how to be less tense while playing golf

Release all of that tension in your body. Waggle the club head slowly before each swing, really try and feel its weight in your hands. While you are in the middle of your swing try and keep that feeling, because if you can’t feel the weight of the club head any more it’s likely that you’ve tensed up too much.

Full Answer

Why do my hands tense up when I play golf?

There isn’t a golfer on the planet that doesn’t tense up due to nervousness and pressure. They key is to be cognizant of when it’s happening, and try to release that pressure starting with your hands. Remember, just ease the tension baby!

How to deal with short game tension in golf?

Another technique which will help to alleviate some tension is to picture your short game shots before you actually hit them. As you stand behind the ball, picture the shot hitting your selected target and then turning into the hole.

Do you play your best golf when you are relaxed?

Playing your best golf will come when you are calm and your body is feeling relaxed. It’s almost impossible to make a smooth putting stroke, pitch the ball properly, or make a fluid swing when your body is tense and your heart is racing.

How to improve your short game in golf?

Picture the shot. Another technique which will help to alleviate some tension is to picture your short game shots before you actually hit them. As you stand behind the ball, picture the shot hitting your selected target and then turning into the hole.

How do you become less tense in golf?

Get Rid of Tension In PracticeFocus on Your Breathing. ... Build a Pre-Shot Routine for a Totally Relaxed Golf Swing. ... Try Adding a Waggle. ... Drills to Reduce Tension in the Golf Swing. ... Start With Your Grip Pressure. ... Don't Stand Over the Golf Ball Too Long. ... Stay In the Present Moment.

How do I get rid of the tension in my golf swing?

1:155:32HOW TO REMOVE TENSION FROM YOUR GOLF SWING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut all we're really gonna get you to do is take your starting position. And then just raise theMoreBut all we're really gonna get you to do is take your starting position. And then just raise the club a little bit off the ground. And that's what you're actually going to start your golf swing from.

How do you swing a golf club without tension?

1:414:31HOW TO REMOVE TENSION FROM YOUR GOLF SWING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHead. Complete its follow-through I'm not as relaxed in my lead arm hasn't folded. And so this is aMoreHead. Complete its follow-through I'm not as relaxed in my lead arm hasn't folded. And so this is a great little exercise.

Why do I get so nervous playing golf?

1. Stay loose and focus on swing tempo. When you're playing a round and start to feel nervous, everything becomes quicker and you tighten up without even realizing it. This tightness causes tension in your muscles, which causes you to hit the golf ball poorly.

How do you relax your shoulders for golf?

To get an idea of how much relaxation you need, bend forward and let your arms hang until it feels as though your arms are falling out of their sockets. All the muscles around your shoulder joints must be completely relaxed. Now, address the ball and let your shoulders go completely limp.

How relax Should your arms be in golf?

You want just enough grip pressure so that you won' t lose the club during the swing. No white knuckle! What little pressure you do feel should be in the last three fingers of the let hand, and the third and fourth fingers of the right. When addressing the ball, your arms should hand relaxed.

How to keep tension away from golf swing?

Before starting each swing, take just a moment to confirm that you are well-balanced and comfortable over the ball. Feeling comfortable with your stance is going to go a long way toward keeping tension far away from your golf swing. Swinging too hard. Many golfers are obsessed with distance.

Why is tension a problem in golf?

Tension is a problem in the golf swing because it gets in the way of a free release through the hitting area. Ideally, you would like to have the club head tear through the ball with plenty of aggression and confidence. That isn't going to happen when you are tense.

Why does my golf swing feel tight?

When you have tension in your golf swing, the root cause is often an issue which lies between your ears. That is not always the case, however. Sometimes, the problem is mechanical in nature, with a specific technical mistake causing you to feel tight as you swing.

Why do golfers swing so hard?

Swinging too hard. Many golfers are obsessed with distance. Trying to hit the ball as far as possible, these players swing extra hard in an effort to launch the ball down the fairway. There is nothing wrong with distance, of course, but it is useless if you can't control your ball at the same time.

Why is hitting a shot over a pond intimidating?

For instance, if there is a large pond between your ball and the target, hitting the shot over that pond is likely to cause plenty of anxiety. This is a situation that can cause tension during any point in the round, but it will be particularly intimidating if it takes place later in the round, in an important spot.

How to play a golf shot?

2. After the different elements have been weighed up , select the club to be used and the type of shot you want to play, it's vital to commit to the shot you want to play. 3. Stand behind the line of the shot and imagine the ball traveling towards your target, really try and see it fly through the air.

How to practice pre shot?

Here is a basic pre-shot routine you can practice and work into your game. 1. Begin the pre-shot routine from behind the ball and assess all the different elements which could affect the shot such as lie, wind direction, weather conditions, obstacles to overcome, current position in match, for example. 2.

Why do I yip when I putt?

Anxiety causes your body to be tense or shaky. Anxiety forces your shot off line , throws off your approach shot and, in the worst case, could cause you to yip when you putt. Anxiety is not those slight nerves or butterflies in your stomach, but that overwhelming feeling where you can’t focus. When you are anxious, your thoughts are primarily on all ...

How to relax your mind and body?

Relax Your body and Mind. Tune into your breathing – Your body and mind work in unison. Deep breathing helps your body relax and quiets your mind. Focus your attention on the air slowly filling your lungs then exiting your body. Take several deep breaths to increase the effectiveness of this strategy.

What did Nikki feel when she missed the putt?

Nikki started feeling her body tense up and her heart race. Nikki started to contemplate missing the putt. Nikki worried she wouldn’t be able to close out the tournament and was overwhelmed by the enormity of the moment. Nikki took longer than usual as she stood over the ball.

When is it best to play golf?

Playing your best golf will come when you are calm and your body is feeling relaxed. It’s almost impossible to make a smooth putting stroke, pitch the ball properly, or make a fluid swing when your body is tense and your heart is racing.

What are the words that come to mind when you hit a poor shot?

The words fear and anxiety come to mind when describing common emotions that golfers feel before they are about to hit a shot. Anger and frustration are two other words that come to mind after you hit a poor shot. All of these emotions are detrimental to your game. Playing your best golf will come when you are calm and your body is feeling relaxed.

How to get Vagus nerve to work?

Controlling your breathing is the solution. The way to activate your Vagus nerve and switch from your tense state to a more relaxed one is to start controlled, deep breathing. It’s as simple as inhaling very slowly through your nose and exhaling just as slowly through your mouth.

How to play golf in a relaxed way?

Be explicit. Actually hear the music or the waves. Feel the warm breeze or the water flowing around your body. See the mountains in all their glory. Smell the flowers. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Allow your mind and body to come down so that you can be up and ready to play a good round of golf.

How to play golf for beginners?

Allow your mind and body to come down so that you can be up and ready to play a good round of golf. Now your mind and body can focus more clearly on one shot, one hole at a time. Second, practice more relaxation in your grip, stance, and swing. Check the tension level in your grip. The hand pressure on the club should be light.

How to practice a relaxed swing?

To practice a relaxed swing, take continuous swings back and forth without stopping. Be aware of any tension you might feel during these swings. Try to stay totally relaxed and loose as you swing back and forth. Don't be in a hurry to start or finish the swing.

Why is it important to be quiet when swinging?

A quiet, relaxed mind and body allows you to swing more freely. Simply stated, muscle groups respond more easily to a natural, balanced swing motion. If your mind is tense, your muscles will be too. If you have had a hectic day at work or at home, chances are you will take that tension and anxiety to the first tee.

Why is it important to relax in golf?

Because it is essential for the golf swing to function properly, relaxation of the mind and body should be our first priority.

What muscles do golf swings use?

When that happens, the little muscles (hands and arms) take over the big muscles (shoulders, hips, and legs) throughout the golf swing. The big muscle groups cannot move as fast as the little muscles. All body parts must be given time to do their jobs efficiently and in harmony.

What should be the last three fingers of the let hand?

What little pressure you do feel should be in the last three fingers of the let hand, and the third and fourth fingers of the right. When addressing the ball, your arms should hand relaxed. The forearms should be soft-like ashes, wet noodles, or any other descriptive word of your choice that triggers relaxation.

How to get better at golf?

4. Suppress your emotions. In golf, the better you can get at suppressing your emotions the better you’ll play.

How to prepare for a golf tournament?

Your routine should not change. A lot of golfer go through a more extensive warm-up and get to the course a couple of hours before to make sure everything is fine-tuned.

How to keep your nerves under control?

1. Be prepared. Before every competition, be prepared.

Is golf an up and down game?

Golf can be an incredibly up and down game if you let your emotions run wild. It’s easy to get carried away when you’re playing well and start catering to your ego and thinking of what might happen if you keep up the good run, only to see your good form disappear.

Can you shoot a good score in golf?

To play your best golf, you can’t expect to shoot a good score, but you can visualize success before your round. When you’re on the way to the course, imagine shooting a great round on the course you’re about to play. This isn’t going to change your approach to every shot, which will certainly not be score-focused, but the brain has a funny way of manifesting your goals and dreams when you visualize them.

Can bad rounds be seen through positive eyes?

Even bad rounds can be seen through positive eyes. Every shot is an opportunity to excel and take your game forward by adding more great shots to the memory bank no matter how you’re playing. You have to keep believing right through to the end, no matter what happens. Photo courtesy of Flash and Mel.

How to play golf when you are nervous?

The first step in playing golf is to embrace your nervousness, if you have any. This embrace means admitting that you are actually nervous. You know when you are nervous and most likely so do your playing partners and competitors. Begin by replacing the word “nervous” with “anxious”. “Anxious” sounds better and has a more positive ring to it. Fighting your nervousness will only make you more nervous and zap your energy. Look at playing golf while being nervous as a challenge. Now all of a sudden, your mind frame has changed from defensive to offensive.

How to overcome nervousness on the golf course?

First, embrace your nervousness on the golf course. Next, breathe and slow down when golfing. Then, visualize success. Finally, focus on the process, not the results on the golf course. Use these four ways to overcome nervousness on the golf course anytime you are feeling challenged by your anxiety.

How to calm nerves in golf?

Consistent breathing is one of the best techniques to overcoming nervousness on the golf course. Take long, slow, deep breaths and slow down. This not only helps slow your heart rate, but has a calming effect mentally. Along with calming you down, consistent breath ing helps more oxygen reach your brain, which in turn helps you think better. Nervous people tend to speed up and eventually you find yourself just trying to get the next shot over with. Don’t slow down so much that you interfere with pace of play, but slow your walk a little between shots. It will help calm your nerves so you can perform to your capabilities.

How to make yourself less nervous?

Begin by replacing the word “nervous” with “anxious”. “Anxious” sounds better and has a more positive ring to it. Fighting your nervousness will only make you more nervous and zap your energy. Look at playing golf while being nervous as a challenge.

What is the role of visualization in golf?

Visualization plays a major role in the game of golf. In many things that are mental like golf, you should have a good, positive picture of what you want before you perform. A good pre-shot routine will help you see in your mind what you want to do while also helping you get in a comfortable rhythm.

What happens if you start worrying about winning the game?

If instead you start worrying about winning the game, you put pressure on yourself that decreases the level of your performance. Golf is no different. Key on each shot, one at a time, and in the end you are more likely to see the results you want.

How to shoot the score you would be happy with?

In order to shoot the score you would be happy with, you must first hit the shots that will get you to that score. You are building something when you play golf, and each shot is a block in that building. Augie Garrido, the baseball coach at The University of Texas, tells his players to play nine, one inning games during a game. ...

How to lower your score in golf without improving?

One of the quickest ways to lower your score without improving your technique is to be diligent in choosing the short game shot with the least risk. Typically, the less time the ball spends in the air or the smaller the stroke or swing you take, the less the chance for error. Reaching for your highest-lofted club every time can can translate ...

How to get low scores in golf?

Here’s how…. 1. Keep the ball on the ground around the greens. One of the quickest ways to lower your score without improving your technique is to be diligent in choosing ...

How many wedges do pro golfers carry?

There are so many great wedges to choose from these days. Many pro golfers carry up to four wedges in their golf bag, and this doesn’t even include lower-running bump-and-run shots that you’d hit with other clubs. All these options can be a bit overwhelming, especially since many of us don’t have enough practice time to truly have this distance control down to a science.

When teeing off on the side of the tee opposite where the wind is coming, what

When it’s windy, teeing off on the side of the tee opposite where the wind is coming can make a huge difference in your ball curving less. For example, if the wind is left-to-right and you tee off on the far right side of the tee box, you would automatically aim more left. Aiming more left would angle you more directly into the wind and ...

What order should you put your short game shots in?

Your short game shot selection should go in the following order: 1. Putt. 2. Chip. 3. Pitch/Flop. Putt whenever you can. Chip when you cannot putt, using whichever club will allow you to keep your stroke small while also carrying the trouble.

Is every shot going to be perfect?

The more you accept that every shot is not going to be perfect, and that’s completely OK because it’s the nature of the sport, the easier it is to be calm and realistic.

Do we make mistakes in golf?

We all make mistakes during a round of golf. There is an art to knowing when to be aggressive and when to back off and play safer. When you find yourself in a location on the golf course that would require you to hit a “hero” shot to save your score, you’re better off simply taking your medicine instead, and playing your ball into a spot that leaves an easier next shot.