Anxious On The First Hole
Games Guy | February 6, 2012
One of the problems many golfers face on the golf course is getting off to a poor start. Some golfers hit one bad shot, get it out of their system and they can relax and start playing. Others allow one bad shot to destroy the first few holes and essentially their entire day.
The majority of the time bad starts can be traced to nerves on the first tee. You don’t have to accept this anxiety as a fact of life. Instead you can find out how to fix it so you get your rounds started off on the right foot. Here is how.
Nerves are typically caused by the unknown. You have not hit a drive all day so on your first shot you really do not know where it’s going. If you would like to prepare for your first shot you can go to the range before the round and hit one or two balls. Do not simply whack away though, instead picture the hole you are about to play and try to hit a shot like what you have got to do on the first hole. Pick out 1 or 2 markers on the range. One you’ll aim at and two others that will act as limits you have got to keep the ball between. If you hit several successful shots in a row, you’ll have little to be afraid of on the first hole.
You do not necessarily have to physically hit balls though. A peculiar quirk with our subconscious is that it doesn’t know what’s real and what is clear imagination. If you are running late to the course try visualizing the shot you are going to hit on the 1st hole. Be as detailed as practicable beginning with approaching the box to your preshot routine and eventually feel your ideal swing while watching the ball fly through the air and stop.
Try those two tricks and you will be able to play better right from the start.
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