First Tee Nerves

So you have practiced your technique!

You are feeling good on the range and then.......

...............the first tee!

If you are like most people (who are alive), then you are feeling IT on the first tee. It is the feeling of being anxious or nervous to get going. There are people who are scared of what is going to happen (the future) and there are people who use the feeling to focus on the now (the present). Be the latter, and here is a tip that I learned from Karl Morris that will help you:

Pay attention to your breathing.

By paying attention to your breath, you are doing two things (1) calming yourself (2) putting your focus onto something relevant...in the present. Since golf score is out of your control, the only thing that you can really do is to control your breathing and get yourself into the moment! And this is a place that all golfers need to spend more time in.

Thanks for reading,
Steven McDaniel
Certified Mind Factor Coach

Super Six

So I just got back from Manchester, England and the Mind Factor Course with Karl Morris. Karl has coached some of the greatest players such as Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, among others.

Karl introduced me to a game he calls "Super Six." The premise is very simple: Divide your 18 holes of golf into six small rounds (of three holes each). Instead of playing Two "nines", you are playing Six "threes".

The reason for this is because of our human nature in wanting a "Fresh Start." Why do you sometimes play 18 holes with two completely different nines? For example, you played your worst golf on the front nine and lit it up on the back. How does that happen? Does your technique change? Probably not. Most "nines" are somewhat equal in difficulty. It's simple, you need a fresh start and thus you normally get one on Hole 10. But rather waiting until half the round is over, why not get a couple of fresh starts before getting to the back nine?

By grouping into "Super Six" you are also identifying problem areas within the round. Let's say the first three holes are "always" a bit more over par compared to the rest of the round. With your coach, you could develop options on how best to start a round....Or...What could we conclude about being over par on holes 16-18? Maybe you are getting tired and need to eat better or perhaps you are getting nervous due to the pressure of the result.

Try Super Six for 10 rounds and see if you can break the current pattern of two nines. This will help you get into the flow of the round and identify potential problems that you could work out with your coach.

Thanks for reading!

Steven McDaniel
www.mcdanielgolf.com