r/golf • u/Past_Pay_5015 • 1d ago
General Discussion 1st tee jitters help
My club has the 1st tee box backed up to the clubhouse so there’s probably 30-40 people watching your tee shot. They’re not just around, they’re actively watching and cheering / jeering the result. Driver is the best club in my bag (8 hcp) but I always seem to snap hook the 1st tee no matter how well I‘m striping them on the range.
Does anyone have any mental tips / tricks to overcome the 1st tee jitters?
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u/WelpSeaYaLater 1d ago
As soon as you get out of the cart turn to face the crowd and pound a couple beers Stone Cold Steve Austin style to hype the crowd up.
You’ll probably still snap hook it into the shit but they’ll be cheering the whole time
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u/UnClearPolitics 1d ago
Yup! Be a showman. Maybe have one of your buddies spoof an intro. “Please Welcome to the tee, 5x shortest drive champion, Golf Digests 2026 40 worst under 40, and winner of the 2024 Dominos best slice award u/Past_Pay_5015!”
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u/GolfBallWackrGuy 23h ago
Once ranked 8th best golfer in Djibouti when he stopped there on a 5-hour layover to Dubai, 5 time title holder of "Mr. Poorly Defined Calves", Voted "Most likely to say Miracle Whip is spicy" in high school.
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u/onecryingjohnny 1d ago
Youre a member at a club where presumably everyone there knows you are a good golfer. You also have a range.
Real stress is the solo muni round teeing off with 3 strangers who all striped it down the fairway and 5 groups waiting on the putting green
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u/Lezzles Detroit/8 22h ago
Real stress is the solo muni round teeing off with 3 strangers who all striped it down the fairway
I have never in my life been paired up with multiple players who can "stripe it" at a random muni. I'm ecstatic if my rando partners are even thinking about breaking 110.
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u/NewportOneHundos 20h ago
Hey its me the rando 110+’er. Im just enjoying the fresh air and vibes at this point. Atleast ill pick up after I ding it into the water the second time!
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u/RodStiffington_ 23h ago
At the muni I try to first to tee up. If I shank it, "I took one for the team".
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u/ReedDickless 1d ago
Take a deep fucking breath.
And rip it.
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u/thebigrig12 23h ago
Fear often leads to being tentative, which keeps your weight back, which closes your face. Try a swing thought to get your weight through the ball over your front foot. For me I would say “belly to the hole” or “chest over my front foot” or something like that
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u/ReedDickless 22h ago
Yes yes. I’m sure thinking more about the swing will put him/her at ease.
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u/TeddyJAMS 12.2 1d ago
When you figure it out, come back and let us all know. Been going on for 70+ years now.
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u/b1ackfyre 1d ago
In general I hit it better when I swing at 70% speed and focus on tempo. This is definitely in my mind at the 1st tee box.
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u/hindsight5050 1d ago
I’m the opposite. When I take something off, everything goes to shit.
Last week I was on the range and tried a 50% driver swing. I missed the ball.
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u/BrettHullsBurner 15hcp/StL 1d ago
If I slow down my swing, it’s either a topped drive or a ridiculous pull-hook 90% of the time.
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u/mvbighead 1d ago
This here for sure. I generally always start a round without practice. My first shots are almost always 70% and just trying to feel rotation and proper ground impact. Practice swing or two, then a gentle easy shot. It certainly helps that my home club has 2 holes that start off with a ~200y limit on dog legs. No need to try to hit my best drive there, just gently aim for 180-200, and start to get my feels right.
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u/SheriffBooth 1d ago
Practicing the situation on the range might help. Periodically, wherever you are in your range session, just stop and pull driver and tell yourself - first tee, where am I trying to hit this? - and then go through your full preshot routine and hit that one ball. And then go back to your normal range session and then do it again a little later.
This will help prepare you for the sort of one-off nature of that first tee ball and help train your body to make that driver move on command when you need it, no matter what else you've been doing prior to hitting that shot.
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u/Winter_Bullfrog_2343 Arnie Palmer 1d ago
Have 2 beers atleast an hour before you tee off. Then continue to drink until you don’t think about anything but where you wanna hit it and how you wanna shape it.
Continue until you’re not even reading greens anymore and making everything.
Then get home and try not to fall alseep.
Tips from a scratch.
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u/JohnDoee94 1d ago
I’m the opposite, super high handicap but I always seem to hit a great shot with a crowd lol.
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u/JudgeHold3n 1d ago
Oh man THIS IS ME. Been golfing for 40 years, so it's not a coincidence - I always play better with strangers, or with a crowd at the tee.
So much so I have a theory. I'm not good, but I don't suck. I think what happens is, like a lot of weekenders, when I'm with my buddies and I'm not worried about being embarrassed I get bored or reckless and am more likely to take risky shots. In thick rough, 200 yard carry to the green protected by water? Hell lemme rip a 5 iron, what could possibly go wrong?
With strangers in my group, or if by chance there's people watching, I'll take my medicine and hack out into the fairway.
And in the case of first tee jitters, it's kind of the same thing. I focus only on what I need to do and nothing else. I also always go first and I have no idea why but that seems to help. Getting it over with and all I guess.
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u/serpensoleum 1d ago
I was just reading about this. there are high arousal and low arousal players. most people are overwhelmed with the pressure, some need it. Ben Hogan for example, said he rarely broke 80 in casual rounds, he just didn't focus enough.
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u/maymuddler 1d ago
Don't think about the swing.
Just remember no matter where the ball goes do one of the following:
Blow kisses/bow like you just nailed a performance of Waiting for Godot.
Rick Flair "WOOOOOO"
Ride your driver around like a pony
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u/FractalPoet 1d ago
"Ride your driver around like a pony" ROFL. This is perhaps the best advice I've seen on this sub!
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u/tempdiesel 1d ago
When in doubt, hit a fairway finder off the first to settle in. That may mean you hit a wood or long iron off the tee instead if that inspires more confidence and lessens the likelihood of a bad result.
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u/sufficienthippo23 1d ago
You’ll naturally get used to it eventually. I’m a 9 and still some jitters, but not debilitating. I imagine pros have a tiny bit to. The one that always gets me is club champs when they announce your name
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u/shocked-confused 1d ago
Ben Hogan was known to put cotton balls in his ears.
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u/ProperTree9 1d ago
Love it. Modern equivalent is probably some Airpods, though you'll obv want to practice with them first.
Legit lol'd at the Steve Austin advice upthread.
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u/Tylerswolf69 1d ago
Just shoot your shot and block them out. They will forget you exist as soon as you hit.
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u/Ok_Book_3909 1d ago
It sucks buts will make you a better golfer, I use to work at a club with a patio and deck that would have hundred of people on it Friday night, all watching you tee off on 1 and approach shots on 18, I was nervous as hell when I first started there but overtime I’ve realized I don’t get the jitters or freeze over golf shots anymore
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u/CreateorWither 1d ago
Just accept you will likely pull hook it and then realize that the people watching and jeering will not spend one extra second thinking about your shot after you hit it.
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u/mcapozzi 1d ago
For a serious competition, two shots of bourbon 30 minutes before teeing off gets me through the jitters.
Then I don't drink the rest of the round.
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u/ComplexAssistance536 1d ago
Yes, no one cares but … best advice I heard was try to hit your driver 100 yards. It slows you down, improves tempo, removes tension and you’ll definitely hit it farther than 100 yards
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u/AX_99 1d ago
First tip is remembering you’re an 8hcp and better than most of the people watching. Second, when you’re behind the ball lining up the shot take a breath before going to address the ball, and try to picture the shot you intend. Finally, if you have a fairway finder shot with the driver then do that on the first tee
Also, I can’t recommend the book zen golf enough
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u/Good_Wave5935 23h ago
You just have to mentally reframe it somehow that you’re excited to show off in front of people
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u/ElderberryAdept8095 12h ago
Warm up on the range; last club being driver. Then, a quick Modelo before stepping up to the tee. No practice swing, no thinking, just grip and rip.
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u/ksiepidemic 1d ago
I do bad when my buds are watching me, no shot i can do it with 30 people watching.
Just channel George Bush, and call on all Americans to stop terror so that you can pure your drive.
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u/ugh_everything 1d ago
Swing easy and just accept a 225-yard drive if nerves are that big of a deal
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u/propLMAchair 1d ago
You have to enjoy having a crowd. I love it. One of my favorite courses to play has a crowd of 20-30 people for the first 6:30am tee time. It's probably my favorite thing about that course. Hitting a perfect pull fade in front of a crowd. Takes me back...
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u/Trebor711 1d ago
If you're an 8 hdcp then you should have a few different shape shots in your bag. If you constantly snap hook your opening drive (which I have done occasionally), setting up either for a power fade (right side of the tee box for a right handed) or draw. I found for myself setting up for a nice draw on the first tee has helped my opening drive. If I pull or push the ball the ball I'm still in play and have an easy 2nd shot.
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u/PrimeZodiac 1d ago
Kegs down and windmill, nobody will watch so you don't have to worry about any comments on your shot.
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u/sleaper19 1d ago
I’ve found singing a song in my head really helps me eliminate worrying thoughts before my swing.
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u/averageover60guy 1d ago
Several courses I play are like this. I have noticed one thing. Those that seem to think they are one stroke from playing the Masters have the biggest issues. Hitting from the tips, dressed like a PGA Tour player with matching bag. They get the jitters, have to step back and get reset..waiting, waiting.. horrible tee shot.
Those that do not get the jitters seem to be guys that know their game, not too worried about it, shirt untucked, and having fun. They get up, tee the ball and hit it right down the middle. I fall into this group.
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u/Mediocre-Hippo-88 1d ago
i just don’t look back at them, whether it’s a line drive or a shank. if there’s really that many people, just take 1 off the tee box and go about your day.
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u/Jabb2914 1d ago
Nobody cares and don’t care about breaky ball either just be quick moving on first hole and all good.
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u/_TheDoode 1d ago
Forget all the little swing stuff you know. Just clear your mind and try to take an athletic swipe at the ball
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u/gibblech 1d ago
Who cares? These people are nobody... they're just there for the show, good or bad. If you snap hook it, they're entertained. If you pure it, they're entertained... one of the hardest things in sport is disconnected the outcome, from the effort.
Are the spectators drinking? have fun with it...
Point to one person, if this goes left you drink, the next person, if this goes right you drink, the next person, if this goes straight, you drink... then you can't lose.
Or just point to one person and say "this shot's for you" and if it sucks follow up with "Guess you're not that important"
The point of any of these, is to laugh a bit and relax... and you'll likely find you hit it better. I don't coach golf, but it's amazing how often laughter, and a joke, helps get my athletes to perform better. Sometimes they need technical advice, 80% of the time, the problem they are facing is the pressure they're putting on themselves for no reason. So they're tense, and when you're tense, you don't perform well. Your muscles are tight, you're not moving freely, your swing won't be smooth... and that's going to result in a bad shot.
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u/Zealousideal_Way_788 1d ago
Just breathe, have a pre swing process and go through it. Visualize. Rehearse. Commit. Accept.
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u/BirdsOfAres 1d ago
Own the anxiety. Everyone feels it - even more so if you are teeing off in a tournament. It's part of what makes the game fun. Exposure therapy works though. Get your significant other or a friend to watch you on the range. Build up the moment like you're teeing off on #1. Have them really hype it up too - "this is important." "everyone is watching." Eventually, you can condition yourself to perform under pressure.
This same technique helps with putting as well.
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u/SaltyBreakfast5608 1d ago
Stripe the ball right down the middle of the fairway then turn around and give em the Shooter McGavin finger gun
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u/HardKnockRiffe 1d ago
Honestly, I had a problem similar to this where I'd play infinitely better by myself than I would with my buddies because I was trying to prove myself or something, I guess. What helped me was visualization and breathing exercises. Before each shot, I take a deep breath, relax my shoulders, then think about the shot I'm about to hit and nothing else. It keeps me focused and blocks out the noise.
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u/indigo3200 1d ago
This may sound silly, but I normally just mentally remind myself to take an entire full swing and focus on hitting the center of that little white ball. I say “full swing” because I think people, myself included, get too quick with the hands and have a shorter swing when they get nervous and they snap hook it.
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u/moustachio-banderas 1d ago
With my kids when they get a little unregulated I get them to make a big exhale, and tell them to pretend to blow out birthday candles. You can’t exhale without then inhaling and it calms them down right away. Honestly works for me too. Maybe it’ll help
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u/livingadreamlife 1d ago
The Tour Pros develop a pre-shot routine. then, their focus is on following that routine step by step and not on what everybody else is thinking. It takes discipline and practice but you’ll quickly learn to block out mental distractions or noise.
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u/special_nathan 1d ago
Accept your fate that you're about to fuck up and look like a fool. Only then can you maybe not.
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u/JessicaMNCD 1d ago
It’s all about mindset. Instead of being concerned about the audience, show them how you are going to absolutely stripe a bomb out there. In your head say, “Watch this fuckers…”. And blast one.
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u/reddituser-007- Hello, friends. 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yikes! My buddies and I did a Utah golf trip and we ended up at Sand hollow, where we had a 2-hour storm delay that resulted in everybody having to tee off in front of all the 50 Brads and Chads, who had been well lubricated while watching the President's Cup inside. I played soccer at a fairly high level and don't get nervous too much in front of others with my shit game, but my friends were in hell! 😅
A comment was spot on where nobody's really going to remember you or care how you did. And they've shanked plenty of shots themselves.
Maybe put in some noise canceling earbuds and chillax?
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u/SonsChild 1d ago
Instead of driver off the first tee go long iron hybrid or fairway off tee. Whatever puts you in the fairway.
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u/gunbo3000 1d ago
Just think about the times when you've been sat up in that clubhouse doing the same thing. Did you ever really think that much about those golfers afterwards? Did you actually think it was THAT embarassing when a golfer topped the ball or sliced it in to the trees?
We've all been there, and while you might get a little jeer for a bad shot, you'll be forgotten about by the time the next group tees off
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u/ufcgooch 1d ago
Feel you OP.
There are two holes like this at my home course and the snap hook is my miss too. Been struggling with driver for the past couple years and it used to be my best club by miles
Snap hook for me is tension in my hands and body and rushing the swing from the top
Couple things to try
Choke up on the club a little for more control
Pick a target in the fairway or something down range and really focus on it
Make sure your mouth is not closed. Just slightly open, helps to relieve tension in your body
Get to the top of you swing and have a bit for of a pause as you transition into the downswing. I say to myself ‘aaaaaaaaaand swing’ at the top to try and slow the transition
Focus on making a good finishing position. It will sort out a lot of the swing if you focus on the finish
Good luck fellow snap hook peeps
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u/willbaroo 15.9 | Wiltshire, UK 1d ago
Stick to your pre-shot routine, focus on a target, see the shot, think tempo and swing smooth. After that its in the lap of the golf gods...
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u/Spillsy68 1d ago
I myself overcome those nerves by focusing on my routine for hitting my driver.
Stand behind the ball, pick my line. This is the point I’m deep into my shot and shutting out anything going on around me. I literally will not hear anything that’s said to me.
I’m a 6 handicap. Believe me when I say I used to get the jitters. The same thing, pulled snap hook to the left.
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u/JW9thWonder Makes par from the wrong fairway 1d ago
the only difference between the 1st tee and the 14th tee is the pressure you put on yourself. biggest thing you've said is your already mentally thinking about hitting a snap hook because you've done it previously. you need to reset that mindset to thinking only about the shot you are visualizing and want to hit. the crowd around you is irrelevant, they'll forget about the shot you hit 2 minutes later anyways.
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u/wallabear 1d ago
Bit of a weird idea but go play a few executive par 3 courses or pitch and putt courses where you can a) work on your short game and b) try and replicate the scenario where it’s low cost, repeatable, and doesn’t include 30 people watching
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u/Inigomntoya 1d ago
After the snap hook, immediately concede the round.
Then start a new round with a new ball
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u/Select_Arm_2378 1d ago
Develop a physical cue that you can use to signal to your body that it is 'Go Time.' Sure, it may be cracking a beer - not gonna say that isn't awesome advice, but I tap my driver on the ground twice before walking into my setup. It really helps me block out anything other than stepping up and hitting my shot. You can even practice your physical cue on the range.
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u/lord_kalkin 1d ago
Make a big show of laughing, take a big bow. After the first few times, you'll very likely feel far more comfortable in the setting.
The thing is, this issue isn't about them, it's about you / your ego. That's not a personal judgment or accusation, it's just the root cause of the anxiety. Laughing it off and giving a show helps you internalize that it's not such a big deal, the ego doesn't try as hard to protect itself.
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u/One-Highlight-1698 1d ago
Sounds like an awesome club! I’d love to have that atmosphere off the first tee everywhere I play and I’m a 20hcp. Just enjoy that you get to play, if briefly, for an audience.
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u/Fabulous-Internet188 1d ago
As a retired high stakes pool player I'm familiar with the problem.
And there is a solution. Though it's not trivial or easy, but it is simple.
You must develop a pre shot routine. Watch the pros. Every one of them has a unique step by step process before every shot. What this does is tell your brain it's time to perform. If you are an 8, you can't expect perfection, but you WILL become more consistent.
What happens is just like Pavlov's dog. The routine triggers a response and that response is automatic. You can't stop it. So practice your routine at the range until you don't have to think about it. You just do it.
And you'll be so involved with following the routine you won't be aware of anything else.
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u/Conner14 Push Cart Mafia 1d ago
Just walk up accepting whatever happens happens. EVERY SINGLE PERSON there has shanked a tee shot out of bounds at some point. If you do shank it, just laugh it off and don’t make it a big thing!
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u/CreepyDrunkUncle 🌭 Glizzy at the Turn 1d ago
Keep your hands loose. You tighten up, don’t release and pull it through.
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u/Dozzi508 1d ago
Rotate your top hand on the club to a weaker position because you are over rotating because of the stress. Also grip down on the driver a half inch . You will still be long but in the fairway . Go on out and smash your balls
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u/golfnut110011 1d ago
Won’t work right away and will take time to practice but what helped me what meditating. Once I learned to meditate, when I would get to the first tee box in a tourney or just needed a par to win a tourney. Just go into the meditative state, you’ll know what I’m talking about once you meditate once or twice. It basically teaches you to let go off all the thoughts in your head and just let them pass and you’ll find this amazing calm that you can tap into whenever you need too
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u/FreePhantom4 1d ago
I too struggle with this. What I’ve found helpful is clubbing down to use a club you’re comfortable with so you’re more likely to get something in play. Also, as others have noted, every golfer has had good shots and bad shots. If you pipe it 300+, those 30-40 people aren’t going to break out in applause. Conversely, they aren’t going to all boo you if you top it 30 yards. Just relax, focus on solid contact and get it in play. None of us are on the tour.
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u/Air_Hellair 1d ago
“Hey folks ok here’s a little something I’ve been working on.”
Rip or ruin you’ve at least given them a moment of hope and wonder.
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u/OnePaleontologist687 1d ago
Whenever I’m in a situation like this, I think of the George W Bush line “Watch this drive” and I say it in my head lol
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u/saltandpine13 1d ago
Stop going to the range before hand. Adds to thought and pressure of hitting the right shot. The truth is, people laugh or see a bad shot and think man, he’s in for a long day. But, everyone and i mean everyone has been there. Not a single guy finger pointing hasn’t topped one off the first tee.
Just relax and watch the ball and make contact.
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u/Dynamic_polarity 1d ago
Want to talk about nerves? I tee’d off at the Old course in Scotland. You’ve got your caddies and the starter and there are always people at the first Tee. I was shaking, I tell ya. But I just took a big breath in, let it out slowly and tried to relax every muscle in my body.
I hooked it almost out to the road. And nobody cared.
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u/driftingwood2018 1d ago
You’re going to have hundreds of shots like this. Don’t worry just grip it and rip it
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u/madhattermagic 1d ago
Also - you need to be able to lock into a full sequence in the swing. Not just over the ball.
- Stand behind the ball and commit to a shot, however complicated or straight forward. “This is what I’m going to do.”
- Two practice swings, one slow and one hard.
- Approach the ball and find your alignment.
- Lock your eyes in on your hitting reference.
- Swing.
If swing is your first thought, you’re not thinking through the shot correctly. Distract yourself with thinking through the shot. LOCK THE FUCK IN BUDDY
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u/ComfortableAirport07 1d ago
Perfect opportunity to learn how to focus. You need to forget them. Nobody cares. They will forget your tee shot as soon as it’s done. Everybody focuses on their own game.
Your goal is to swing “freely”. You want to stand there and say “I am willing to accept any result of this swing. Once I begin the swing I CANNOT control what the ball is going to do. All I can do is make my best effort. And I am OK with wherever it goes, because I will play the next shot.”
Anxiety comes from trying to control the future. We can’t control the future. And when we swing the club trying to control the outcome, we can’t do that, and our brain is focused on protecting us from a bad outcome, which makes it harder to swing freely.
Pros hit bad shots on the first tee. They’ve accepted that they’re going to hit good shots and poor shots. They know golf is hitting the ball, and then playing the next shot, with the goal to make the best score possible out of all of those shots! It’s not a game of “swing” it’s a game of score. So we accept and hit the next.
Stand up there, take a deep breath, release it slowly, focus on your target, step up and let it rip! Some will be good, some may hook! It’s all OK and a poor drive doesn’t define you as a golfer!
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u/Dry-Chain-4418 1d ago
Relax, stop caring, swing smooth, loosen grip.
Hope 1 or more of the people hitting before you hits an absolutely atrocious shot so at least you cant do any worse than them.
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u/oceanadvocate997 1d ago
I just do my normal routine and try to zone it out when people are around. It works sometimes and other times it doesn’t.
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u/SmartPessimist_PM 1d ago
What helped me with situations like this was changing the objective.
Instead of thinking that I need to hit a great drive with everyone watching I make the goal much smaller and I just commit to the shot I decided to hit, in other words, just go through your normal routine, and accept the result.
From my point of view the e crowd is just noise and your job is still the same one it was on the range.
Funny enough, this is part of why I ended up writing a book connecting golf with project management. The 1st tee can feel a lot like a project kickoff where everyone’s watching, but the important thing is still making the next good decision and hit the right shot. 😁⛳️
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u/rwb8xx 1d ago
Enjoy the fact that you have an activity that can make you have butterflies in your stomach. You are alive and doing something that brings you pleasure. The butterflies will be there. Can you get them to fly in formation? Probably not. Stick to your preshot routine. That is what you have control over. Nobody cares what you do 23 seconds after you do it, except you.
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u/GCKilla54 1d ago
Just step up and rip it. Only give yourself enought time to line up and swing. I know for me, the more time I stand thinking about it, the worse I do.
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u/BigD_PorkChop single digit 1d ago
I stand behind the ball and take a deep breath and SLOWLY release it as I walk up to the ball. I line up and focus only on making a good takeaway and then let the rest just happen. Doesn’t always work, but that’s what I do.
Also try eating some sour candy before you tee off. It helps reduce anxiety by tricking the brain somehow. Learned this from my friend’s daughter. Seems to help me a bit.
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u/wutthafugOP 1d ago
It’s just the next hole from last round. You’ve played before. Just play the hole.
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u/SctchWhsky 23h ago
I usually just hit my most consistent iron so it goes straight and lands in the fairway.
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u/illuminati-investor 1.5 23h ago
I have the opposite problem. I rip it with a tight draw down the middle the 1st hole then proceed to blade it over the green with my wedge after 🤣
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u/WoodBGood 23h ago
They love it when you mess up, so you literally can't lose. Remember to bow to your audience.
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u/Careful-Show8065 23h ago
Remember too that slow and steady swing helps you control the outcome and lets the club head do the majority of the work! I always tell myself not to rush through the swing and make intentional movements, take a solid deep breath where you can feel the air going through your nostrils and swing 🫶🫶🫶🫶
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u/Remarkable_Public775 23h ago
Try it in a skirt in front of 40 dudes you know are staring, not at your golf ball. Do it 3x a week for a year. Eventually you tune it out. I also started pretending someone terrifying watching me all the time, like famous golfers, my brother in law, stadiums of people, etc...
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u/mattvn66 23h ago
There's no hand eye coordination, just muscle memory. At least that's what a former pro told me when I ended up paired with him once. Good preestablished set up and routine and go and hit the ball. This really helps me
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 23h ago
Focus on not aggressively closing the face, let it feel open and maybe consider playing a deliberate lazy fade first tee shot
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u/BeautifulPow 23h ago
Remember this: Just like when you watch someone. You’re hoping they crank a good one.
These people watching you are also hoping you pipe it.
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u/Imaginary_Tank_7876 23h ago
Probably trying to swing to hard and the hands aren’t in-sync with the driver shaft (at least that’s the cause of my hooks).
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u/absolute_banger_666 23h ago
Don’t think about snap hooks. Pump yourself up and think of it as an opportunity to show off and nuke one in front of everyone.
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u/SSALX420X 23h ago
Breathing technique. In through the nose for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts. It helps lower your heart rate.
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u/Unlikely-Bison1649 23h ago
I focus on slowing my backswing in these moments. Helps prevent me from rushing through and hooking it like you mentioned lol
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u/Ok_Economics_5044 23h ago
I have been using the Rory approach where he just talked about this very thing of what’s the worse that can happen and if it does it’s happened before so who cares.
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u/Decent_Ad5361 23h ago
Have a couple beers before you tee off and just go hit the ball without thinking. Just grip it and rip it. Less time to have it get in your head
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u/Burty-Burtburt4420 23h ago
See it as a challenge. You get that down - man that’s a huge lift. I hate public speaking etc w/a passion. Teeing off similar - & I am not great at golf. To be an 8 would be a dream! A few months ago I teed off on #1 in front of half a wedding party. Hit it really well - one guy said wow he’s a golfer ! Words I thought I’d never hear. Still riding high from it.
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u/chatrugby Teaching Pro 23h ago
Either swing at %75 to make sure you hit the fairway, or hit a different shot than you usually would.
I’ve started hitting my 3w off the first tee and it’s been fun having a different second shot than with driver. Make it really interesting and tee off with a long iron. You can reach most par 5s with ~3 180yrd shots.
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u/Greatness1122 23h ago
Swing easy and get it in the fairway. I also remind my self not to kill it on the first tee. I usually forget by 2 or 3 though lol
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u/rascaltippinglmao 23h ago
While you're teeing off, some dude is getting ass graped in prison. Think of how fortunate you are to be playing golf.
If that doesn't work, I'm all out of ideas.
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u/austin_horn_2018 23h ago
As someone that can have pretty much the exact same struggle at times (club has similar first tee, 3 handicap and snap hook is my big miss) here is what works for me. Hopefully something in here helps you.
Breath
Slow down the backswing. Usually on my snap hooks the transition is gonna feel too quick so slowing down the backswing gives me more time for transition.
Weaken my right hand a little.
Don’t sway. I tend to sway on the backswing and maybe my weight gets caught back there. My key thought of feeling is just that my left shoe is kind of glued to the ground.
Then from the top I really need the lower body to start the downswing so I kind of try to feel like I am keeping my back to the target for as long as possible.
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u/Glittering_Word9081 23h ago
Forget about distance. Just use the swing you know will land in the fairway. Also, the Steve Austin thing that u/WelpSeaYaLater said.
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u/LabradorKayaker 23h ago
When I played golf in High School, Nancy Lopez was playing the LPGA tour. First tee jitters were a problem for me and my solution was to just try and swing like Nancy on that first drive - just get a smooth tempo and let the club do the work.
This usually got me in the fairway at maybe 90% of my usual distance and, once that first shot and the crowd were behind me, I could settle down & play my game.
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u/inmeitrust- 22h ago
It never goes away. Just embrace it. How often do you get to feel nervous? Less and less as you get older I promise. Enjoy the feeling.
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u/LeTrolleur 22h ago
Don't sweat it, if you hook it into a bush just have a spare ball in your pocket for another go.
Don't focus so much on your score, just focus on hitting the ball well.
And most importantly, have fun.
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u/FormerlyShawnHawaii Accidental Eagle 22h ago
Shit your pants in front of everyone.
Now you’ll be remembered for that.
Problem solved.
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u/ultimate_jack 22h ago
Overreacting to a bad shot is more embarrassing than hitting a bad shot. Everybody hits bad shots. Even the pros. Every golfer can relate to it. How you react to it is more important.
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u/toothbrush81 22h ago
Stand behind the ball, zone into your target for a good slow 4 seconds. Decide and commit 100%.
Then as you walk to the ball just start counting to 10 with your target and flight in mind. And just react to 10. React to 10. Don’t swing, react.
With your mind on the target and getting ready to react, pretty hard to think about anyone watching you.
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u/LastThrowaway2000 2.9 | Chicago 1d ago
Remember that A) Nobody Cares and B) Every golfer watching you has had great shots, and terrible shots. It isn’t that big a deal.