Smooth Your Nerve

[xd3vilx]

How does you guys smooth your nerve during the first tee of a tournament?...Just want to compare you guy one with mine...

[Will]

It's a good question. Other than having a few drinks (not recommended), the only thing that worked for me was experience. After you play several tournaments, you get used to it.

However, if I ever played in something like a pro-am in front of cameras, I sure I'd get nervous all over again.

[iacas]

  xd3vilx said:

How does you guys smooth your nerve during the first tee of a tournament?...Just want to compare you guy one with mine...

A deep breath, and then I remember that I'll hit at least 71 more shots after the first one, so it's really not terribly important.

[HanesOnU]

Also, it is just golf. Like it really matters anyway, right?

[Wood]

  HanesOnU said:

Also, it is just golf. Like it really matters anyway, right?

If it is "just golf" then I doubt you're playing in tournaments to win. And yes, it does matter unless you are playing some captains choice scramble for charity.

My advice....besides a bloody mary... is hit some range balls, step to the first tee, and rip it. The first tee is nowhere to put half attempt on a swing, or a place to try to guide the ball. If you normally fade the ball, play it that way. If you normally draw, play for it. This is not the place to try to create an unnatural shot for you, but to play to your strength.

[SheriffBooth]

I know I still haven't got it figured out because half the time I hit something a little squirelly off #1, but one thing I learned is that a few really hard practice swings helps work out some of the adrenaline and also helps to avoid that steer shot when you're just trying to get it in play. I was reading about Todd Coffey sprinting in out of the bullpen for the Reds to work off adrenaline - same idea I guess.

It's hard at some tourneys, but like someone said above, being able to hit 5 or 6 practice drives right before you go to the tee is nice too.

[HanesOnU]

  Wood said:

If it is "just golf" then I doubt you're playing in tournaments to win. And yes, it does matter unless you are playing some captains choice scramble for charity.

COme on, you have to be kidding. Seriously, golf is a game. It is for your pleasure. Even when you are in a tournament, you can't let the competitiveness get the best of you. That is how you play bad.

Instead of playing golf you could be at work doing something that really matters...

[mediaguru]

I have the gitters big time in tournaments. The problem is I KNOW I'm capable of good golf and I want it SO bad that I get really intense. On shots that are normally cake for me, like say a 3 foot putt, I'm very nervous.

The more times you go through it and experience it the easier it gets.

[golfchief]

forget about the people watching when its your turn to hit, pick a target, take a few practice swings and le tit rip. every swing should be the same,focus on your game nothing else.