Creating a routine allows you to become familiar, and familiarity helps your brain settle. People who live with the consequences of their actions, whether they're surgeons, pilots, or members of the military, talk about how, under pressure, they fall back on routines they've developed. Golfers can increase their chances of starting their rounds well with a pre-round routine, just as they would for a pressure shot. You do what you did before you start the round - that is what determines how well you do.
These days, time is a premium, but if you learn to think an hour before you tee off, you will maximize your chances of a fast start. How well you play your first three holes is greatly impacted by what you do in the hour before playing. You can make the most of that time if you follow this five-step guide.
Ways to Get Your Round Off To a Good Start
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Keep Calm
When you leave for a course, what is your usual preparation? You'll release cortisol - the stress hormone - into your bloodstream if you rush about, make phone calls and try to get everything done. That cortisol will stay in your bloodstream even as you tee off. You'll feel much more relaxed on the course if you keep your pre-round activities steady, calm, and under control.
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Make a Commitment
Take a moment before getting out of your car once you arrive at the club - and before you get out of your car - to ask yourself: "What am I committed to today?”. This will help you establish a direction for the day, and will help you reset your mind for action. Playing with freedom, ignoring external influences, and sticking to pre-shot routines are all effective ways to keep your commitments.
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Find Your Best Warm-up Routine
The most common mistake club golfers make is hitting more balls before a competition. If you are unfamiliar with the process, it can lead to failure. To find out what works best for you, play around with different warm-up lengths before settling on one. Having said this, professionals usually only warm-up for 45 minutes or less - very few spend longer than this.
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Last Practice, Best Practice
Short putts are often hit in the last few minutes before tee-off by club golfers. Taking a shot you should make sows doubt while taking a shot you should make nets you a hole. Play a single ball from the tee from a short distance for five minutes. You will feel like you would have gone in the hole if you miss it; if you hit it, you will gain confidence. Regardless of which way you look at it, the hole on the first green looks like a bucket.
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Play the Course Before Teeing Off
I don't mean sneaking in 9 holes before your scheduled round. Imagine you are playing golf, while you are hitting shots on a driving range after your normal warm-up routine. Imaginary fairways and imaginary greens, to which you drive and hit an iron. During your 10 minutes of golf, don't judge how well you are hitting the ball. When you know the golf course you will be playing, try playing it using the same clubs you would use for the first few holes. Make sure you hit your tee shot on the real first hole exactly the way you want to and continue playing the 1st tee shot until you have.
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Imagine Playing a Great Round
Imagine hitting some great shots on the course as you relax in a quiet spot. You influence your subconscious mind when you visualize, which is actually in charge of most of your actions. To be successful, you must influence your subconscious mind in the right way - you do this by feeding it the images you wish to manifest in your life.
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Set Your Process Goals for the Round
It's not a good idea to put extra pressure on yourself to shoot well. You need to think about your "process goals" - the things you can control (your score isn't in your complete control) and build a mental game scorecard.
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Relax
The more calm and relaxed you are the less worried and concerned you should be about the outcome. Remember to bring yourself back to the present if you notice your mind drifting into the future about what might occur (unless you are actively visualizing a successful round). By doing this, you will also be able to relax (while using good breathing techniques).
Conclusion
Rushing to the first tee is the easiest way to get a poor start. You should arrive at the course at least thirty minutes before tee time. After stretching, hit at least 15 balls on the range to ensure your swing feels loose and natural. Next, practice some putts on the practice green - enough to get a feel for the speed - and maybe some chip shots if you can. That's it. You're ready to go.
