99% of all golfers get nervous before hitting their first shot of the day. We opine golf wouldn’t be as fun if we didn’t get some jitters.
All avid/competitive golfers care about their performance on the links. That care and desire fuels our passion for the game and inspires us to practice and challenge ourselves to improve.
Here are a few tips to help settle first-tee nerves and set yourself up for a successful round of golf!
- Visualize taking a smooth swing and hitting a great shot. Do this on the range. Do this once you settle into your pre-shot routine on the first tee.
- Make sure you pick a target and line before you take your first practice swing on the tee. When taking your practice swings, envision releasing the club head toward your target and finishing in a trophy pose. Hold the pose for a second or two.
- Breathe. While standing on the tee before you step into the shot, take three big breaths, inhaling through your nose and breathing out your mouth. Once you are over your ball right before you take the club back, do it one last time. This time, however, push the air out your mouth and empty your lungs. By doing so, your next breath will be a big one. Focusing on your breathing versus whether or not you hit a good first shot will help settle your nerves. We promise.
Titleist Ambassador Sophie Walker does a fabuloues job of laying out her strategy to help quell a nervous belly before taking the first swing of the day on the course. Give it a watch.
Find and practice the right strategy for you to overcome first-tee nerves.