Habit 5: Rock-Solid Routine (Consistency Under Pressure)

If you watch any PGA Tour broadcast, you’ll notice something every pro does: a pre-shot routine, and often a post-shot routine, that rarely varies. This isn’t by accident. Routines are like mental anchors; they provide stability in the storm of competition. As Coach Price likes to say, “Your routine is your refuge.” When the pressure is high and your heart is pounding, leaning on a well-practiced routine will keep your mind and body in sync. Jake had a basic pre-shot routine before (when he remembered to use it), but under pressure he’d sometimes rush or change it. One of Coach Price’s non-negotiables was that Jake create a deliberate, repeatable routine for every shot – and stick to it religiously.

Together, they refined Jake’s pre-shot routine to a few simple steps: stand behind the ball and pick a specific target, take a deep breath while visualizing the shot, set up and execute. The exact details aren’t as important as the consistency. By doing the same mental and physical cues each time, Jake found that even in tense moments, the routine itself calmed him down – it was familiar, like a friend saying “You’ve got this, just do what we always do.” Research shows a consistent routine can quiet the nerves by occupying your mind with process rather than outcome. It also ensures you don’t skip key steps (how many times have we hit a shot only to realize we never really locked in a target or felt ready?). Now, pressure or not, Jake goes through his routine on every shot, from a drive on the first hole to a gimmie putt on the 18th. It’s his way of asserting control over the only thing he can control – the preparation for the shot.

Equally important, Coach Price introduced Jake to the idea of a post-shot routine, especially for handling bad shots. This was new territory – most of us just react (often poorly) after a shot we don't like. Jake’s new post-shot habit is: hold his finish for 2-3 seconds (no slamming club or dropping head), take one calming breath, and internally note if there’s a quick fix or lesson (“Okay, I left the face open because I got quick”). Then move on. By being “curious, not furious” about the result, he stays analytical rather than emotional. A powerful tip from Coach Price was to actually look up and outward after a disappointing shot – instead of staring at the ground – because expanding your gaze helps reduce the sting of the moment. It’s a form of neutral reset. Jake admits this felt a bit forced at first (plastering a half-smile after a duffed chip is not exactly fun), but it rapidly cut down the duration of his frustration. Now a bad shot might annoy him for a few seconds instead of spoiling the next three holes.

Coach’s Tip:

Craft a simple pre-shot routine that includes a centering breath and a focus on your target. Practice it on the range until it’s second nature. Then use it every shot on the course – even the “easy” ones – so that under pressure it’s automatic. For a post-shot routine, remember “NAR” – Neutralize, Assess, Release. Neutralize your reaction (no tantrums; act like it was one of many shots, not the end of the world). Assess briefly what happened (in neutral terms: e.g. “pulled it because I aimed left”), and then Release it – literally watch the shot fly and fade from your mind. By the time you walk or drive to your next shot, you should be back to a neutral mindset and ready to go through your pre-shot routine again. Consistency is king: routines will give you a sense of control and confidence no matter the situation. As a bonus, having solid routines makes your practice more effective too – you’re training like you play. Over time, this habit breeds trust: you come to trust yourself that no matter what, you have a process to fall back on. And trust is huge for performing under pressure.