Do you think being relaxed is the most important thing in a round of golf?

[golfmentalist]

Hey guys hows it going, I noticed that i only shoot my best golf score when im just feeling it, in which case im really relaxed, or at least thats how i think i feel when i shoot well. I just wanted to know how many of you think being relaxed is the most important thing in having a great round of golf? Abd if you think it is the most important thing, why?

Thanks !

[wedge player]

i think the single most important part is confidence.

[CG031]

Yes. Being tense over the ball and trying to steer the ball leads to disaster, at least for me. When I am relaxed, it leads to confidence, generally. Confidence leads me to make a "free-er" swing which is usually smoother and I get in a lot better positions as oppose to my "tense" golf swing when I am playing bad and out of my tempo.

[MI Rob]

For me being relaxed and having fun is a huge part of my game.

[Shindig]

I play for relaxation. What's the point in playing if you aren't having a good time?

I believe relaxation helps with the other important pieces of playing, too.

[Jay-Bird]

No. It's huge, but not most important.

All of these are of equal importance imo.
Having your body relaxed to the point where you can control all of your muscles.
Having your mind relaxed to the point where you can hone your focus .
Having confidence in your every swing.
Being able to swing confidently & swing aggressively .

[JawjaDawg]

I'm sure it's different for everyone but for me the most important thing is committing to the shot. If I catch myself second guessing in the middle of my backswing I know I'm headed for hilarious results.

[Parker0065]

Hey guys hows it going, I noticed that i only shoot my best golf score when im just feeling it, in which case im really relaxed, or at least thats how i think i feel when i shoot well. I just wanted to know how many of you think being relaxed is the most important thing in having a great round of golf? Abd if you think it is the most important thing, why?

To me being relaxed is a state of mind that helps you accomplish the things that are important in playing golf well. For me those things are "staying focused" on the task at hand and "staying patient" during the round. By staying relaxed you allow your mind to accomplish the focus and patience you need to score low. Many times I have played a round where my swing and timing were just off that day but as long as I stayed focused and patient I would still post a good score. I guess they would call that "grinding",,,lol!

So to answer your question I would say it is important to be relaxed but a little nervous energy is not a bad thing when controlled and put to good use. My lowest under par rounds I've ever shot have all been under tournament pressure. I think it was Nicklaus that said in his prime he lived for that bit of nervous energy because he knew if he felt it then he was in the hunt to win. So if your feeling nervous or out of your comfort zone on the first tee try to embrace it and use it to motivate you to play your best. I know it's easier said than done but it's really just a matter of putting yourself in that position of being nervous over and over and you will learn to handle it over time. It's basically the reason why they say you have to "learn how to win" by putting yourself in that position a few times! Good Luck!

[leo3]

Yes, I have played my best golf when I felt relaxed on the course. Being relaxed gives me the confidence to make a good swing off the first tee, and sets the tone for the round, feeling that I can handle any shot. I guess I have to tie confidence and relaxed together, as one accentuates the other. That would be my "zone", so to speak, not overanalyzing, overthinking, or over-reacting if a shot goes a little astray.

[Dub]

It is a huuuuuge part of my game.

I play at my best when I'm loose and relaxed....both mentally and physically. It is one of my last consious thoughts as I address the ball...loose shoulders, arms, wrists and soft grip........smooth takeaway and through the ball....even relaxed on the follow through.

I try to do the same thing when putting.

It really helps with lag and release...at least for me.

The only times I'll firm up is when trying to pull off fades/slices. I may firm my grip and hold off on the release a bit as well as firming up my lower body.






Relaxed rounds almost make the game seem easy.....almost.

[lumpuckeroo]

I think is a very important part of my game, but not the most important. From a mental aspect, I think being confident is the most important part for me, but they do tend to go hand in hand. If I am confident, I am usually relaxed and visa versa.

[Zeph]

When I play badly, I'll focus on relaxing and making easy swings. It's so easy to get tense and tighten up the body when you don't play well. You want to hit the ball harder and more solid, but end up being too tense and hit even worse.
I had one round where I found something cool. I'd hit a few bad drives, going left and right. So I hit one feeling completely relaxed in my wrists and hands. Not letting them twist or turn or do anything at all. What do you know, the ball went dead straight. I've done this a lot since. If I have a tough shot, I'll focus on keeping the wrists loose, most of the times it works out great.

Being relaxed and swinging smooth goes hand in hand also. My swing speed up when I get tense, I'm all out of rhythm. Again, I focus on easy swings, not trying to kill the ball and making a downswing where I don't speed up until my hands are at waist height.