Comments on: Overcome First Tee Jitters

By: Declan

Declan — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:53:10 +0000

I discovered ome Sunday morning, suffering from a mild hangover, that swinging slow gets the ball in play on the first tee. Since then I actually volunteer to tee off first and most partners allow you. It does 2 things, gets it over with and puts a little pressure on the others. I like the ‘childish notion’ you have suggested as it takes your mind off the ‘watchers’

By: Hassan

Hassan — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:18:05 +0000

Hi Andy. Thanks for your email.

The first tee-off-scare is always there with me – especially when the flight members are known to be playing better than me. And of course the many people waiting on the the buggies in the cue always disturb my concentration a lot and always.

I tried the breathing exercise and it worked pretty well. On top of that my early break tee off has helped me tremendously now.

Thank You Andy.

By: Dave Ludick

Dave Ludick — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:53:55 +0000

Andy, I find all your tips helpful but as I am 70 I need a tip to enable me to remember what I did 10 min. ago.

Deep breathing works for me when I have to slow down, as the round goes on I tend to get quicker and quicker.

My favourite format is “medal” as one has to concentrate more as there are no 2nd chances. I play off 15 and would like to be single figure for just once in my life before “father time” calls.

Keep up the good work.

Dave

By: Walt

Walt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:24:04 +0000

I use to struggle like most people with the “First Tee Jitters” until one day
when I said to myself; “I’ve done this a million times over the last 45years.

I not going to worry what happens. Just grip it and rip it! Of course the breathing exercises help too. But if I hit it badly?! So what!

By: William Pilkington

William Pilkington — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:35:29 +0000

Luckily I have never had this problem, as I don’t take my golfing life that seriously and thi keeps me pretty relaxed.

William

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:35:48 +0000

Andy,

Tony Lema was a family friend of ours when he lived and grew up in San Leandro, California. He certainly wasn’t a quitter and I think he would have been one of the best golfers on the tour for a LONG time if he had not met such an untimely death. His personality lit up a room and aside from the moniker of “Champagne Tony” he got from a reporter, he was a down-to-earth, blue collar kind of guy.

I worked part-time for the U.S.P.S. while in college and used to deliver Special Delivery letters to him from the U.S.G.A. on Sunday mornings when he was staying at his mom’s house. He’d come to the door in pajamas and robe carrying a cup of coffee and always ask me in for a cup. Our standing joke was that “I’m sorry to bother you on such a nice Sunday morning, Tony.” He’d reply, “No bother Ken, I had to answer the darn doorbell anyway.” Being “on duty” I never took him up on his offer but he’d never to fail to “Say hi to your mom for me, OK?”

We still miss him — with his never quit attitude and the twinkle in his eye

Ken Rabello
Pleasanton, CA

By: tony

tony — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:53:28 +0000

Some other thoughts.

1. Smile as this relaxes the body.

2. Stare at your target and keep that focus. It spooks the other guys.

3. Play aggressively. Don’t layup. You never win or loose it on the first but you can set the scene for a great round and put your openents under pressure.

By: ed boyce

ed boyce — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:23:50 +0000

Andy, thanks, I think I will benefit from that exercise. Ed

By: Mark-John

Mark-John — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:41:07 +0000

Andy-

Thanks for the reminder! I’ve been using this technique to defeat shallow breathing for years, but stressful situations can actually cause one to forget it! I’ll use my putting practice just prior to teeing off as a TRIGGER to begin this exercise!

By: Peter Jessen

Peter Jessen — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:58:13 +0000

It will be a couple months before I can play again, hope I remember this technique.

Actually this is probably a good stress reliever, mental focus, tool for everyday life.

Thanks Andy,

Peter in Omaha

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:34:17 +0000

Hi Andy, I used to always suffer with first tee nerves in competition, especially if there was a crowd watching. But this sort of dissapeared during 2009. Any other time I usually start very well, and even when nervous I often started well, but was more likely to start badly than when not being watched. However, during 2009, I started to have the attitude of “I want people to see how well I can hit the ball”, and relished having an audience. This wasn’t deliberate, it just happened. If my playing partners got off to a bad start, it was even better, because I knew I could do better than that, and it made it even more enjoyable, and even more likely to suceed hitting it straight down the middle. I developed an attitude, albeit subconsiously, a bit like that mentioned by Lester Rohrlach in sept 21st comment, I’ll show yez how its done”. When I realised this had happened, I actually used to hope there would be a bit of a gallery on the first tee. It actually improved my performance. Pity they wouldn’t follow me all the way around the course!

By: Abu Nawar

Abu Nawar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:48:31 +0000

Hi Andy
The breathing technique really works for me. Thanks for the tips
I’m sure I could overcome my first tee jitters and also my approach shots.

By: Lester Rohrlach

Lester Rohrlach — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:20:17 +0000

For me that sounds like a lot of procedure to work through, starting 10 minutes before teeing off. For me it’s much much simpler to tee up, do my little routine, that is a couple of loosening swings, then just step up to the teed ball, glance at the target, club-waggle, club-hover, (here’s the secret now – let this thought momentarily flash through my mind “I’ll show yez how it’s done!” then take club back and pull the trigger.
That is, start Positive, tell yourself you’ll show the party how to strike a beautiful tee shot.

By: Kathleen O'Neill

Kathleen O'Neill — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:19:06 +0000

Instead of those women chattering on the 1st tee, which annoys me, I will pretend they are announcing and cheering me so I expect to hit a boomer off the 1st.
Kathy NZ

By: kobus erasmus

kobus erasmus — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:56:29 +0000

The definition of fear is basically that you think of something that may happen in future which in reality did not happen. This thought or fear will actually make it a reality and it will most probably occur when the time comes to perform. If your fear or thought on the first tee is a great drive and you picture it in your mind the first drive will be a great drive. The moment you think that you may fail or you are afraid that you will hit a bad drive, you will most probably hit a bad drive. The key is super self confidence and failure never enter your mind.