staying cool under pressure

[obsessedgolfer]

i was playing in this golf tournamnt today and on the 18th tee i found out i was leading well i get really nervous because there is a huge prize (an all expense paid trip to florida with a ton of free golf) so i completly choke and slice my drive ob and make a triple. What do you guys do under pressure.

[FlopShotArtist]

I simply try my best to act like there is no pressure. Have the same mindset you have for the prev. 17 holes and don't try to get "too cute".

[hemlock]

Did you still take first?

[obsessedgolfer]

Did you still take first?

no i didnt

[CG031]

I simply try my best to act like there is no pressure. Have the same mindset you have for the prev. 17 holes and don't try to get "too cute".

Have you ever played in any tournaments? Honestly, it's different than just having a good round...there's a lot more at stake, and especially in the original poster's case...

It's tough man, it's certainly not as easy as it's said. The best thing is to trust your swing, and to just go back and remember your biggest swing thoughts. Swing smooth, keep your on the ball - SIMPLIFY things for yourself...take your time, go through your normal pre-shot routine, and then whatever happens from there happens.

[hemlock]

Sorry man :(

I wish I could help you,but I have the same problem. I've never been in a tournament but in regular games.

[Dent]

I use my nervousness to my advantage. I get soo nervous I just play amazing. I just know I have to play well..


too bad the nervousness wears off and I choke.

[alf174]

Its easy for your thoughts to race ahead; staying in the moment and focusing on what your are doing at that very minute will help you finish on top. This is true in any competitive sport.

[Wazzu8]

I choked in my last round with a triple on 18 as well, but mine was just for a PR.

I'd just try to swing slow, nice and smooth. If your in the lead, then a par works.. and it's perfectly fine to be near the green in 2.

Was it a par 3, 4 or 5?

[montru]

I had a similar problem at my club, we have four courses and the club championship was played over two rounds at seperate courses on consecutive weekends.
After the first round I was leading although I felt I wasn't playing that well,and all the locals were saying I had it in the bag etc, on the morning of the second round it was one of the coldest mornings we have had here in SW Florida for years (38 degrees) and basically I froze both physically and mentally and shot a 92 taking me out of the top ten.
So I feel your pain.

Mike

[chingali]

As I have mentioned a few times on these forums, staying cool under pressure has a lot to do with having been in similar situations before. If it is your first time playing the 18th to win a small tournament, then of course it's new territory for you and you won't have worked out YOUR OWN way of dealing with the situation and you will probably fail. Get yourself in contention a few more times and I'm sure you'll work out a way to get the job done.

Once you have worked out a way for YOU to close out the final hole(s) of small tournaments when in contention, you will move on to bigger ones where you will most likely go through the same things again. Keep on putting yourself in contention and your success rates will improve as you get used to what you are feeling. Unfortunately for most of us it is a step at a time process.

Anyway, congratulations on getting yourself in to a position where you could win in the first place, you've done it once so obviously you will do it again, next time with more success!

[m11]

Pressure is really a kick in the head because it makes you doubt yourself. You may not be the best golfer but you know what you expect from a shot. You worked hard to create a swing that you can repeat, but when its a big tournament or the first tee...you mess up beyond what you would expect.

Really all you can do is learn to trust yourself. Its kind of a vague concept, but if you just go into each shot with the mindset of youve done this before plenty of times it might help you relax. Of course if you are standing on your head behind a tree in a half foot of rough...be prepared for that double bogey. But on the tee box, or an important approach...just understand that you know you can hit the shot. Thats why you develop a pre shot routine. Gets you going in the right direction for your shot.

Those of us who didnt immediately start to take lessons probably had some bad habits that had to be hammered out....just natural tendencies. It seems that the doubt that comes from pressure brings out these bad tendencies. Seems like the only way to keep those tendencies away is to trust what youve been doing. If you can stick you 7iron from 150 with your buddies....theres no reason you cant do it when you need birdie on the 72nd hole to win your tournament