Before your round of golf, you look forward to it all week, but on the first hole, you mess it up. After the breakfast ball.
You might have come in cold. Maybe you were a little scared. It could have been a mix of things. The fact is, though, that any dreams you had of getting a good score are killed before the round even starts.
It’s a bad feeling, and we talk about slow starts on this week’s episode of the Golf IQ podcast, which you can listen to below or subscribe to right here.
1. First go to the putting green
You won’t be able to hit balls for more than 20 minutes if you go to the driving range first and then the putting green. Instead, try going the other way around. Play some putts and chips first, then go to the range. You should give yourself no more than five minutes to make a few more putts before you start. You can keep your body from getting cold and stiff by hitting the range second.
2. On the first, make a swing that feels extra long.
There’s good proof that the nerves of the first tee can make your golf swing shorter, even if you’re not cold. Feel like you’re making a really big backswing turn on the first.
3. Bring an extra club
Just take an extra club on the first hole, no matter what the reason is—cold, nerves, or anything else. Going to clubs is something we should all do more of anyway.
4. Aim for good enough, not perfect
It won’t hurt you to aim into the bush, away from trouble off the tee, or toward the middle of the green on your approach. There will be times when you need to be mean. It’s not the first hole. Take the method of going slowly into the round.
5. Trick yourself
You can calm down on the first tee by thinking you’ve already played nine holes and are now making the turn. Imagine that you had a normal score on the first nine holes, or whatever that means to you. Now you’re trying to hit a normal tee shot on the tenth hole. I know it sounds a little weird, but sometimes it helps to mess with your mind in that way.
6. Hit the first tee shot a lot on the range.
Think about your first tee shot and go through your whole process as if you were about to play it on your last few shots on the range. Choose an open area and avoid the trouble spots. Get the club you want to use.
7. Use the Tom Watson range cheat
Tom Watson was known to start his practice rounds with the club that was the hardest to hit: Most of the time, a 4-iron or something close. Why?
It doesn’t matter if he hits that club badly, though. It’s tough to hit that club.
And great if he hit that club well, then great! Even when he’s cold, he can hit the rock-hard club in his bag.
It was just mind games, but it worked for him.
8. Don’t get too fancy on the greens
Once more, it’s early in the round. Do not lose your mind. If you’re not sure what to do, putt from off the green or choose a low bump-and-run. You don’t have to be very good to hit something close to the hole and up to the green.
9. Don’t expect as much
In a way, think of the first few holes of your round as defense. Your job is to get things going in a safe and smooth way. Do not expect too much. It should be as easy and dull as possible.
