We have all been there. Standing on the first tee with 10 people watching us prepare to hit the first shot of our round.  Suddenly, our hands start sweating and muscles tense up as the nerves kick in.  With this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, players will face the not only teeing of in front of one of the games legends, they’ll also face large crowds and daunting holes down the stretch. So, what is the key to performing under these amounts of pressure?

Develop, Practice, and Repeat

Much like a basketball player shooting a free throw, the key to increasing your chances of success under pressure revolves around developing a routine and sticking with it. One of the biggest mistakes I see occurs when a player takes practice swings until they make a good one, then they get up and hit the ball. Instead of focusing on how good the swing is, focus on taking the same number of swings every time, regardless of the outcome.

Also, walk into the golf ball the same way each time. You can even make sure you take the same number of breaths! By making your routine specific and sticking with it every time, you won’t even notice the crowd watching until they recognize your great shot with a loud cheer!

If you need more help with your game, contact the PGA Professionals at GlobalGolf (it’s free!).

Check out these other articles to help improve your game:

• The Top  3 Misunderstood Golf Rules
• 3 Keys To Shaping The Golf Ball Any Way You Want
• 30 Seconds To Master The Proper Ball Position
• 3 Tips To Hit The Stinger Off The Tee
• How To Hit More Fairways In 1 Minute
• Coming Over The Top? Check The Shaft Weight In Your Clubs
• How To Prepare For A Tournament
• 6 Steps To Successfully Putt On Fast Greens
• Every Golfer Should Do These 2 Things
• 3 Secrets To Uneven Lies That Everyone Misses
• What Wedges Should I Carry

Rudi Fann

Rudi Fann has been a Class “A” member of the PGA of America since 2008. He began his career in 1998 as the Assistant Golf Professional at Wake Forest Golf Club in Wake Forest, NC. In 2002, Rudi accepted a similar position at Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. He spent a year there before moving to Nipomo, CA where he worked at Blacklake Golf Resort. Over the next 10 years, he worked his way from Assistant Golf Professional to Head Golf Professional and finally Director of Golf Operations. In his time at Blacklake, Rudi devoted much of his time to running tournaments and other activities in order to create a social atmosphere at the club. After Blacklake, Rudi spent one year as Head Golf Professional at Paso Robles Golf Club before deciding to return home to North Carolina. Since returning to North Carolina, Rudi has worked with the First Tee of the Triangle helping to instill life skills and core values through the game of golf to local youth.

• More Posts(125)