session with Phil KenyonBefore a tournament, Rose and his coach check his setup, the ball's line matched to the top of the putter, a start-line gate and the slope in percent. Hank HaneyAll of his lessons

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

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