preshot

Preshot is a term used across several disciplines to describe a shot or frame that precedes the main action. It generally serves as preparation, setting, or reference, rather than the principal moment of the scene or play.

In photography and cinema, preshots are frames captured before the primary shot to test lighting, exposure, white balance, and composition, or to establish spatial relationships and continuity. During production, preshots help directors and cinematographers plan sequences and ensure color and lighting consistency between takes; in editing, they may serve as reference frames for match cuts or transitions.

In sports, preshot refers to the routine and movement immediately preceding a shot, such as the stance, grip, or aiming process in basketball or golf. Coaches and analysts study preshot mechanics to improve rhythm, balance, and accuracy, and to diagnose timing issues.

Other uses include the general sense of any preliminary shot in a sequence, such as a prerecording frame in live broadcasts to calibrate cameras or test autofocus. The term is sometimes hyphenated (pre-shot) or written as preshot; its exact meaning varies by field.