How to recover from hitting a great tee shot.

"I get upset over a bad shot just like anyone else but it’s silly to let the game get to you. When I miss a shot, I just think what a beautiful day it is and what pure fresh air I’m breathing. Then I take a deep breath, I have to do that. That’s what gives me the strength to break the club." – Bob Hope.

Nothing is more irritating to a golfer than following a great tee shot with a poor shot.

Yet, almost all golfers have done it and some golfers, do it multiple times during each game.

They can hit their best drive of the day, then completely mishit the ‘simple’ approach shot to end up missing the green.

They can play a brilliant shot that makes it over that troublesome water hazard off the tee, then hit their next shot way over onto the next fairway.

They can play a really good shot that finishes on the green of that long par three that they find difficult, only to end up 3 putting and end up with another bogey on that hole.

I could go on and on with more examples but I’m sure that if you are one of those golfers what you really want to know is, why does this happen to you and more importantly.

How can you stop following great tee shots with poor shots?

The problem you are experiencing when this happens to you on the golf course, is that you are probably still thinking about how great that last tee shot was, as you are going into play your next one, and as a result.

You are not allowing yourself to focus properly on the shot you are about to play.

In other words, you probably aren’t switching your brain back on to the task at hand before hitting your next shot, which is why the mistakes turn up.

While, I have to admit that it’s not easy to always catch yourself doing this during a game – as those thoughts of how great that tee shot you just hit was, easily spiral off into thoughts of having your best score ever, winning the event you’re playing in or considering if you’re now ready for the PGA Tour after that booming drive you just hit on the 6th hole.

Are all thoughts that your brain loves having, as they are based in the future and don’t need it to really pay any real attention to what’s going on around you while you are thinking them.

You could effectively categorize them as daydreaming and as I’m sure you are aware, most people don’t get a lot accomplished when they are daydreaming do they?

What you need to do, is effectively find a way to recover from that great tee shot and focus properly on your next one.

So, how can you do that?

Recognize – It takes a bit of practice to realize that your brain has headed off somewhere else after a great tee shot but the warning signs are the sorts of things I listed earlier, like thinking of how the great tee shot you just hit should allow you to play your best round ever, beat the other players you are with or win the competition that day even though you are only on the 6th hole or maybe it’s uncontrollable smiling when you think how good you hit that tee shot or thoughts of when the next PGA Tour qualifying school is.

Effectively you are looking for any thoughts that are not focused on the next shot you have to play, so once you realize that your brain has headed off to the PGA Tour while you are still on the 6th hole and assuming you can catch yourself before you hit your next shot, here’s what to do.

Close everything – stand still or sit briefly, and close your eyes, mentally make the decision to shut off your mind and empty it for 15 seconds or so.

Some golfers feel a little self-conscious about doing this but I can guarantee you it’s worth doing and your playing partners aren’t likely to care as they will probably still be marveling at that great tee shot you just hit - the same as you were.

Breathe – get rid of any lingering excitement by taking in a few slow, deep breaths while your eyes are closed and then continue the same pattern, as it’s now.

Time to focus and hit the shot – at this point you need to begin your normal pre-shot routine to hit your next shot.

The four simple little things above take no more than a minute to do and are easy enough for all golfers to do after hitting a great tee shot before, they blindly go ahead and mess up the next one.

It’s an incredibly powerful way to reset your brain and allow you to hit great shots one after another, instead of a few times a round from the tee.

Let’s hope you get to use the process often.

Play well.

Ian Hardie is Golfer Pacific’s Golf Professional contributor. He is Club Professional at Omanu Golf Club in Mount Maunganui. Ian’s time is split between the pro shop at the club and helping people to improve, while enjoying their golf more as a result of his golf coaching. Over the past few years, in an effort to help as many golfers as he can, Ian has been sharing his common sense golf advice with golfers around the world through his website golfhabits.com. With over 500 articles to read, it’s a great resource for any golfer looking to improve their golf game.

Leigh SmithSeptember 12, 2020Comment