Athletes often refer after a quality performance that they “trusted” their swing or stroke. Trusting your swing is crucial for effective performance, but can become difficult when you’re not playing as well as you would like. Regardless of your play, one aspect about your performance that you can always trust is your routine.
Having a routine is paramount for a few reasons. First, if you are able to have an established routine, then you take control of your performance and enable yourself to trust your swing. As pressure increases, thoughts or feelings can become distracting and it becomes even more important to have a sound routine. Trust in your routine also helps to approach the game one shot at a time, which is the ultimate goal.
Herein lies a few keys that are crucial for a solid routine. First of all, do the same thing every time. No one knows you better than yourself, so establish the best routine for yourself to get ready. For instance, some players like to waggle the club, while others prefer to line the club with the target line. Regardless of what mannerisms you choose make sure that they become repetitive and engrained. Whichever physical routine you incorporate, make sure that the target becomes a part of it. The last thing that your eyes should focus on is the smallest target you want the ball to travel. In a phrase: aim small, miss small.
The second key for an effective routine is to breathe. A deep breath before you approach the ball is designed to relax you. It allows oxygen to reach your muscles so they are loose and not restricted before your swing. Taking a deep breath is also meant to center oneself and slow you down before the shot because often during tense moments of competition, people tend to rush and hurry up to the ball. A deep breath is also meant to make sure you have your target and are ready for action
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