For me, feel begins with the eyes. I want to take in everything: the wind, the grass, the lay of the land, the bunkers, the firmness and contours of the green. As I process all of this, I can feel my body, and especially my hands and fingers, reacting with increased sensitivity. That’s when I let what feels most comfortable determine what shot I will hit.
I like to hit a lot of different shots, which means I often have multiple options. That can be a problem if I hesitate and think too much. But if I trust my instincts, I’ll almost always choose the right one.
Once I settle on the shot, I take a couple of practice swings looking along the target line. This helps me judge how hard I have to hit the ball. Most amateurs I see spend too much time looking down on their practice swings. No wonder they struggle with getting the distance right.
Over the ball, I like to stay in motion, by waggling and gently rocking from foot to foot. This keeps me loose and connects me to my target better, so that my whole body gets into the rhythm and tempo of the motion I’m going to use.