Pre-Shot by Swing Category

The Pre-Shot Loop is one sequence with three phases. What changes is the delivery rule and lock-in target—not the rhythm. Full Swing runs a calibration swing; Short Game and Putting program setup before motion.

One OS, Three Physics

Do not invent a separate routine per category. The Full Swing removes degrees of freedom until GRF and J-Curve fire. Short Game and Putting start with fewer degrees of freedom. The loop timing and external-focus rules still apply.

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Universal Rules (All Categories)

Every shot, regardless of category:

1. One external objective before takeaway — intermediate target, landing spot, or Level call
2. Square the face first, then build stance around it — see Fundamentals setup model
3. Micro-motion over the ball — static freeze breeds tension and internal cue-checking
4. Full loop in Phase 3 — Transfer Protocol random reps and on-course shots must use the same routine as block practice

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The Full Swing

Delivery rules come from the Full Swing Blueprint. Pre-shot programming protects GRF, Elbow Plane shallowing, and J-Curve release under pressure.

Phase	Objective	Execution
1 — Calibration	Map today's geometry behind the ball	One slow practice swing (~20% speed); feel shallowing, lead-side pressure, handle path
2 — Lock-in	External start-line focus	Intermediate target ~2 feet ahead on start line; square leading edge; build stance around face
3 — Execute	Trust trained geometry	Micro-motion; one look at target; eyes to ball; takeaway immediately — do not steer

Epic Fail: Full-Speed Practice Swings

Burning focus on rehearsal swings before the real shot trains a different context than tournament execution. One calibration swing at ~20%, then lock-in.

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The Short Game

Delivery rules come from the Short Game Blueprint: bounce skim → passive release → trajectory window → carry Level → landing spot. Shot-type routing: Short Game Shot Library.

Phase	Objective	Execution
1 — Calibration	Program setup before motion	Behind ball: call lob or checker window; assign landing spot; read lie
2 — Lock-in	Face and pressure locked at address	Square leading edge to intermediate target; narrow stance, extra knee flex, ~55% lead-foot pressure; ball position sets window
3 — Execute	External turf interaction	Micro-motion; focus on landing spot or hollow thump — not wrist hold or hinge maintenance

Trajectory is locked at address—not invented in motion. See Trajectory Control — Pre-Shot Lock.

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Putting

Delivery rules come from the Putting Blueprint: pendulum stillness → face at impact → speed Level → read loop.

Phase	Objective	Execution
1 — Calibration	Read and pace before address	Straddle line for slope value; on lag putts, pace distance behind ball — see Lag Putting
2 — Lock-in	Face, Level, and line committed	Intermediate target ~6 inches ahead; square face; lock Level 1–3 and tempo before takeaway
3 — Execute	Planar pendulum delivery	Micro-motion; roll over intermediate coordinate — head still through roll (pendulum)

Speed is programmed before motion, not punched at impact.

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Compressed Variants

Some situations compress the loop without skipping external focus:

Short Putts (Make Zone)

For putts inside the make zone (~3 feet), run the compressed routine:

1. One look — confirm break only if visible; assign slope value when needed
2. Intermediate target — 6-inch mark on start line
3. Level 1 stroke — short backswing, constant tempo
4. Execute — external focus on gate or intermediate target, not the hole

Optimization: One Look, One Stroke

Multiple looks and re-aims on a 2-footer are doubt, not precision. Trust the read, lock the intermediate target, and go.

Lag Putts (25–50 Feet)

Long putts prioritize leave zone over holing out:

1. Pace behind the ball — map distance to calibrated Level (Lag Putting)
2. Lock Level and line — intermediate target on start line; commit to 12–18 inches past the hole
3. Execute — pendulum stroke; no mid-stroke speed calculation

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Bridging Range and Course

Category-specific pre-shot rules only transfer when the same loop runs on the range. Transfer Protocol Phase 3 and on-course play require:

• calibration or programming step behind the ball
• intermediate target / landing spot / Level lock
• full execute phase with micro-motion

If random range reps feel easy but the first tee feels foreign, the routine was skipped on the range. Add the full loop before declaring transfer success.

Read next: Recovery & Reset Protocol — what to do after a mishit without stacking swing thoughts.

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