If you’ve ever been nervous on the first tee, you are in good company. From beginners to scratch golfers, no one is immune to feeling anxiety and pressure at the start of a round.
Instead of just hoping your first shot hits the fairway, here are some strategies we can learn from the pros to set ourselves up for success.
Rehearse on the range
At the end of your warm-up session, play your first tee shot on the range. What I mean by this is imagine the hole in front of you and create your own “fairway” that you are aiming for. Pick a specific target and do your full pre-shot process. This strategy gives you a chance to see yourself having success with your opening drive and also warms your MIND and not just your body up for what you’re about to do on the course. The next time you see LPGA or PGA Tour players on TV practicing on the range, notice that they use their routines too, we can learn from their example.
Re-focus Your Attention
I hear it all of the time from golfers I teach, they are ready for a good round until they find out they are paired with someone they don’t know or someone with a low handicap. Here’s a little secret: that golfer you are paired with, even if they are a professional, is more concerned with THEIR game and performance than yours. When you feel like all eyes are on you, it’s time to re-focus your attention. You can’t make a great swing worried about what others will think. Instead, shift your focus to your target. Where do I want to send this ball? What will it feel like when I crush it down the middle?
Relax Physically
Last but not least, it’s important to relax your arms and shoulders before you swing. Tension can rob us of great technique and rhythm. If you hit it great on the range but struggle on the course then this is for you. An easy way to check your tension levels is to add some movement before you take the club back. Bounce your legs, waggle the club slightly. Imagine a tennis player ready to return a serve, a pitcher up to bat, or a basketball player preparing for a free throw- in all of these scenarios there is some motion and relaxed ready athleticism before they press GO, golf is no different.
The next time you feel nervous on the first tee, know that it’s very normal and with the right strategies you can feel prepared to play great DESPITE the nerves. The things you do to prepare yourself by rehearsing, re-focusing your attention, and relaxing before teeing off will set you up for success and more fun when you play.
