9 Useful Tips for Playing Well Under Pressure.

1. Get The Ball to the Hole: In a team format be sure to get the ball to the hole, even if you don’t make the shot you are still giving your playing partners a good read on the putt. Most putts come up short because you slowed down on the through-stroke. To fix this, make sure your through-stroke is as long or longer than your backstroke.

2. Simplify Your Swing Thoughts: Go in with a easy game plan. Jot it down and look at it before each full shot. Pre-shot: Visualize what you want the ball to do. Address: Align the leading edge of your club square on your target line. Swing thought: Swing the club head freely.

3. How to make it through the First Tee Jitters: When you’re nervous you tend to speed up your tempo and that will effect your accuracy and consistency. Try taking just a few deep breaths as you’re getting ready to hit, inhaling through the nose and out of the mouth. Now swing your driver smoothly saying to yourself “I am only going to swing at 50%”. You’ll see a great result and you may want to use this technique on every tee.

4. Make more of those Difficult Short Putts: When you play a format where you must putt everything out, do this. Set the putter face in line with your target line, then square your shoulders and feet with that line. Now, make a smooth stroke while looking at the target, not the ball.

5. Take more club on those Par 3′s: Most amateurs come up short on Par 3′s and very often hit through or over the green. Look at the yardage to the back of the green and choose a club that will get you there. If you hit the ball well you’re on and if you don’t hit it well you might still make the putting surface.

6. Lower your score on Par 5′s: Try a “do the math” approach. Most Par 5′s are 500 yards. You want to try to make your 3rd shot your most favorite yardage to the green. On your second shot, going for the green will take one of those “miracle shots” which will probably end up with your ball in trouble. Look at the yardage to the green from where you are and subtract that favorite yardage that your are most comfortable with. Now hit your 2nd shot to get you to that spot on the fairway. With this strategy, you’re hitting lofted clubs to the green, that are easier to hit and more consistent.

7. Get Out of the Sand Trap on the First Try: You need to accelerate the club head through the shot, letting the sand “splash” the ball out, in order to be consistent at getting out of green-side bunkers. Set up with the face of the club slightly open and the ball just forward in your stance. Now, hit the sand behind the ball and complete your swing as if you’re hitting a full 5 iron.

8. Use a Putting Stroke When You’re Chipping: To avoid chunking or skulling your chip shots, take a lofted club like a 7-, 8- or 9-iron and grip it like your putter. Lean the shaft and your body toward the target for a slightly descending blow. Make your putting stroke, allowing the loft of the club to carry the ball over the unpredictable fringe onto the putting surface.

9. Get Your Irons Airborne: Most topped shots occur when you try to help the ball into the air with a scooping motion. To hit down on the ball, set up with more of your weight on your left foot than your right. Take the club back more vertically and return it on a downward angle of attack.

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