Inside My Pre-Tournament Routine with a Golf Simulator

Every golfer has their version of a pre-tournament routine, each one incredibly crucial to their game. For me, it’s where focus meets confidence — a balance between preparing my game technically, centering my mind mentally, and grounding myself in the rhythm of competition. Over the years, I’ve learned that a golf simulator isn’t just a piece of technology; it’s a mental space — a zone where I reconnect with my swing, rehearse my feels, and prepare to compete with confidence.

Where My Routine Begins

The week leading up to leaving for a tournament, I usually start my mornings quietly. A good coffee, some journaling, a stretch, and a light workout to get my body moving. Once I’ve shaken off that early stiffness, I head straight into my golf simulator session. If the weather is nice, I will sometimes head to the course after my session just to confirm everything once more.

The goal isn’t to “practice” in the traditional sense. It’s more about calibration. I want to make sure every number, every feeling, and every shot shape matches up with what I’ll take into the tournament.

I’ll begin with a warm-up wedge session — 50 to 100 yards — just to dial in tempo and contact. I watch my carry yardages carefully. My golf simulator gives me real-time feedback: spin rate, launch angle, carry, and dispersion. It’s my way of making sure my swing isn’t trying to do too much. If I see my spin numbers jumping or my launch creeping higher, it’s usually a sign I’m forcing shots instead of letting them happen naturally.

After that, I’ll go through my bag: pitching wedge to driver. This part takes about 45 minutes. It’s structured but relaxed. I’m not grinding; I’m observing. I’ll take note of my stock yardages and compare them to my averages. If something feels off — for example, if my 7-iron is carrying five yards shorter — I’ll check the environment settings on the simulator. Sometimes humidity or altitude adjustments can mess with how you perceive distance, especially when you’re switching countries every week.

The Golf Simulator Data that Matters

When you’re using a golf simulator, it’s easy to drown in numbers and feel incredibly overwhelmed. Believe me — been there, done that! You could spend all day analyzing spin rate or club path, but over-analyzing kills flow. The key is knowing which numbers actually matter.

For me, the big three are:

●      Carry Distance — I want to know my true stock yardage on each club.

●      Face to Path — This tells me if my club face control is on point.

●      Club Path — It’s how I know my shape tendencies before the first tee.

If my path starts to shift more positively than I would like or I see my face getting too closed, I don’t panic — I just adjust my feels and use the simulator to justify my logic. I’ll imagine a small cut or push-draw, depending on what I want to see on the course. The simulator gives me immediate feedback, so I can re-center quickly.

Simulating Pressure

I’ve learned that playing well isn’t just about hitting good shots — it’s about handling moments. The simulator helps me recreate tournament-like pressure.

I’ll often play a few “virtual holes” with my real tournament setup — same clubs, same decision-making. If the course I’m about to play is available in the golf simulator (which is sometimes the case), I’ll use it to visualize strategy. Otherwise, I pick something in a similar area of the world.

I’ll even simulate nerves: I’ll set small goals like hit the fairway three times in a row or get up and down twice consecutively. If I miss, I restart. It might sound small, but this mental discipline carries directly into tournament play.

Mental Rehearsal

After my golf simulator session, I move into visualization work — my favorite part of the routine.

I’ll find a quiet spot, close my eyes, and replay my best shots in my mind. The crisp sound of a perfectly struck iron, the smooth tempo on a long putt, the feeling of pure contact. I imagine myself standing on the first tee, breathing deeply, confident, grounded.

My mantra before any event is simple:
“Trust your lines, stay patient, and let the putts fall.”

My mantra is easier said than done, but is a quick phrase that I found grounds me quite quickly. It’s easy to get frustrated when a few birdie chances don’t drop, but patience is everything. My golf simulator helps me believe in my process. When I’ve rehearsed those lines and reads, I can walk into a tournament week trusting that they’ll eventually fall.

Why This Routine Works

Golf tournaments can feel like chaos — new courses, hectic travel, new time zones, weather, adrenaline — you name it and it’s present during a tournament week. My simulator routine gives me consistency. It’s a controlled environment where I can check in with myself and build momentum before stepping into the unknown.

The biggest benefit? Confidence. When I stand on that first tee, I already know how my swing feels, what my numbers look like, and where my focus needs to be. I’m not guessing; I’m trusting no matter how jittery I am with those first tee nerves.

Every tournament week starts in that simulator at home. It’s where I reconnect with my game, my goals, and the reason I love this sport so much.

Because preparation isn’t just about the shots you hit — it’s about the energy you bring, the patience you hold, and the belief you carry.

And that belief? It’s built one swing at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often do you use your golf simulator before tournaments?
Almost every week leading up to an event. I usually spend 45–60 minutes in the simulator the day before a round to calibrate my numbers, visualize ball flights, and rehearse pressure situations. It’s less about volume and more about precision and confidence.

What data points do you focus on most in your golf simulator sessions?
I mainly focus on carry distance, club path, and face-to-path. These three numbers tell me almost everything about where my swing is trending and how consistent my ball flight will be. The rest of the data is helpful, but I try not to over analyze.

Can a golf simulator really help with mental preparation?
Absolutely. The simulator gives me a space to recreate real-world pressure — from simulating holes I’ll play to setting personal challenges. It helps me work on commitment and focus so that when I’m on the first tee, I’ve already practiced being calm under pressure.

How do you balance golf simulator practice with on-course preparation?
They complement each other. The simulator is where I fine-tune my mechanics and verify my numbers; the course is where I apply it in real conditions. I use the simulator to get my body and swing ready so that when I step onto the course, I can focus on creativity, feel, and strategy.

What advice would you give golfers who want to build their own pre-tournament routine?
Start with structure and intention. Your routine doesn’t have to be long — it just has to be consistent. Identify what helps you feel grounded (it could be data, visualization, stretching, or journaling) and build around that. The key is to create habits that make you feel calm and confident before every round.