You really need to take your BRAIN with you from the Practice Range to the First Tee. It’s easy to hone your swing for each type of club at the practice range. The lie is flat and your mind is calm and relaxed. Whether you know it or not, your anxiety and adrenaline are building at the 1st Tee (and every other tee). You need to manage your mental state and get on with your game.
In a recent blog, Hank Haney summarized his 1st Tee experience with Tiger Woods. As his trainer for a number of years, Hank was amazed to see Tiger’s absolute perfection at the range and then he would lose it on the First Tee. I was surprised to learn this but I do recall seeing Tiger in the rough off the first tee in many key tournaments. Fortunately for Tiger, he is a great scrambler and could get his game back on track.
Tiger has been one of the best golfers for years, so if he finds it difficult to make a perfect first tee drive, it means we all need a great solution to control our minds on the first hole. You need a consistent process to focus your mind on your swing and NOT on your success or failure.
Strategy to for Success on the First Tee
Humans can only think one thought at a time. So to eliminate external thoughts, you should SAY A PHRASE IN MY MIND using the rhythm of your back and forward swing. “FLATaaand Finish” are the KEY WORDS that I now use as swing reminders:
“FLAT” is my reminder to keep a straight leading arm and a flat wrist,
“aaand” gives me time to complete my hip and shoulder rotation while I cock my wrist for lag,
“Finish” The B in Balance starts my downswing to a balanced finish
Steps to Eliminate 1st Tee Jitters
1/ Line up and visualize your shot. Make a full speed practice swing with a backswing which is at least twice as long as your downswing and use your KEY WORDS to control your rhythm and finish your swing.
2/ As you step forward to your ball, take a full inhale and exhale as you take a final look up your target line.
3/ Loosen your body with a limited shoulder and hip takeaway as you say your KEY WORDS.
4/ Repeat your KEY WORDS as you coil your body and power your swing to a balanced finish.
Eliminate 1st tee jitters by focusing on your straight leading arm swing and a balanced finish. Practice with your GOLFSTR+ for swing perfection. Buy one today at www.GOLFSTR.com
Why Golf is Better than Sex #9: You can stop in the middle and have a cheeseburger and a couple of beers.
[…] Source link […]