Is a post golf shot routine important? 

Most people have not ever heard of a post golf shot routine. What is a post shot routine in golf?

I would argue that the post golf shot routine is more important than the pre shot routine, which we seem to focus on so much. Although the pre shot routine is extremely important to get you focused, decisive, and relaxed to hit a great shot, it is equally important for you to have a solid, consistent post shot routine in order to analyze how you executed your golf shot.

A solid post shot routine would include gathering feedback for how the shot turned out, compared to how you visualized it in your pre shot routine. After hitting a shot, I place the shot in one of the three categories:

1. Great! – This is a shot that lands near the hole or desired location. It results in a great chance to make birdie.

2. Acceptable – This is a shot that may land in the middle of the green or 30 feet from the hole. Most golfers at the college level seem to get upset with this shot, what they need to realize is that this is a great miss. Golf is a game of misses and you can not hit every shot within 18 inches. Great players learn to have their misses in this category.

3. Learning Experience – This is a golf shot that is below average, misses the green, short side yourself, goes out of bounds or into a hazard. Typically golfers will get really upset, slam their club, start yelling, and forget to even watch the shot. Instead you should pay attention to the curve of the shot, evaluate your level of commitment pre shot, and rehearse what you were trying to do. If you can learn to take this approach after a shot you did not like, you will leave every shot with a positive experience and feedback, which will result in a better chance that your future shots turned out as desired!