Find the real cause of your miss. Get Free Plan

Playing golf as a feel golfer

Feel Player Golf: Find Your Swing Trigger

Feel player golf improves when you build your swing around one clear, repeatable trigger. Learn how to choose a takeaway or downswing feel and use it in a calm pre-shot routine.

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the triggers that initiate your swing for more consistent shots
  • Create a calming pre-shot routine to enhance focus and confidence
  • Recognize the importance of swinging when you feel the urge to improve your game
Tyler Ferrell. Golf Digest Best Teachers in California, 2026-27. The only person named to both Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America and Best Golf Fitness Professionals lists. Author of The Stock Tour Swing.
Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.840
this video is playing golf as a field golfer so as a field golfer there's a

2
00:00:06.840 --> 00:00:12.420
couple things that you're going to try to focus on but the the basic rules are

3
00:00:12.420 --> 00:00:17.400
you need to figure out what your trigger is for swinging the club whether it's

4
00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:23.560
a trigger for taking the club away I've had golfers who focus on exactly what

5
00:00:23.560 --> 00:00:28.080
part of their body controls the takeaway you know whether it's pushing into the

6
00:00:28.080 --> 00:00:33.800
ground the hands the body the shoulder etc or when the downswing starts because

7
00:00:33.800 --> 00:00:37.000
that's when all the explosive movements that a lot of field players identify

8
00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:41.440
with so I've had some field players who are very good if I do the right

9
00:00:41.440 --> 00:00:46.000
transition if I focus on kind of one key movement all the other parts of the

10
00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:52.000
swing unfold that's great for a playing thought now when you're practicing and

11
00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:56.520
you're going through different drills you you can use tempos and you can use

12
00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:01.520
rhythms and you can put shafts on the ground or clubs in your way in order to

13
00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:05.880
kind of get these images of where the clubs gonna swing but ultimately all

14
00:01:05.880 --> 00:01:11.760
that you really care about is developing this feel so you want to be careful

15
00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:12.360
with

16
00:01:12.360 --> 00:01:18.400
getting too caught up in focusing on tempo too caught up in kind of trying to

17
00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:22.440
get the perfect imagery when you're on your on the course you want to build a

18
00:01:22.440 --> 00:01:27.360
pre-shot routine where you're allowed to stay over the ball until you feel very

19
00:01:27.360 --> 00:01:34.320
very calm and you feel like I've got this intention to swing I'm a field golfer

20
00:01:34.320 --> 00:01:39.760
so I can only describe it as you feel this urge to swing almost like an urge

21
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:43.840
to sneeze like my body has to swing right now or I'm gonna get in trouble

22
00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.560
and what you'll find is that you will get in trouble if you ignore that urge

23
00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:52.840
so if I swing when I don't have one of those urges is typically when I'm gonna

24
00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:59.160
hit my worst shots now that's kind of the nuts and bolts of how to use this

25
00:01:59.160 --> 00:02:03.800
pre-shot routine as a field player basically I've already done my thought

26
00:02:03.800 --> 00:02:09.470
process I'm gonna kind of find a way to get into a calm state somewhat

27
00:02:09.470 --> 00:02:09.760
something

28
00:02:09.760 --> 00:02:13.880
like Ernie Ells or Fred Couples you'll see there can be movement over the ball

29
00:02:13.880 --> 00:02:19.120
absolutely but then when I feel like I'm almost ready I get calm and I wait for

30
00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:25.760
that urge now it is very possible to store stress as a field golfer in a

31
00:02:25.760 --> 00:02:30.240
field sense and what that would mean is that if you get over the ball and you

32
00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:34.360
feel kind of like Kevin Nod did a while back where I just can't pull the

33
00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:34.600
trigger

34
00:02:34.600 --> 00:02:39.240
I don't feel comfortable I don't feel right that basically means that you need

35
00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:44.640
to use some of your pre-shot routine or use some of your training time on the

36
00:02:44.640 --> 00:02:49.560
range to work on your pre-shot routine so that you can practice getting into

37
00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:53.480
this calm state it's not something that happens just automatically it's

38
00:02:53.480 --> 00:02:59.160
something that you actually have to train so as a field golfer pay attention to

39
00:02:59.160 --> 00:03:05.960
specifics specific part of your body that's controlling the swing and I'll

40
00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:10.440
give you a quick little it's a quick little exercise that I've done with a

41
00:03:10.440 --> 00:03:15.640
lot of field golfers so you're gonna stand up if you're sitting there

42
00:03:15.640 --> 00:03:18.560
watching this in front of your computer or on your phone you're gonna stand up

43
00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:22.160
and you're gonna close your eyes and just listen to my voice I want you to try

44
00:03:22.160 --> 00:03:22.200
to

45
00:03:22.200 --> 00:03:25.520
feel the tip of your nose so you're not gonna touch it with your hands unless

46
00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:29.920
you have to but try to put all your feel all your intention right there feel

47
00:03:29.920 --> 00:03:33.600
exactly what's happening to the tip of your nose now go down and feel your

48
00:03:33.600 --> 00:03:38.840
right big toe so if you need to you can wiggle it around but you're gonna feel

49
00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:45.360
your right big toe now go back to your nose now go back to your toe now try to

50
00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:51.240
do both now I give you a couple seconds there to try to do both and what most

51
00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:54.840
feel most golfers in fact every golfer I've ever done this with will say that

52
00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:59.680
it's impossible to feel both I learned this little exercise from dr.

53
00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:03.260
Bill Campbell I think it's brilliant but basically what it shows is that you

54
00:04:03.260 --> 00:04:03.520
can't

55
00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:08.400
focus on exactly what two parts your body are doing it once so when you're

56
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.760
playing golf you need to have either a feel that happens in a sequence so you

57
00:04:12.760 --> 00:04:16.880
could have a feel like okay my backswing feel is there my transition feel is

58
00:04:16.880 --> 00:04:20.120
there and my release feel is there and I blend those into one feeling to play

59
00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:25.000
with or you could figure out well if I just do the transition everything falls

60
00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.480
in line so you can either have a sequence of feels or you can have one

61
00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:34.280
feel but you can't have two feels at once you can't be focusing on what the

62
00:04:34.280 --> 00:04:38.160
arms are doing in transition and the body so what you end up having to do is

63
00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:40.920
you have to use your practice time to figure out exactly which one of those

64
00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:45.440
controls your swing once you know that it'll be that much easier for you to

65
00:04:45.440 --> 00:04:49.320
take it to the course and this is the thought process you have to have if you

66
00:04:49.320 --> 00:04:49.360
're

67
00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:55.200
gonna build your pre-shot routine as a feel golfer
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.
Tyler Ferrell. Golf Digest Best Teachers in California, 2026-27. The only person named to both Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America and Best Golf Fitness Professionals lists. Author of The Stock Tour Swing.

Playing golf as a feel golfer

Feel Player Golf: Find Your Swing Trigger

Feel player golf improves when you build your swing around one clear, repeatable trigger. Learn how to choose a takeaway or downswing feel and use it in a calm pre-shot routine.

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the triggers that initiate your swing for more consistent shots
  • Create a calming pre-shot routine to enhance focus and confidence
  • Recognize the importance of swinging when you feel the urge to improve your game
Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.840
this video is playing golf as a field golfer so as a field golfer there's a

2
00:00:06.840 --> 00:00:12.420
couple things that you're going to try to focus on but the the basic rules are

3
00:00:12.420 --> 00:00:17.400
you need to figure out what your trigger is for swinging the club whether it's

4
00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:23.560
a trigger for taking the club away I've had golfers who focus on exactly what

5
00:00:23.560 --> 00:00:28.080
part of their body controls the takeaway you know whether it's pushing into the

6
00:00:28.080 --> 00:00:33.800
ground the hands the body the shoulder etc or when the downswing starts because

7
00:00:33.800 --> 00:00:37.000
that's when all the explosive movements that a lot of field players identify

8
00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:41.440
with so I've had some field players who are very good if I do the right

9
00:00:41.440 --> 00:00:46.000
transition if I focus on kind of one key movement all the other parts of the

10
00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:52.000
swing unfold that's great for a playing thought now when you're practicing and

11
00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:56.520
you're going through different drills you you can use tempos and you can use

12
00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:01.520
rhythms and you can put shafts on the ground or clubs in your way in order to

13
00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:05.880
kind of get these images of where the clubs gonna swing but ultimately all

14
00:01:05.880 --> 00:01:11.760
that you really care about is developing this feel so you want to be careful

15
00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:12.360
with

16
00:01:12.360 --> 00:01:18.400
getting too caught up in focusing on tempo too caught up in kind of trying to

17
00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:22.440
get the perfect imagery when you're on your on the course you want to build a

18
00:01:22.440 --> 00:01:27.360
pre-shot routine where you're allowed to stay over the ball until you feel very

19
00:01:27.360 --> 00:01:34.320
very calm and you feel like I've got this intention to swing I'm a field golfer

20
00:01:34.320 --> 00:01:39.760
so I can only describe it as you feel this urge to swing almost like an urge

21
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:43.840
to sneeze like my body has to swing right now or I'm gonna get in trouble

22
00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.560
and what you'll find is that you will get in trouble if you ignore that urge

23
00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:52.840
so if I swing when I don't have one of those urges is typically when I'm gonna

24
00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:59.160
hit my worst shots now that's kind of the nuts and bolts of how to use this

25
00:01:59.160 --> 00:02:03.800
pre-shot routine as a field player basically I've already done my thought

26
00:02:03.800 --> 00:02:09.470
process I'm gonna kind of find a way to get into a calm state somewhat

27
00:02:09.470 --> 00:02:09.760
something

28
00:02:09.760 --> 00:02:13.880
like Ernie Ells or Fred Couples you'll see there can be movement over the ball

29
00:02:13.880 --> 00:02:19.120
absolutely but then when I feel like I'm almost ready I get calm and I wait for

30
00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:25.760
that urge now it is very possible to store stress as a field golfer in a

31
00:02:25.760 --> 00:02:30.240
field sense and what that would mean is that if you get over the ball and you

32
00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:34.360
feel kind of like Kevin Nod did a while back where I just can't pull the

33
00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:34.600
trigger

34
00:02:34.600 --> 00:02:39.240
I don't feel comfortable I don't feel right that basically means that you need

35
00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:44.640
to use some of your pre-shot routine or use some of your training time on the

36
00:02:44.640 --> 00:02:49.560
range to work on your pre-shot routine so that you can practice getting into

37
00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:53.480
this calm state it's not something that happens just automatically it's

38
00:02:53.480 --> 00:02:59.160
something that you actually have to train so as a field golfer pay attention to

39
00:02:59.160 --> 00:03:05.960
specifics specific part of your body that's controlling the swing and I'll

40
00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:10.440
give you a quick little it's a quick little exercise that I've done with a

41
00:03:10.440 --> 00:03:15.640
lot of field golfers so you're gonna stand up if you're sitting there

42
00:03:15.640 --> 00:03:18.560
watching this in front of your computer or on your phone you're gonna stand up

43
00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:22.160
and you're gonna close your eyes and just listen to my voice I want you to try

44
00:03:22.160 --> 00:03:22.200
to

45
00:03:22.200 --> 00:03:25.520
feel the tip of your nose so you're not gonna touch it with your hands unless

46
00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:29.920
you have to but try to put all your feel all your intention right there feel

47
00:03:29.920 --> 00:03:33.600
exactly what's happening to the tip of your nose now go down and feel your

48
00:03:33.600 --> 00:03:38.840
right big toe so if you need to you can wiggle it around but you're gonna feel

49
00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:45.360
your right big toe now go back to your nose now go back to your toe now try to

50
00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:51.240
do both now I give you a couple seconds there to try to do both and what most

51
00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:54.840
feel most golfers in fact every golfer I've ever done this with will say that

52
00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:59.680
it's impossible to feel both I learned this little exercise from dr.

53
00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:03.260
Bill Campbell I think it's brilliant but basically what it shows is that you

54
00:04:03.260 --> 00:04:03.520
can't

55
00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:08.400
focus on exactly what two parts your body are doing it once so when you're

56
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.760
playing golf you need to have either a feel that happens in a sequence so you

57
00:04:12.760 --> 00:04:16.880
could have a feel like okay my backswing feel is there my transition feel is

58
00:04:16.880 --> 00:04:20.120
there and my release feel is there and I blend those into one feeling to play

59
00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:25.000
with or you could figure out well if I just do the transition everything falls

60
00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.480
in line so you can either have a sequence of feels or you can have one

61
00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:34.280
feel but you can't have two feels at once you can't be focusing on what the

62
00:04:34.280 --> 00:04:38.160
arms are doing in transition and the body so what you end up having to do is

63
00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:40.920
you have to use your practice time to figure out exactly which one of those

64
00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:45.440
controls your swing once you know that it'll be that much easier for you to

65
00:04:45.440 --> 00:04:49.320
take it to the course and this is the thought process you have to have if you

66
00:04:49.320 --> 00:04:49.360
're

67
00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:55.200
gonna build your pre-shot routine as a feel golfer
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.