It’s a familiar scene for most of us. You’re standing over the ball, trying to remember the last three tips you read online, your buddy’s voice in your head saying “just swing smooth,” and that nagging doubt creeping in: “Don’t chunk it.”
Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa is out there dropping iron shots like he’s placing them with tweezers.
So what’s he doing that we’re not?
Let’s break down the pre-shot routine that’s helped Morikawa become one of the most precise ball-strikers in the game—and what you can actually steal from it.
He’s Got a Trigger—And It’s Not Just Mental
In early 2025, Morikawa added something new to his pre-shot routine that raised some eyebrows (in a good way). Right before pulling the trigger—especially with irons and fairway woods—he now mimics his impact position: opens the lead hip and drives his right knee toward the ball.
It’s subtle, but it matters.
He described it after a strong round at The Sentry:
“Just kind of allowing the body to get to where it needs to be in the shot. But, yeah, it’s been working, which has been nice. It wasn’t a two-day thing and then throw it in the trash.”
Not only does this “preset” move reinforce his swing pattern, it also helps protect his back—something that’s given him grief before. For Morikawa, repetition without awareness can lead to bad patterns. This physical reminder helps keep him honest.
(If you’ve ever thrown your back out mid-round trying to “crush” a 5-iron, you’ll know why this matters.)
Posture Isn’t Optional—It’s a Prerequisite
According to his longtime coach Rick Sessinghaus, posture is a non-negotiable part of Morikawa’s setup. When his spine angle gets even slightly off, it messes with his rotation.
“If Collin doesn’t check his posture, he can get a little rounded, which causes some rotational issues on the way back and through,” Sessinghaus explains.
For those of us trying to copy tour swings with desk-job bodies, this is a friendly nudge: posture matters more than swing thoughts. You can’t rotate like a pro if you’re hunched like a shrimp cocktail.
He Sees the Shot Before He Hits It
Visualization isn’t just a buzzword for Morikawa—it’s baked into his entire warm-up. He talks about “seeing” the shot before swinging. That applies to full swings, approach shots, and especially putting.
“When I’m putting my best I can clearly visualise the line and see the ball as it’s going to roll on that line.”
Sometimes he even places a dot to mark his start line—because why leave it to chance?
If you’ve ever stood over a putt thinking, “I hope this doesn’t lip out,” maybe it’s time to start seeing it go in before it leaves the face.
He Talks to Himself—But On Purpose
One of the cooler things about Morikawa’s mental game? He actively changes how he frames his feelings. Nerves? Nah, call it “focus.”
“If we talk about the word nerves, everyone has them, but how can you mentally change that nervousness into excitement or focus?”
This kind of reframing is what helps him pull off monster shots under pressure (like driving the green at the PGA Championship). It’s not just about ignoring nerves—it’s about giving them a job.
He Uses a 4-Step Mental Checklist
Morikawa doesn’t wing it before pulling the trigger. With Sessinghaus’s help, he follows a structured mental checklist:
- What’s the situation? (Lie, wind, slope)
- What are your options?
- What shot are you trying to hit?
- What’s your target?
By the time he addresses the ball, he’s already made every decision. No indecision. No second-guessing.
You ever flub a shot because you were stuck between a knockdown 8 or a full 9? Yeah—this helps with that.
He Hits a Fade—Almost Always
Morikawa’s game changed when he committed to one shot shape: a 5–7 yard fade. It’s his go-to, and it removes doubt.
“I had a go-to shot that I could rely on every single time out of the fairway…”
Of course, during practice he still hits draws, high balls, low runners—just to stay balanced. But come game time, the fade is locked in.
That doesn’t mean you have to hit a fade—but having a reliable shape you can call on under pressure? That’s worth its weight in Pro V1s.
He Practices Creativity—Not Just Repetition
Even though he sticks to his fade in competition, Morikawa’s practice routine is all about variety. High shots, low shots, curving both ways—he’s constantly trying new feels.
“My goal is to stay creative: hit different shots, don’t get stuck in just hitting full swing 8-irons…”
You might not have a tour-level practice facility, but next time you’re at the range, try mixing it up. Half-swings, punch shots, stingers—get weird. It keeps things fresh, and it makes your “normal” swing sharper when it matters.
(Also, it’s way more fun than pounding 50 identical 7-irons into the abyss.)
He Plays in Flow—Not Fear
This might be the sneakiest insight of all: Morikawa uses his routine to enter what sports psychologists call “flow state.” It’s that zone where time disappears, your brain shuts up, and your swing just happens.
Sessinghaus says the opposite of flow is fear—and fear makes you focus on everything that could go wrong.
Sound familiar?
Instead, Morikawa primes his mind to focus only on the shot at hand. He’s not thinking about the last hole. Or the leaderboard. Just one target, one swing.
It’s the holy grail of golf—and his routine is the roadmap.
Final Thought: Copy What You Can, Not What You Can’t
You don’t need a swing coach with a PhD or a trophy case full of majors to benefit from Morikawa’s routine.
Just remember the key ingredients:
- A consistent physical trigger (like that preset hip move)
- Dialed-in posture
- Shot visualization
- Mental framing (focus, not fear)
- A reliable go-to shape
- A structured routine
And maybe most important: don’t rush.
Give yourself a few extra seconds to think, feel, and see the shot. Because the difference between “deadly precise” and “uh-oh” often happens before the swing even starts.