How to Play Better Golf Under Pressure

Even under the easiest of circumstances, golf is a difficult game. You could play a completely flat, short course without a hazard in sight and still struggle to make pars and birdies.

But that’s actually a good thing…

In fact, one of the best things about this game is the challenge it brings – you can play it your whole life and never master all of the skills it requires.

With that said, the challenge of this game goes to a new level when you add some pressure. That pressure can come from a variety of places, including formal tournaments, casual games with your friends, or even the internal nerves of trying to do your best.

Whatever kind of pressure you are feeling, it’s important that you know how to deal with the pressure when it does arise. Let’s take a look at some helpful tips on this crucial topic.

It Starts with Acceptance

Perhaps the most important part of learning to play under pressure is learning to accept pressure as a fact of life on the golf course. It’s inevitable that you are going to feel nervous from time to time when playing a shot – or even an entire round. And that’s fine! It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and you shouldn’t be trying to make it go away.

Some golfers try to completely eliminate nerves from their game, but that is the wrong approach.

The best players under pressure haven’t learned how to eliminate nerves. Instead, they have learned how to play well despite the nerves. Those golfers still feel anxious over certain shots like everyone else, but they have strategies to overcome that anxiety so they can perform.

Not only is it okay to feel nerves when you play golf, but it can actually help you play your best. Those nerves can cause you to kick into a deeper level of focus than you would have otherwise.

It’s easy to let your mind wander when there is nothing on the line. In a round where you feel pressure, however, you’ll keep your mind on the task at hand and may play to a level you haven’t reached before.

Maintain an Even Pace

Rhythm is a huge piece of the golf puzzle. You want to maintain your standard rhythm throughout each round, from the first tee to the last green.

This isn’t too hard to do when playing casual golf, but it can get tricky under pressure. For most people, the tendency under pressure is to speed up, so that’s what you’ll need to watch for as the nerves set in.

How do you avoid speeding up when you feel nervous? Try the following three keys:

1.) Stick to Your Routine

An established pre-shot routine is one of your best defenses against the impact of nerves. If you go through the same routine before each and every shot, you’ll have a better chance of staying in rhythm.

2.) Make a Plan for Each Shot

You never want to hit a shot quickly just to ‘get it over with.’ Make it a point to plan out each shot in detail before you hit it – something you should be doing anyway.

Choose the right club, the landing spot, and any other small details that will help you focus on execution rather than pressure.

3.) Take a Deep Breath

This simple step can help hold you back from rushing. As you get ready to hit a shot, take a moment to take a deep breath, and try to release some of the tension from your body.

Pick Big Targets

Course management can play a role in how you play when the pressure is on. As a general rule of thumb, try to pick generous targets for your shots when you are feeling nervous.

For instance, if you are playing to a green where the hole is cut close to the right edge and is guarded by a pond, don’t feel compelled to aim right at the flag. Aiming so close to a hazard will only add to the anxiety of the shot. Give yourself some margin by playing out to the left and trust your putter to do the job from there.

Of course, this is only a general guideline, and you may need to play more aggressively in some circumstances, such as if you are behind in a match toward the end of a round.

Make Life a Little Easier

This point goes along with the previous point on selecting big targets. When you are nervous, one of the last things you want to do is force yourself to play a touchy downhill chip or pitch shot. That’s a recipe for disaster when the nerves are flowing.

So don’t put yourself there. Instead, play to the low side of the hole whenever possible. This will leave you uphill short game shots and everything will feel a little easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Beautiful Golf Courses (@beautifulgolfcourses) on Aug 11, 2020 at 11:42am PDT

You are bound to get out of position from time to time during a round of golf, but always think about where you want to leave your ball to make the next shot as easy as you can.

Gain Some Experience Playing Under Pressure

There is nothing like experience to make golf feel a little easier. This is true from a technical perspective, as making more and more swings will naturally improve your golf coordination. At the same time, playing under pressure is something that you can adapt to with experience.

For example, you might not fare so well the first time you play in something like a club championship tournament, but you should do better next time when you know what to expect from your nerves. Simply put, you have to keep putting yourself out there to get used to how pressure is going to impact your game.

Embrace the Challenge

Why do you play golf? Most likely, you don’t play for your living. Rather, you play for fun, to challenge yourself, to spend time outdoors with friends, etc. If you decide to put yourself in positions where you feel pressure on the course, embrace that pressure, and accept the challenge that comes with it.

By shifting pressure from a negative to a positive, you might be surprised to discover what you can accomplish on the course.