Superstitions/Pre-game routines

[em69]

What are your superstitions/pre-game routines?

Mine:

1. I've had a Metcalfe ball mark repair tool and ball marker for years and years. They get put in my left pocket with two golf tees prior to teeing-off.

2. I do not carry any money in my pockets.

3. I attach my wrist watch to the outside of my bag.

[zoic]

LOL, gonna be sorry you asked. I get out my bag, then check that I have my drinks and food in it. Then I check for my keys, OK. Keys in hand, close and lock the car, trunk still open. Check bag again, put smokes in outside pocket of golf bag, put keys in bottom pocket with zipper, alone at the bottom.

Recheck that car is locked, go to close trunk. Wait, check for keys, OK right there where I put them. Close trunk. Can you tell I am worried about locking my keys in the trunk again.

Next I put my wallet in the pocket at the top, removing needed tees, markers and ball mark repair tool first. They all go in my right front pocket, and money from the pocket goes to right rear pocket then buttoned. One golf ball in each pocket on the front, now I am set.

WAIT >>>>>>>> check for keys one more time, phew!! got em!!

Next I put on my sunglasses, under my regular glasses.

Next I put on the golf glove, and I am ready to go.

[cliffie]

1) Empty my pockets of everything (wallet, keys, cash all go in the bag) except my magnetic ball marker / repair tool (in right pocket)
2) Tie shoes at the first t-box
3) Mark up the ball
4) Put a t in my glove

then I'm ready to go.

[Pinshark]

I also dont carry my wallet I keep my scorecard in my back right poket and ball and tees in right front poket....have to be balanced so the marker and repair tool on front left pocket.

[jvincent]

Not so much superstitions for me, just something I always do.

1. Ball marker (select one from collection), divot tool, and two tees in front right pocket.
2. Scorecard in back right pocket.
3. Everything else in bag.

[LobWedge]

1. If I'm playing in the morning I always make sure that I have a coffee either at home or on the way to the course, no matter what temperature it is outside. I learned the hard way that if you usually drink coffee in the morning you should do it on golf days too, otherwise your system will crash. I always thought that not drinking it on golf days would help calm my nerves and I'd be less prone to caffeine twitches when putting. It's actually the opposite.

2. I always hit my warm-up balls with my shoes untied.

[Eldred]

I do all the pre-game preps mentioned above.
Interesting thing, twice I went for a swim before the afternoon rounds.
I did the banana water slide with my kids. Afterward I was all cool, loose and relaxed, I went on the shoot 38 at the front nine both times. I've broken the inflatable water slide since and haven't been the same. I missed that water slide, almost as much as the kids missed it

[jvincent]

I've broken the inflatable water slide since and haven't been the same. I missed that water slide, almost as much as the kids missed it

Did the rash from hitting the garbage cans hurt?

[Kilroy]

Don't say "Shank" on the course
Don't putt into an occupied hole

[Indio]

One golf ball in each pocket on the front

I found it guys, it was 30 yards further up !

[Eldred]

Did the rash from hitting the garbage cans hurt?

yah, yah, thanks Prof..

[Indio]

Absolutely NO warmup
takeout my lucky 'hubcap' ball marker
tee up the ball, no practice swing
hit it down the middle for 18 holes

[AndrewMGA]

More of a pre-game routine.

1) Empty all my pockets and turn off my damn phone.
2) Clip my magnetic ball marker / divot tool to my right pocket.
3) Grab a scorecard and a pencil and tee from the bag.
4) Mark my ball and slice away.

If it is an early morning round, gotta have my timmies coffee as well.

[Ginker]

(1) Empty my pockets ( I don't like anything in them but tees, divot tool and marker)
(2) Grab my divot tool and ball marker (used the same ones for over 3 yrs)
(3) I always tie my shoes on the first tee..

[Big Johnny69]

Absolutely NO warmup
takeout my lucky 'hubcap' ball marker
tee up the ball, no practice swing
hit it down the middle for 18 holes

I've seen it, puts mine to shame. I have coin envy!

[Big Johnny69]

Now as for my routine.

Out of car, put drinks and snacks in bag. Put on shoes. Grab tees, marker and repair tool. Close and lock up car.

Tee goes either in right front pocket or under hat edge in front of right ear which unfortunately leave a nice dirt mark on the inside of the hat.

Divot tool goes in right front pocket. Wayne Gretzky (I know 99 is a bad number for golf ) coin goes in right front pocket.

Practice putts, holing out every putt.

Head to tee and start stretching. Tie up shoes.

Depending on what I'm wearing, scorecard goes in left back pocket, left front cargo pocket or in side pocket on bag. Pencil goes under hat edge in front of left ear.

Tie up shoes, a few practice swings, tee up ball, inner monologue asking the golf gods to be nice today, let'er rip.

And on the greens, glove comes off and in the left front pocket.

There, I think I covered it all.

[zoic]

I learned the hard way that if you usually drink coffee in the morning you should do it on golf days too, otherwise your system will crash. I always thought that not drinking it on golf days would help calm my nerves and I'd be less prone to caffeine twitches when putting. It's actually the opposite.

Excellent point, I never would have thought of it. Of course I do not go out of the house, or even on the forum until a have a least half of my first cup of java, else I can be uncommonly ugly, not much of a moring person until I caffeine my morning grump. Once I hit the course though, coffee mug is switched for Gatorade.

[Indio]

Now as for my routine.

Head to tee and start stretching. Tie up shoes.

Lace up shoes, a few practice swings, tee up ball, inner monologue asking the golf gods to be nice today, let'er rip.

There, I think I covered it all.

Boy, they must really be tight!

[Big Johnny69]

Whoops, post edited.

[pat6969]

I always go in the bathroom and blow my beans first. Settles me down.

Pat

[zoic]

LOL, isn't that was the coffee is for?

[Indio]

Something tells me this one is gettng a weeeeeeeee bit

[Marmotte]

I am not supesticious... it brings me bad luck!

[Hacker]

Here it goes....

Put on magic magnetic bracellet thingy and check to make sure I have my Dristan nose spray before leaving the house.

Clubs out of the car/truck first, then cart, put clubs on cart.

Next come the shoes, always the left one first, tie em on the first tee.

Pockets emptied (except wallet) and watch removed. Contents of pockets, dristan and watch go in the top zippered pocket on bag.

Put 3-4 tees in front right pocket, score card in rear left. G-clip on belt right hand side. Magnetic ball marker on bill of cap on right side. (I used to mark with a 1969 Silver Dollar but a 1oz marker is a little much).

Hit a few putts focusing on the speed of the green as opposed to holing them.

Walk to first tee, warm up/stretch, tie shoes and hack it around for the next 4-5 hours

[lmh3]

I always go through the bag on the practice tee in the same order five shots with each:
8 iron to start
6 iron
4 iron
2 iron or 5 wood depends on the course
Driver
3 wood
3 iron or hybrid again depends on the course
5 iron
7 iron
9 iron
PW
SW
LW
Then one swing with whatever club I am going to hit off the first tee

Then to the green and hit seven putts to a tee in the ground.

Get to the first tee, one practice swing, visualize the shot and then hit it.