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Pre-shot routine All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 3 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Three-Zone Pre-Shot Routine: Rick Shiels

Do you take each shot without really preparing? Rick Shiels offers both beginners and more advanced golfers a very simple pre-shot routine, broken down into three successive phases behind the ball: think, feel, then play.

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Rick Shiels
Rick Shiels · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

15 minSame problemRickie Fowler's Green Reading, Step by StepRickie Fowler · Beginner / Intermediate4 minNext Level UpJustin Rose's Focus on PuttingJustin Rose · Intermediate / Expert13 minFrom the same proThe Four Sloping Lies: Rick ShielsRick Shiels · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

According to Rick Shiels, the world's best players have a very structured pre-shot routine, or at least always the same duration, even if their movements differ. His version uses three imaginary “boxes” lined up behind the ball. The first is the think zone, where he recommends setting down your bag: there, you assess the distance, the wind, the target, the club to use, and how to play the shot. Once you’ve chosen your club—the driver on this hole—take a step forward.

In the feel zone, you no longer worry about the club: you take a few practice swings, get a feel for the motion and the type of shot you want, and then you displays the trajectory: high, low, draw, or fade. One last step leads to the play area: You take your stance, watch the ball fly, and swing with confidence, without overthinking it. The markers on the ground are just for demonstration; on the course, they’re simply steps to be adapted to your own game. Once it becomes second nature, this pre-shot routine acts as “a comfort blanket” when the pressure and nerves start to build.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Stand behind the ball, near your bag, and assess the distance, the wind, and the target.
  2. Choose the club and how to play the shot.
  3. Take a step forward: no more questions about the club.
  4. Take some practice swings to get a feel for the shot you want.
  5. Visualize the ball's flight path: high, low, draw, or fade.
  6. Take one last step, get into position, and swing with confidence.

Key Takeaways

A good pre-shot routine always takes the same amount of time.
Zone 1, think: distance, wind, target, club, type of shot.
Zone 2, feel: practice swings and visualizing the ball flight.
Zone 3, play: take your stance and swing without further hesitation.
Once it becomes a habit, a pre-shot routine provides reassurance when under pressure.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Still being undecided about the club once you’re at address.
  • Taking practice swings without a clear picture of the swing.
  • Changing your pre-shot routine or pace all of a sudden.
  • Thinking about technique while you swing.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Two floor markers to delineate the three zones
  2. Every shot played using the full pre-shot routine
  3. The same pre-shot routine duration from one ball to the next

Your Questions

What is a pre-shot routine?

That's what you do before playing each shot. According to Rick Shiels, the best players have a structured pre-shot routine—or at least one that always takes the same amount of time.

What do you do in the think zone?

You assess the distance, the wind, the target, the club to use, and how to play the shot. He recommends setting your bag down there.

What is the feel zone for?

Practice your swing, get a feel for the motion and the desired shot shape, and visualize the ball's trajectory.

Do we have to follow this pre-shot routine to the letter?

No: the zones are imaginary, and anyone can adapt them. The key is to make it a habit—one that provides reassurance when the pressure mounts.

Learn More

All “Pre-shot routine” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Justin Rose's Focus on PuttingHis attention and eyes move from the target to the ball, then Rose strikes as his attention goes back to the target: nothing stays frozen over the ball. Jordan Spieth's Apex Point in PuttingOn long putts, Spieth finds the highest point on the line, then reads from the high side to see where the ball rolls on its own. Rickie Fowler's Green Reading, Step by StepRickie Fowler reads the putt from the low side, starting from the point where the ball enters the hole, checks his setup in the mirror, and strikes the ball with a centered contact. Rick ShielsAll of his lessons

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

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