Blowing away tension

It is perfectly natural to feel a little bit anxious before hitting a golf shot. Regardless of whether you are practicing on the range, or it is your tee shot on a tight hole with water down the right or if it is a delicate chip shot from a tight lie, nerves are likely to play a part.

As a golfer, it is important that you are able to channel these nerves in a positive way as opposed to giving in to them and crumbling. Let’s discuss a strategy that can help you do this.

Imagine you are about to hit your drive on a hole that you play regularly and doesn’t suit your eye well. It may well be a hole that you tend to struggle on and don’t look forward to playing. It is likely that you are a little bit anxious when you are standing on the tee box.

Your first job is to make sure that you stand behind the ball and identify a specific target on the horizon. This is very important because it will become part of your ‘trigger’.

Most people who struggle on a particular hole take too long to begin their backswing after they have had a final look at their target. During these few seconds of staring down at the ball, your brain has plenty of time to think about all the bad things that might happen to the ball. Your body will begin to tighten up as this happens and then inevitably, will be unable to perform properly.
 
Next time you are about to hit your tee shot, try the following drill:
1. Make sure you are 100 per cent committed to your choice of shot and that you are confident in your club selection.
2. Complete your practice swings.
3. Address your golf ball and smile at it (you are supposed to be having fun!).
4. Take one final look at your target.
5. Return your eyes to the ball and begin to breathe out smoothly.
6. Start your golf swing as soon as you can hear your exhalation and maintain it until you have hit your shot.
7. Accept the outcome of the shot and move on.

This is a very good way of reducing tension in your golf swing for a number of reasons. Firstly, taking a final glance at your target fills your brain with that image and that image only.

This image will erase your thoughts of the trees on the left and the bunkers on the right! In addition, the exhalation acts as a trigger for you to begin your swing and as a visualisation that you are ‘blowing away’ all of the tension from your body.

Even if you feel that it is a slightly strange method, I urge you to try incorporating the exhalation into your practice. It works and is particularly powerful. It is also hugely helpful with short game shots. Happy golfing!