Nerves On The First Tee
Golfers go to the driving range and feel good about striking their golf balls. Nevertheless heading to their first tee, some golfers feel the foreboding and nervousness that can end up in a poor shot to start the day. While some can move on to their next play, recover and move on with their round, others have their full rounds trashed because of that nerve-wracking first shot to start the day. Here are some tips to be certain that first tee jitters do not happen to you.
Getting Prepared
First tee jitters are standard for golfers who are not mentally prepared for their game. In order to avoid this, you need to prep yourself way before you place the tee in the ground and setup to the ball on the 1st tee box. If this isn’t your very first time playing on the precise course, visualise your first tee shot on the drive out to the course.
Visualize yourself approaching the box and going through your preshot routine. As you do so , pick out your target as you picture yourself standing behind the ball. Whether it be a bush, a bunker or a yardage marker does not really matter, as long as you pick out a target that is right for you. As you initiate your swing, picture yourself looking at your target from the position you are standing in.
Visualise in your head what a good swing feels like, and then picture the ball as the club hits it and sends it thru the air. Describe your shot in full detail. Are there any perils to avoid, how high do you usually hit the ball, what’s your normal ball flight and how far does your ball often roll?
Playing at your home course several times, you may have hit a great shot off the first tee a few times whether or not it was simply by pure luck. Now visualize that shot.
If you are hitting in new territory and the first hole is a new frontier for you, step up and examine it as soon as you get out of your vehicle. Make sure you know what club you are going to use and how you need to make the shot, and then visualise that perfect shot.
Visualisation is an ideal way to reinforce an excellent start to your round. The mind does not know the difference between clear visualisation and real experience and this exercise will train you in how to achieve success.
Going to the Range
Do you go to the practice range before playing? If you do, then end your session by hitting ten shots in exactly the way in which you would your first tee shot. Use whatever club you would typically use for your first tee and finish your warm up session using those clubs.
Looking out to the range, visualise yourself hitting down the 1st golf green. Visualise each detail and pick out two targets to mark as the edge of the fairway so you can put a little “pressure” on yourself. Find the target that is similar to what you are going to hit on your first tee. If you’re able to hit the perfect shot with a couple of balls left in your bucket, leave the range on a successful note. You might like to carry that positive momentum going into your first tee.
Watch as you feel the first tee jitters be an outmoded thing as you try these two straightforward strategies.
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