Recovery & Reset Protocol
A bad shot on course is not a lesson—it is a signal. The Recovery & Reset Protocol keeps the next rep from becoming a stack of internal fixes that make the following shot worse.
Transfer Protocol exit criteria include recovery after mishit: one external delivery rule, full Pre-Shot Loop, no anatomy checklist. This page defines that behavior.
Diagnosing and rebuilding mechanics between shots adds latency, raises tension, and splits attention. Name the pattern once if helpful—then run one external objective on the next shot. Save constraint work for The Practice Plan.
The Four-Step Reset
Use this walking to the next ball:
- Name the pattern (optional, once) — match ball flight or strike to Faults & Fixes if the root is obvious. Do not re-read the full lesson mid-round.
- Drop internal fixes — no "keep elbow tucked," "hold lag," or "fire hips" on the next tee. See External vs. Internal Focus.
- Pick one external delivery rule — from the relevant Method pillar (examples below). One sentence only.
- Run the full Pre-Shot Loop — calibration or programming → lock-in → execute. Same rhythm as the previous good shot.
If the pattern repeats three times in one round, note it for the range. Do not install a new pattern on course mid-round.
One External Rule by Category
Pick one objective for the next shot—not a fix list.
| Category | Example external rules (pick one) |
|---|---|
| Full Swing | "Crush the turf" (GRF); "Roll over the intermediate target"; "Clear the exit gate" (J-Curve) |
| Short Game | "Skim over the tee" (bounce); "Land on the spot" (landing zones); "Hollow thump" contact sound |
| Putting | "Roll over the 6-inch mark" (face angle); "Level 2 tempo" (speed programming); "Head still through roll" (pendulum) |
Recovery is not a different routine—it is the same Pre-Shot Loop with a single external anchor. Category variants live in Pre-Shot by Swing Category.
When to Calibrate on Course vs. Range
| Situation | On course | Save for range |
|---|---|---|
| One bad drive, pattern unclear | Full loop + one external rule | — |
| Same fault 3+ times in a round | Abbreviated loop; play safe | Open Faults & Fixes + linked drill next session |
| New pattern never practiced | Do not install | Constraint-led practice at 10% speed |
| Post-round review | Note fault + one delivery rule that failed | Run 50-rep blueprint on that rule |
Grooving This Pattern
Install recovery behavior before tournament load—a 7-day loop install, not 50 swing reps:
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Run full Pre-Shot Loop on range at 10%, no ball — map timing |
| 3–4 | Full loop on every Transfer Protocol Phase 3 random rep |
| 5–6 | Full loop on course or pressure simulation; after one intentional mishit, run four-step reset on the next shot |
| 7 | Terminal test — one high-stakes tee shot, full routine, single external rule (Course Management) |
Success metric: after a bad rep, the next rep uses external focus and full loop timing—not a longer internal checklist.
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