Have you ever wanted to ask a tour pro in-depth questions about their golf game like: what drills they use on the range, how they warm up before a round or what they do when they’re on a hot streak?
Well, Golf Digest has teamed up with Ladies European Tour player Hannah Gregg to answer all of your questions.
This week, we’ll take a look at Gregg’s pre-round routine as she walks us through her typical 2-hour warm-up. Watch the video below, to find out how each step preps her game for competition or keep reading for a more in-depth break down.
Step 1: Putting
Gregg starts her warm-up with a few simple putting drills. First, she lays down a mirror training aid to help check that her setup and stroke are neutral.
Mirror training aids, like this one, are popular among tour pros because they make it easier to check set up keys like eye line, clubface position and ball position. Players will also use them to confirm their clubface is square at impact and that their putts are starting on line.
After Gregg gets her setup and stroke ironed out, she completes a lag putting drill that calibrates her to the speed of the greens. In the video, Gregg uses a ladder-style putting drill where she has to hit her next putt about a foot shorter than the last, which is great for developing feel and improving distance control.
If you’re tight on time, try this feel-finder drill from instruction legend Butch Harmon to hone in your speed quickly on new greens.
Step 2: Short game
Gregg moves on to the short game area where she chips around the green to get a feel for the type of grass she’ll be playing on—a valuable step that many amateurs skip in their own warm up.
Knowing how the grass influences the clubface and ball helps the pros make the right club selection, shot selection and adjust their landing spots for intended roll.
Step 3: Stretching
The next step in Gregg’s pre-round routine is a quick dynamic warm-up.
“I do think everyone should stretch, but you don’t have to do it the way I do it,” Gregg says.
And Gregg is right. A good dynamic warm-up boosts your nervous system, which can smooth out your tempo and improve speed control. It also helps to increase flexibility and mobility which decrease your risk of injury.
Need a good dynamic warm up? Try this simple, 5-minute stretching routine next time you’re on the range.
Step 4: Full-Swing
Gregg’s full-swing approach is simple, but effective. Starting with her irons, Gregg uses a simple swing sequencing drill to work on her takeaway and weight shift in the downswing.
“A couple things I’m working on are keeping the club outside of my hands in the takeaway, then a big push into my lead side as I start the downswing,” Gregg says.
This ‘big push’ is a swing thought or feel that helps Gregg push off the ground for power, which maximizes her speed at impact and creates a lot of distance.
To learn how to create a powerful kinetic sequence like Gregg, check out this short lesson from Mike Adams and Terry Rowles.
She then moves on to her woods and driver, maintaining that same thought of keeping her club outside of her hands and pushing into her lead side. Aside from those two swing keys, Gregg says she just swings as hard as possible once she has driver in hand.
Once she finishes up on the range, Gregg heads over to the first tee. And after the round, she likes to roll a few putts on the green.