Vision 54 have created a systematic process to help players create a go to pre-shot routine process to enable them to consistently approach every shot with the same process and also help them to gain as much confidence ready for their next shot.
The three different stages of their pre-shot routine process are called the Think Box, Play Box and Memory Box. This is where you have an imaginary line that divides each area.
Think Box
First area - behind the ball. This area is where you do all your thinking and strategy (Far left picture). This is where you will be doing all your processing of all the variables of the shot: lie, elevation, conditions and wind, hazards/where you want to hit the ball. Then you will verbalise your intensions and use your senses to get into the shot before visualising/imagining the shot you want to hit. This is the only time you are allowed to have indecision. If this occurs, either re-create the process and imagery to become more comfortable and trust your plan or alternatively a different shot must be selected and therefore go back to the Think Box. You may take longer in this area whereas once you step into the Play Box, we must be decisive.
Play Box
This is the area where you simply hit the shot (the Play Box). Once you enter the Play Box, you must never hesitate or became distracted, there must be total commitment to the shot. The goal is to go through your routine, create a great setup or we at the THSG call it the PGA (posture, grip alignment fundamentals), trust your technique and pull the trigger. Do not linger over the ball at setup as there is more opportunity for doubt and tension to build. Leave the thinking behind in the Think Box and commit to the task at hand of hitting the best shot you can in that moment.
Memory Box
This area is often overlooked and can be a huge learning area and to help build confidence for your next shot. The memory box is where a player after they have hit their shot/left the Play Box, they ask questions about the shot they have hit (What was good? What did you learn? What would you change?). After these questions, you would rehearse what you would change or your ideal shot/swing if you could have this shot again. We often see professional golfers after a good shot or a bad shot rehearse their swing again to help ingrain their ideal movement and this is them in their Memory Box. This helps build your confidence and trick the brain to “remember your last shot/swing” which was your ideal shot/swing in your Memory Box.
Build a process that is unique to you that you can trust and see if this can help build your confidence and lower your scores.
THSG