We always hear people talking about how good they hit it on the range then they go on the course and perform poorly. Why is that? Does the average golfer think they are going think, feel and act the same way under the pressure of competition as they do on the practice range with a bucket of balls in front of them. This is a bit silly don’t you think?
When you are on the range you have a flat stance, perfect lie and no pressure. On the golf course you rarely have a flat stance, normally have a decent to bad lie and you may be a little nervous. So why would you expect to have the same experience on the course as you do on the range?
Great players like Jack Nicklaus and Payne Stewart looked forward to how their bodies would feel under pressure. To make a long story much shorter Payne Stewart told me when he got nervous he would aim right. That was because when he felt his arms got light and his stomach started to turn over, his lower body didn’t work as well and he came over the top. Instead of trying not to be nervous he just understood that his body changed and adjusted his aim. Watch the last few holes he played when he won the US Open and look where he is aiming.
So the lesson is don’t practice trying to make great practice swings on the range. Put yourself under pressure on the range. Make a reward for good shots or penalty for bad shots. Maybe aim at a target 125 yards from you, hit shots towards the target and measure your results. Imagine the target is a small green and hit 10 shots at the target. If you don’t hit the target 5 out of 10 times punish yourself with skipping something you like to eat or walk an extra mile after the practice session. There are tons of different games you can play on the range. The key is trying to replicate how you might feel under pressure on the golf course and to see how your shots change.
Many people hit it further under pressure, some hit it with more curve. There is not a right answer on how your ball flight might change. It is important that you learn what your tendencies are when you are nervous.
The key again is to play one of many games on the practice range so when you get on the course you are used to feeling nervous. Don’t waste your time trying not to be nervous. Your nervous because you care so just hit more practice shots feeling nervous. This can really change how you perform in tournament and when betting.
Jim Hartnett, PGA
www.myhome4golf.com
