1st tee nerves- what do you do.

[CMAC]

The first tee is a daunting place whether it's a bounce game, major medal or just 10 people watching in deathly silence!

So what do you do to conquer your fears/nerves and ensure a good start?

 

[garyinderry]

theres not a lot you can do imo. just try not to swing to hard. i only get them on away days these days and thats only if the first shot is daunting.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

Stick to your pre-shot routine and take a few deep breaths just before you take the shot.

 

[OldMate]

I turn up early enough beforehand to hit a few 7 irons in the practice net and don't leave until I'm flushing them so I've got complete faith in my swing by the time I get to the first tee. Then I usually block my driver into the scrag.

 

[bluewolf]

Make sure I'm in the last group. Like I am tomorrow. I tend to just block out any distractions until the millisecond after I've hit the ball, then I talk like a drunkard to distract them from my high slice into the trees.

 

[RGDave]

So what do you do to conquer your fears/nerves and ensure a good start?

I don't. I just hit the ball. If it goes badly, I work out how to make a bogey.

 

[DappaDonDave]

I grow a pair and man up. Tends to work

 

[chrisd]

I concentrate on the shot and not the people

 

[duncan mackie]

imagine them all naked........

 

[Fraz]

Take a club that wont get you into trouble, stick to your regular pre shot routine, pick a small target, continue to visualise it as you take a nice easy swing.... Simple as that (allegedly).

 

[Doon frae Troon]

As you step up to the tee, stand back for a second and pretend that you own the golf course and the players are all your serfs.

Years ago I played in an inter district match at Stowmarket. I was back marker so had the first drive. I was watched by both teams and assorted hangers on.
Scorched a beauty down the middle which, 200+ yards out, hit the telegraph pole in the centre of the fairway which acted as a marker.

 

[paddyc]

I try to remain positive and not worry about danger or a poor strike.Do not get too many swing thoughts or too technical and pick a target and focus on that not just the fairway. Visualise the shot and keep a nice smooth rhythm.

 

[Oddsocks]

Stick to your pre-shot routine and take a few deep breaths just before you take the shot.

This but I normally mix it with a bit of banter, and during the pre shot routine have a whistle of a catchy song and maybe sing a few lines.......

 

[Garush34]

I just stick to my routine and not worry about anyone else.

At the end of the day does it matter what they think of me as a golfer, or think of my swing.

Although i did make a tit of myself yesterday on the 1st. I hadnt played in two weeks since starting a new job so hadnt had a chance to get out, so tee'd it up trying to hit driver. Ended up getting to aggressive and ended up chunking it and not even making it past the ladies tee's about 10 yards away.
luckily there was no one else on the tee, but as i turned around from for collecting my ball i did notice a few folk standing at the window in the club house, but just tee'd it up picked my target and let her rip. smooth swing sees the ball land centre of the fairway.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I like to have that nervy feeling. I don't get it so much in the roll ups and to be honest I struggle to concentrate and focus and perhaps don't score as well as my ball striking would indicate. In a comp, I tee it up, have a waggle and pick my spot, usually the left end of the line of trees to the right of the green. Trust the swing and all the practice I've done.

 

[Yerman]

imagine them all naked........

........and turn a panic into a nightmare

 

[2putt]

keeping calm and going through your normal routine normally works

 

[Andy808]

Have a pre comp routine of hitting balls a bit of chipping and a dozen putts or so. Stick to my well regimented preshot routine then slice the first one OOB have a laugh and get on with it properly.
Sometimes I don't hit it OOB which is normally more of a shock to my playing partners than me!

 

[granters]

Well yesterday playing my 1st medal round since June,I stood up confident as anything in front of the gallery and toed one so badly I nearly missed it. Lost. Reload almost as bad, but found it and scraped my way to an 8. 4 of my 5 shots gone already!
The moral of the story....

Never tee up on the 1st with a brand spankin new ball. Asking for trouble

 

[HawkeyeMS]

The first tee is just another shot, no more or less important than any other