Tip From the Archives
Stressed Match
Problem
You have a big match coming up and you are nervous about it.
Cure
Do not allow yourself to become stressed out about the game. Use any tension as a reminder for how important it is to practice and gain confidence in your shots. Practice is key when preparing for an important game. Professionals are out playing every day to keep their game fresh. If this game means that much to you then you should be too. Even if you do not have time to practice at the range, at least work on your short game inside and do stretches daily.
Therapy
When playing, avoid thinking how important this game is to you and about the swing mechanics. Only allow positive thoughts and focus on where you want the ball to land without thinking about any what if scenarios. If you find that you are asking yourself, what if the ball lands in the water, then that is where the ball will land. You have already taken the time to visualize it happening and you are unlikely to gain a supportive image of your target area and swing while being under such stressful conditions. Make sure you take the time to relax and complete your preshot routine for more consistent and reliable ball play. Just remember, you started playing this sport for fun, so stay calm by playing just for fun and you might surprise yourself by how well you play.
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