Most people have a practice swing before every golf shot. Probably very few really know why they make such a swing. A common fallacy is the belief that a practice swing loosens them up before they make their golf shot.

A practice swing is not to loosen up but to go through a check list to make sure the golf swing is complete and correct before you hit the ball.

If you just have a swing, you are probably practising your errors. A good idea is not to look up at all during this swing, so that there will be a better chance of keeping your head down during the golf shot. You should go through a check list during your practice swing. Ball position, stance and weight distribution, the take away, the position of the hands half way up on the back swing and at the top of the swing.

The down swing, hitting down on the ball and the follow through, making sure the right arm crosses over the top of the left and a good finish with hands high or in the orthodox position as per Greg Norman.

The place where the practice swing is most useful is for the short shots near the green.

Professionals have up to six practice swings before hitting their short chip. They do this to firstly have things correct but in their case to try to develop feel for the shot. How hard to hit it, how the ball will run, and where they want the ball to land in relation to the hole, and in their case, to try to get their chip into the hole.

In every case, once the practice shots are over, you have to commit to the shot and then forget all else, just carry out the necessary to execute the chosen shot and strategy.