Standing on the first tee with your friends watching on can be a nerve racking experience. So, imagine what it must be like if you are teeing off in-front of a group of people you don’t know. This can happen if you are playing in a tournament or if there is a delay on the first tee.
If you feel anxious before playing your first shot, especially when other people are watching, we have some great tips which will help you lose the first tee nerves.
There is nothing wrong with taking a safety first approach on the first tee. Many first holes on a golf course will be a par-4 and are rarely the most difficult hole on the course. This means you can feel under pressure to take out the driver, especially if those who have played before you have used it.
However, there is nothing wrong with making a conservative play on the first hole and making sure your ball is on the fairway. If you are feeling a little nervous and cannot guarantee accuracy with the driver, drop down to something you know you can control, such as 3-wood or long iron.
You will feel more confident getting the ball in the middle of the fairway and this will help to settle any nerves.
When feeling nervous, we often do things quickly and in a panic. Rushing your tee shot in this way is likely to produce a poor shot and disappointing start to your round. Take your time on the first tee and think about what you are trying to achieve with the shot.
Rushing the set-up will only add to your nerves so take your time and go through your pre-shot routine. Those watching on are not interested in you, they are thinking about their own shot so focus on what you want to do and go through your pre-shot routine, just as you would any other shot.
Always arrive at the golf course with plenty of time before you are due to tee off. You need time to warm up and this is very important. If you can hit a few balls on the range, get your swing in motion and feeling good, you will head to the first tee feeling more confident than if you turned up minutes before your tee time.
Finally, if you are feeling nervous on the first tee, chances are you are imagining the things that could go wrong with the shot.
If you are feeling that way, try thinking about the mechanics of your swing. You know what you need to do in order to produce a good shot, so run those things through your mind before playing the shot. If negative thoughts return before you swing the club, quickly go through it again and banish them before teeing off.
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