Nerves

[Golfer Gavin]

How do deal with them

What do you guys do when you get nervous in a really big tournament?

[i_luv_golf_]

Well I Dont Know What You Mean Tournaments Or On The Tee Or What?

 

For Putts I Like To Breathe In On The Way Back And Breath Out As You Hit The Ball And Follow Through

 

Helps Stop The yIpS!

[300_yard_drives]

i sing songs in my head and zone everything out

[Cameron Circle T]

Ironically enough I do the same thing as comprargolf, sing my favorite song lyrics. But if you want something good to help you go read Gio Valiante's book. Fearless Golf. Good book.

[2zlinks]

Pre- shot routine, pre-shot routine, pre- shot routine. Have one for every shot and get "lost" in it. Thats the best way I know to handle pressure.

[cjdrcc]

I rationalize the situation and try to make myself realize that the situation is not that dire. I say "when I go home, my parents will still be there, they will still love me, and take care of me. Would losing this tournament really be that terrible? No, so why lose my mind.

[Teetogreen86]

Pre- shot routine, pre-shot routine, pre- shot routine. Have one for every shot and get "lost" in it. Thats the best way I know to handle pressure.

 

I can't agree more. When I finally broke par last week I can say I was prepared every shot in my round except for a chip on the 9th hole which lead to a bogey. As I walked up to my 8 footer on 18 for par and 69 my mind was clear, went through my routine, commited, and excecuted. Having a reliable but more importantly and consistent pre-shot routine is crucial to focusing and executing shots.

[djt1532]

I agree with Comprargolf. Listen to your favorite song before you play and sing it to yourself in you head during the round. It helps keep me relaxed. Also, try to remember that everyone else is nervous too. They are all playing the same course. Just pretend like you are playing a normal round at your home course with your buddies.

[bjackson]

I stay in the moment. don't get ahead of yourself "I need to shoot X" just play the hole, stay calm, and remember, anything can happen in golf!

[2zlinks]

I've played in alot of tournaments and it will get easier the more you play. There is no better microscope for your game than tournament golf. It will uncover your weaknesses, but then you know what to work on.

 

To play devils advocate with a couple of the previous posts, and I don't want to come across as condescending, just my .02, take it for what its worth.

 

When you say "I'm going to hit this club so I don't go in the water" your conscous mind hears WATER, and guess what usually happens. Thats why you should always play the shot that gives you the best chance of hitting the fairway. Sounds too simple, but thats how the mind is wired. A previous post suggested to take the approach "if I loose this tournament its not the end of the world" is giving you a big "out" and when things get tough guess what your mind is going to want to do. Your correct, its not the end of the world, but I don't think that I know of anyone that entered a competition with the goal of not succeeding on some level.

 

Your smart. Your mind is never going to fall for the "I'm playing with my friends" routine, because your not. Your nervous, like the previous poster mentioned, so is everyone else. Observe what the pressure does to you. Do you get chatty, do you walk faster, does your tempo get faster. Make note of these differences so you know what to address later.

 

Your always going to be nervous when your doing something that you have a vested intrest in, try to enjoy it as best you can.

[300_yard_drives]

another thing in pressure situations you have to be confident. Having played many sports and been clutch i just will hit a game winning hit in baseball or make the winning shot in basketball. All i do is act like ice water is running through my veins. Act like you messed up and you need to make up for it.

[tylerbrowder8-4]

its mainly confidence had low scores and got cokey enogh to not think about the first shot

i dont have the same pre-shot if differs every round what ever i feel comfortable doing that day

 

but dont get to cockey or you will get to high of expectations and will play bad

[ccfgc]

Get a copy of Fearless Golf : Conquering the Mental Game (Hardcover)

by Gio Dr Valiante

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/038551192...5Fencoding=UTF8

 

It's a great read. It will change your thinking about stress and nerves.

[sebastian]

Mentally I'm tougher than Tiger. So I just play better when I'm under pressure. That's about the only thing that's remarkable about my game though.

[jackn]

Putt with your mouth slightly open (not so wide as to make you look like a fool) as this makes it nearly impossible to tense your shoulders. Works for me. Also if you are playing infront of people just get used to it i also sing a song in my head at time but can be annoying.

 

 

 

Jack

[kblakeney35]

Honestly, if I am really nervous, there isnt anything that I can do to make it better. I just keep playing through it. Just keep grinding and eventually the nervousness goes away.

 

Also, I try to think of the time that I hit that shot particularly well and that helps me when I'm nervous about a shot.

 

 

-Kyle

[tylerbrowder8-4]

Mentally I'm tougher than Tiger. So I just play better when I'm under pressure. That's about the only thing that's remarkable about my game though.

 

 

i take it your good friends with tiger?... if not you have no idea how strong tigers mental game is

[angelicgolfer]

I just breathe rapidly in and out, and think of what will happen if I keep my nerves in control. And if I keep it in control, :) and if it would be a good shot, I would whisper to myself, :crazy:!!!!!!!!

[ScottWS33]

Concentrate on my breathing and hum 'Swing Life Away' by Rise Against. I have listened to many of Dr Karl Morris' tapes and he places importance on breathing technique. That's is where that idea came from.

[emc]

Whenever I've been nervous on the course I've pulled off some clutch plays, like sticking a 4 iron to 20 feet on the 1st hole representing my club after my opponents stuck it to 4 feet. I also played the back 9 at my course in -1 to shoot 75 (my personal best) or winning the last 2 holes against the low hcper in the club in the club matchplay to take it to extra holes, where I won on the 19th. It's all about your outlook. I love when I get nervous as I can rely on those experiences