1st Tee Jitters

Isn’t the first tee shot of the day always exciting? It’s the first shot of the day with pressure. There’s no pressure on the driving range and there’s no pressure on the putting green. The first tee shot represents the transition from shots that don’t matter to shots that do. It’s the moment where every strike of the ball gets recorded until we finish on #18.

Everyone wants to get off to a good start. So how do we make the transition from practice to play?

The transition is best made with a skill most of us left behind as children, imagination. Kids are great at using their imaginations. Many adults are not. It’s time to get familiar again with this powerful tool.

Go to the driving range before the round and warm up. I usually begin with short wedge shots and then work my way up to the driver. There really is no right or wrong way to warm up. I like to begin with short shots simply to help my back transition into full swings.

Get everything loose and here is the key. End the warm up session on the driving range with the club you will hit off the 1st tee. And here is where the imagination comes in. Picture the shot. Visualize the tee box and what the hole looks like. Go through your pre shot routine on the range and hit the exact shot you want on #1. Try this routine a few times until you connect with a good one. That is where I like to leave it.

Now carry that confidence and positive state of mind with you to the first tee box. Step up there and make the same swing you just made.

Try this simple tip next time you play and see if it doesn’t help. One more thing to mention. If you are running late and don’t have time to hit balls. Visualize the 1st tee in the car on the way to the course. Picture the shot, see yourself making a great swing and actually watch the ball launch out into the fairway. Hitting balls is best but our brains are so powerful that imagining the shot is a close 2nd.

See you soon. Don’t forget to bookmark the page.

Mike Snyder

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder