Preparing for a golf tournament

[thejuniorgolfer]

I have a tournament coming up in about two weeks. This is the first tournament of the golf tour I am at and I feel like I have to do well this season.

 

I have played in other tournaments but play really bad high 90's(the winner is usually around 80). I normally shoot in the 90's from a 6500 yard course(at these tournaments I play the course is about 6000 yards).

 

Any way how can I calm my nerves and do well in big tournaments

[RRFireblade]

Experience definitely helps.

Other than that you have to try and find the state of mind you have when you are at the range or local muni. It's almost an I dont care kind of attitude but with out losing focus. Do as much visualization as you can, tourney at practice and practice at a tourney if that makes sense.

But try not to over think it and try not to build it up in your mind to be life or death, it's just another day and there will be others.

[thejuniorgolfer]

[quote name='RRFireblade' timestamp='1388514982' post='8374601']
Experience definitely helps.

Other than that you have to try and find the state of mind you have when you are at the range or local muni. It's almost an I dont care kind of attitude but with out losing focus. Do as much visualization as you can, tourney at practice and practice at a tourney if that makes sense.

But try not to over think it and try not to build it up in your mind to be life or death, it's just another day and there will be others.
[/quote]

Thanks I guess I just I get nervous and tighten up...But HOLY CRAP A PLUS 6 HANDICAP

[drewtaylor21]

I agree with Fireblade. Play more tournaments! And realize that everyone who's ever played tourney golf gets nervous on that first tee. Embrace it. Also, I find that focusing on the process of each shot rather than the outcome takes a lot of pressure off. For instance, if you are standing over a 6 foot putt for par on the first hole, rather than focusing on if it goes in or not, focus on the set up and the stroke. If you set up properly and make a good stroke, what else can you do? sometimes the ball takes a funny break or a bump. Those things are out of your control. But if you execute the way you know how, you have every right to be happy with that, regardless of the outcome. Ironically, (for me anyway), the outcome is almost always better this way!

[Sawgrass]

If you don't already, play all of your golf strictly by the book. Getting used to putting out short putts and making only legitimate relief drops will prevent these things from unsettling you in a tournament.

[RRFireblade]

[quote name='thejuniorgolfer' timestamp='1388526825' post='8375685']
[quote name='RRFireblade' timestamp='1388514982' post='8374601']
Experience definitely helps.

Other than that you have to try and find the state of mind you have when you are at the range or local muni. It's almost an I dont care kind of attitude but with out losing focus. Do as much visualization as you can, tourney at practice and practice at a tourney if that makes sense.

But try not to over think it and try not to build it up in your mind to be life or death, it's just another day and there will be others.
[/quote]

Thanks I guess I just I get nervous and tighten up...But HOLY CRAP A PLUS 6 HANDICAP
[/quote]

This is what I do for a living and even I get butterflies still I promise you. Anyone who says they don't is lying.

[size=4]This is where experience comes into play and it's a good thing, pay attention to how you perform when you feel nervous or pressured. Most people have certain tendencies during those times, pay attention to them and learn them. Do you get quick? Tend to push or pull? Hang the face open? That kind of stuff, then you can leave room for that potential error. Try and learn from every situation, you can't always change your physical state but you can learn to adjust accordingly. [/size]

[size=4]Best of luck. [/size]