WARM-UP / PRACTICE GUIDE
A Golf Warm-Up Routine That Gets You Ready for the First Tee
The last few minutes before a round are a poor time to rebuild the swing.
I want to reach the first tee knowing the pace of the greens, feeling ready to move and having rehearsed the shot I intend to play. A warm-up should serve those goals. It is different from a practice session where there is room to experiment and measure a technical change.
Start with movement
For a guided option, use Kayleigh Franklin’s eight-minute dynamic warm-up at Titleist. Watch unfamiliar movements before trying them, use comfortable ranges and leave room around you. Skip movements that hurt and seek individual guidance for injuries or restrictions.
Then use fifteen minutes with clubs
This is a flexible sequence after the movement warm-up. The divisions below are practice suggestions, not a requirement to squeeze in a fixed number of balls.
| Time | Task | Finish when… |
|---|---|---|
| Five minutes | Roll putts from different distances, then a few short ones from different sides. | You have an initial feel for pace. |
| Five minutes | Start with small wedge shots, then comfortable mid-irons. | You have found a motion you can commit to. |
| Five minutes | Hit a few shots with your opening tee-shot club, using a target and routine. | You have rehearsed the actual first shot. |
Make the last ball count
Name the first hole’s target before you swing. Picture the landing area and a playable miss. Use your normal routine, then stop. Hitting another ten balls because the last one was imperfect can leave you rushed or chasing a fix.
If time is short, reduce the number of shots. Keep a little movement, some putting pace and one committed first-tee rehearsal. Arriving prepared is more useful than completing a checklist at a sprint.
Check how you felt, not just the opening score
After the first few holes, note whether you felt loose, rushed or tired, and whether you committed to your targets. A bad bounce or a missed putt does not make the warm-up a failure. Repeatedly feeling unprepared gives you something concrete to change.
Before teeing off: pace checked · body ready · first target chosen · first-shot club rehearsed.
Further coaching: Justin Parsons on the difference between practice and pre-round preparation.