Tournament Players

**Jay-Bird** · April 23, 2010

Whether you play in high school, college, professionally or in local amateur events - if you play competitive tournament golf - please give your thoughts.

Do you get nervous before tournaments? How do you get in a comfortable state of mind to play great on tournament days?

**Titleist_ProV1x** · April 23, 2010

I smoke two joints in the morning, and smoke two joints at night, I smoke two joints when I tee it up high, and at every ball wash in sight! smoke two joints

on a serious note, Just play your game, swing within yourself, and focus on each shot! that should keep you busy enough you won't have time to get nervous

**DavidFehertysBike** · April 23, 2010

I dont get very nervous on the first tee, more anxious. I just want to get going. Once i tee off and get through the first hole i come back down and just play golf like normal. As far as mindstate..i just go blank. Its important to get rid of expectations and just get in the best round that you can. Then see where it all shakes out.

**Fairway_CY** · April 23, 2010

I don't so much think I get NERVOUS as I do anxious (what DFB said). I'm actually far more nervous over my first APPROACH than I am over my first tee shot. I think from playing high school golf and being used to teeing off in front of a LOT of people... the tee shots don't bother me. I know it's either going to be a horribly topped shot, or a fairly well struck shot. From the fairway/rough, on the other hand... I get nervous because my target is a LOT smaller.

CY

**jamo** · April 23, 2010

I used to get really nervous but less so now that I have competed for so long. I've never really found the best way to combat it, but the best remedy is definitely a good drive off the first.

**Gioguy21** · April 23, 2010

I don't really get nervous...anxious at breakfast...then i get in a routine of thinking through the first 5 holes or so...visioning tee shots, second shots, appropriate shots/leaves to the green, picturing putts i could/would have. I've always thought that by doing this it helps alleviate some 'bugs' i had in the past off the first tee. a deep breath and a focused vision of the shot you're about to take are vital to getting off to a good start, let alone a good round.

**FX(TM)** · April 23, 2010

Not nervous, but I just want to get that first tee shot over and done with. I just hope it goes well, because I find it quite embarrassing hitting a tree or a big hook off the tee.

**mship** · April 23, 2010

I don't get nervous - heart racing, sweaty palms, that kind of thing - but I definately choke. No other way to describe it I guess. Last tourney I played it was to the tune of 12 shots worse than any other round of the year. Everything falls apart, can't drive, putt, or hit an iron.

As for what do I do to relax......well, I'm eagerly reading the thread hoping someone has suggestions, lol. I figure if I play in enough tourneys then eventually I will get used to it and won't choke. I've also been working diligently on a fundamental, repeatable swing so I don't have to think, just hit.

We'll see how it works, I hav a tourney this weekend, weather permitting.

**RandomRaiderTTU** · April 23, 2010

I'm usually nervous for the first and sometimes second shot, but after that, it goes away and it's back to golf as usual for me.

Actually, I find the nerves are worse when I'm on a course I haven't played before or have only played a practice round on.

As for during the round, I make myself envision every shot, ball flight, bounce and all before I step up to the shot. I focus more in tournament golf.

**1par2win** · April 23, 2010

I find I don't get nervous if I have put my work in preparing for an event. Once I am get to the course on tournament day I just let go and have fun. The competition is what's fun, winning is a by-product of a relaxed mind and good preperation. And a bit a luck always helps!

**montru** · April 23, 2010

I used to be terrible at ant kind of competitive golf but am slowly getting better, the first tee is always the worst for me and probably my second shot, after that i settle down a bit, I found that even when I play socially if I put a few dollars on the game whether it be a skins game, match play or even just straight stroke play it just makes you focus a little more, it cost me a few bucks in the beginning but it certainly helped me get used to pressure situations etc, I am still a long way off not being nervous but it has helped me win a few times over the last few months.

**Par Fore** · April 23, 2010

Whether you play in high school, college, professionally or in local amateur events - if you play competitive tournament golf - please give your thoughts.

IMHO, if you really want to play well, get their early and work on your short game.....whatever the course, you need to know how the greens are running and be sharp with your chipping and putting....this will remove a ton of pressure and build some confidence.......about 30 minutes before you go off, hit a few irons, a few wedges, and a few drivers to warm up.....focus on good contact and warming up....my best rounds have all been due to a good warm-up with plenty of short game practice...

Focus on where you want the ball to go and how you want to hit the shot - DO NOT focus on messing up or embarrassment cause if you do, it's coming......do not let the first hole dictate your day - half the time, I bogey or worse on the first hole, just relax and let it go.....your first hole is your practice, remove any expectations.....birdie or par, great, but if you start rough, accept it as your practice hole and get in the groove....

**Titleist_ProV1x** · April 23, 2010

IMHO, if you really want to play well, get their early and work on your short game.....whatever the course, you need to know how the greens are running and be sharp with your chipping and putting....this will remove a ton of pressure and build some confidence.......about 30 minutes before you go off, hit a few irons, a few wedges, and a few drivers to warm up.....focus on good contact and warming up....my best rounds have all been due to a good warm-up with plenty of short game practice...

Excellent advice Big Perm

**golfro** · April 23, 2010

I used to get the worst jitters before tournaments.

9 years ago, I tried out for my high school golf team and I was so nervous I puked right before tee off.
I actually ended up shooting a 91 the first round and was cut :(
Second year I came back and shot 76 and made the team.

I think being confident in yourself just helps a lot in general. You've practiced enough to get you to the tournament, just rely on yourself to make the right shots.
But I agree with Big Perm. Before tournaments, I usually get there 30-40 minutes early, hit a few irons to get your body loosened up and spend some time on the green.

easydraw · April 24, 2010

Other than getting there a little early and getting loose, i find that when im on the first tee simply going through my pre-shot routine is all i need. once i get on the first tee box i go through my routine and everything just falls into place. i also find that when everyone is watching it helps me concentrate even more.

**Woters** · April 24, 2010

Most athletes in whatever field they are in get nervous...& there is nothing wrong with it if you use it to your advantage. Take the adrenalin out of you on the putting green make a few easy 1-2 footers & hear that satisfying made putt sound. That should give you some confidence before teeing off. Be there as early as possible to be happy about your surroundings & what you are going to be doing.

And finally ENJOY IT. If you cant, dont play competitive golf, the game is always about fun & joy even against the strongest field. Good luck to you :)

**Dr. Strangeclub** · April 24, 2010

I almost always hit a pure tee shot off the first hole. (I'm more in an "eager to show off" mode than nervous.) After that, the dizziness due to success sets in, a couple of fog headed shots early and panic takes over. Nervous? Hardly ever. Shell-shocked by my own spasticity? Frequently. "We generally need a 30 handicapper in the group to see a shot of that quality, Doc."

The hardest situations for me to handle in tournaments are the really good shots that wind up in a horrible spot. I ha?ndle mistakes pretty well, actually, and am pretty good out of trouble. It's the shot into a stiff wind on a tough par 3, dead solid perfect, that hits the flagstick and sucks back off the green into the front bunker. Or the freak incident. Once, when I was about 19, I was playing in a Pro-AM in Wichita, paired with the club pro. I had an easy 5 footer for birdie, stroked it perfect, it was going RIGHT in the middle, when a sandwich wrapper flopped down over the hole from out of nowhere and the ball went rolling on by with scarcely a bounce. Things like that are funny in a regular round, but harder to deal with when it matters.

**mad max** · April 24, 2010

I avoid caffeine. I am generally excited enough to focus properly and caffeine just makes me tense and jittery.

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