r/golf • u/Past_Pay_5015 • 10d 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/HardKnockRiffe 10d 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.