First Tee Blues!!

All season I have struggled to get off the first tee at my club I have topped,thinned,fatted,sliced,hooked all quality ones .Thinned,fatted and topped I can get away with as its a shortish par 4 but the hook is dead an a slice is OB or trees. I've tried driver ,3wood and irons same results.

Last night again short duck hook into the rubbish reload then sliced under a conifer 1 dn.

I have done this in every team match and now I accept I will be 1 down,  it doesn't even phase me anymore as I have won every match bar one which ironically I won the first.

It is however soul destroying on medal rounds  and am subjected to constant p#ss take from my Team mates(no problem with that ) but soon forgotten when I win and if they haven't,lol.

This is a rarity at any other course's even under match conditions.It's a straight forward hole big landing area there is trouble short right and long left but this genuinely doesn't enter my head ,there's a pylon in the field behind the green and i focus on that, and the first is superb couldn't ask for better.

I have even gone on the first tee at a quite time hit 3 balls lost the first two and the third hit a small bush 40yrds in front of the tee all with my 3 wood, those who have played with me will testify that club is like a laser for me. 

It's in your head Dave. You've already said you've accepted you'll play a bad shot so all your body language etc will follow.

If it's a short Par 4 can't you try a 5 iron or something just to get you in play & think of it as a par 3??

It's because you squashed small spiders as a child. 

John is right Dave, it is all in your head, your striking ability is second to none. Think of the three iron you ripped off the first at Wokefield.

Time to dig out those Bob Rotella books Dave.  If it's Radyr you're talking about it's only 284 yards so have you tried going 7 iron, 8 iron? 

That is probably how I would play it.

Unfortunately John, Dave and me are cut from the same cloth and the caveman instincts take over, although I would prefer to see it as playing to my strengths! 

Nice little tip I read in this months GM. Focus on the three best shots you have ever hit off that tee. You know you have played it well in the past. Focus on those attempts rather than the "how will I mess it up this time" thoughts.

IMO if you try to adjust your strategy by taking a shorter club etc that's just an admission to oneself there is a problem - when in fact there probably isn't. If you know you can excute a good shot off that tee then step up and do it. No other thoughts necessary pre or during shot. 

No not Radyr Chris the other one which is 365 white tee, I drive the ball just in front of the green every time at Radyr there's no problem . I do think positive thoughts all the time I certainly don't stand there with trepidation ,I always have nervous energy before any team match more so at away games but that I believe is a good thing .  I have even had trouble with a 5 iron not that I would slice or hook that just a poor strike.

JF , you may be right but I thought I was mentally tough enough to blank that out though.

JP, CB ,I always try and focus on the good opening tee shot's I have played  and certainly works a treat ,It's just this one hole, happens off the yellows too.

I just had a thought,  in my infancy in this game and playing said hole  and was not a member there at that time I had no balls with me. Went to the pro shop to buy some and no cheapies on offer  and had to buy a sleeve of pro v's (no Top-flites which was my gamers then) which broke my heart and my wallet at the time. Heartbreak was not the word as I put the first two on the range managed to get  the third in play but knew there was no way was I doing  18 holes with one ball, especially this track water on 14 holes. Found some spares on route kept me going. Could it be that as I have killed some spiders in my time,Mr Dorrington.

Chris , me and Rotella go to bed most nights I'm not sure if I listen but he sends me to sleep, of late I just been reading someone's posts and fall asleep laughing.

Does your wife know about you and Bob, Dave?

I had a hole on my home course in NZ that did the same to me.  It was stroke index 18, par 4 (bad indexing IMHO)

Below is the description:

No. 6

Should I go for it?  If you are driving your ball very well go for it but remember you will need carry the large lake which is approximately 240 metres from the tee.  Alternatively hit an 7-8 iron short of the fairway bunker and lake which will set you up for a short iron over the water.  Our signature hole.

My old man always used to play this hole 8 iron, wedge and walk away with par or better most times (he is off 5).  I used to play it 8 iron, wedge into the lake, drop 3rd, wedge on green/near green/in lake again and walk off with double or worse.

I changed to driver off the tee and taking it on, have made eagle a number of birdes , pars and some much worse but it broke the hold he hole had over me. I always figured driver in the lake with a drop 2nd then 3rd on the green was better than second.  I found if I hit driver in the lake it was vary rare to hit my second there as well.

 Other times I would play a 5 iron around the side of the lake (much more difficult second but you don't have to play over the lake)

After that I could play the 8 iron/wedge or driver depending on conditions and how I was swinging but the bogey hole was gone.

I guess what it did for me was to challange the hole and get agressive, an appraoch I followed with some success at rugby as well! (actually change hole for opponent for rugby....)

Dave,

I had 2 holes at my course that when playing in a medal would kill my card. Off the whites the tee is about 50yrd back & makes it treelined for the 1st 150yrds. I was intimidated by this & tried to 'steer' my tee shot. The last 3 months I used the tip you gave me which was to drive my lower body through the ball & be agressive. The 2 holes are now easier to play & most times I make par or bogey.

Forget all the trouble off the tee & just play it like any par4 & BANG it down the middle

Urgghh stop picking on me Flooddy!! sorry , I agree John should practice what I preach I know. Maybe the Golfing Gods deem fit to make me lose the first hole playing like a knob to bluff the opposition perhaps the infamous tweaked Nike 3 iron should go back in the bag. Im thinking of going down the club early one morning and smacking a bucket of balls of there that should cure it.

You'll have no chance of finding you tee shot amongst all those range balls in the trees then Dave

I seem to have the same problem on the Abbotts course at my golf club!

It's OOB's on the left and there are trees down the right hand side of the fairway, so you have two choices, straight down the middle or a big slice over onto the 18th fairway and come in at the green from that angle.

It does sound like you have it in your head now that you are not going to play this tee shot well, so try and relax, don't hit a full shot, hit a 70% one.  OK, you might be thirty yards further back from where you would have been, but you'll be on the fairway.

The other thing is check the tee box, is it pointing straight down the hole or is it ever so slightly off in one direction?  You know what these course designers are like at playing with our heads!

Next think is practice, get down there when it's quiet and just hit a few balls from the tee.  Maybe do as suggested and play a seven iron and build up to your driver.

The other thing is to imagine you are playing a different hole, pick a hole on that course (or even another course if you want) and play your normal shot for that hole.

Now I know that you probably have already thought of all these but I'm only trying to help.   If I have given you a good suggestion I'll expect a cheque soon....      

Russ

If none of the above help start at the second tee!

Russ

Dave,

If all else fails you could always do a Happy Gilbert

 I've had that on certain hole, sixth at Fullneck, always shanked the second shot, second at Wike, no matter how far left (poss oob) I always ended up in field oob on right. Being superstitious makes it even worse and before you know it you're into an unshakable bad habit. My only remedy was to take a different club (s), even teeing off with an 8 eight on a par 5, 'til I shook it off. It's definately a head thing. 

Thanks for the replies guys some good points raised. Matt  not patronisng in the least some truths there I don't warm up properly before team games, being Captain I'm usually a bit stressed with organising and that everyone turns in .I tend to just do a bit of chipping and putting and on to the tee and I always play last man. I think this then splills over into my medal rounds even though I have time to and do warm up. So that would be the mental block . Cheers.

Proper golf tomorrow JP playing Pennard.

I am jealous, Dave.

Yeh should be good 20*+ and little wind  and  the course is in top form. It's the Tucker Trophy next week John ,one of the lads I look after and he's with me tomorrow has just got to scratch he's entered and should do well ,I may caddy for him.

How I miss those days, Dave.

Yeh I know what you mean John just be thankful you can still play the game you love so much even if its not to a standard you would like. My old sport the memories way out way the realality of trying to do that now. No regrets but if I had my time again I would stick to golf.

Last few rounds I had the same issue with my 4 iron, which is normally my trusted club. Ive been pulling it/hooking all over the right (where there is a lake).

Last 3 rounds I have taken driver and smashed it down the middle leaving SW to the green.

I would agree with John, mental attitide is a major factor.

David,

You could probably excuse the ones where we teed off about 5:30am!!

Dave L,

I don't know what your thoughts are or what you swing like but there is a trend for Golfers around your Hcp to get into a run that you discribe.

Its the 1st Tee in a Comp and you want to get off to a good start. "A nice smooth swing will do it" you think, but forget to commit to the shot and the timing goes a little off and you get the bad result.

It's difficult I know but commit and don't worry about a Duff shot.

TheLyth

Thanks for all your thoughts guys "First tee blues" have disappeared ,well when I say disappeared they have moved, yesterday at West Mids I hit a great 3 wood shot up the first happy days.

It has now become "Last tee Blues" I shanked four consecutive  wedge shots straight (well right angle) into the water on their replica Sawgrass 16th hole. Many found this extremely funny my pain ,I eventually saw the funny side too.

By the way Chris Perry needs to take some advice on "First tee blues" after his shocker yesterday......It did do 5 skims though.

You are very lucky, Dave, you  only have one tee blues, I have the blues on every tee.

I cannot understand why that last hole caused so many problems. 36 players and 30 balls in the water.

I was close with my guess then with 32 balls!!!

I can't understand why that hole caused so many problems either, I hit a smooth 9 to 4 feet & then holed it for a birdie

No one likes a show off John,I guess it's nice to finish on a high as opposed to a low.  Some off us kept reloading until we hit it, no one needed to after they couldn't score but then it wouldn't have been funny , me I had to stop after 4 no none would loan me a ball!!

Wayne, if Dave cannot hit a bridgestone straight what use is it for me to lend him a Z-Balata.

I don't believe they were shanks I think my shafts may be too stiff for me ....

I hear there are some experts on stiff shafts across the border, Dave.

Realise my mistake John as you said ball too far back for my lateral swing I was never going to get that club face back,school boy error.

After I lent one to Hawkins because he "wanted another go", despite being on the green with his first, and he put it in the water there was no way I was going to give one to Ley with the way he was swinging!

Oh knock it off Slkimmer.....

I know what you mean John F, I was baffled...

A (not so) smooth gap wedge and a two putted par. Mind you, my Hydrophobia helps, shame it wasn't catching!!!

Or don't tell me I've got that I just started working on somethin else!!

Had a team match tonight tee off 5pm got to the club around 3ish hit some balls on the range did some chipping and putter. As the course was dead (dodgy weather) I went to the first tee and hit 4 drives straight down the middle  and then 4 wedges surronded the flag ,happy days.Played 6 holes really well came in wairted for match to kick off started late still raining away team wern't fussed on starting but I decided we should at least attempt to play,anyway tee up on the first tee and you guessed it topped it left into the cr@p again!!

As a gay rocker used to say "under pressure"!!!!

you might not think it but your putting pressure on yourself.

I started this thread back in July 2009 and had suffered first tee blues all season, From October through to April we move forward to our yellow tees and the FTB's never happened from there (or anywhere else), I could not believe it when we went back to the white tees this April the problem was still there, I played 6 comps during April and did not get off the tee once and with my Team golf season getting ever closer I became even more anxious. Wednesday the 5th of May arrived and was my first Team match of the season and at home so I was getting more and more stressed about teeing off. I had spoken with Santo about this sometime earlier in the year and he kindly offered to help me with his NLP.It was about 3pm that Wednesday that I rang Santo for some help. After our usual bit of banter Wayne got down to helping me sort my head out with his NLP techniques ,We must have chatted for about 20-25 mins . I was last man teeing off around 5:30 my opponent had just hit a screamer down the fairway just to add more pressure. As I stood over the ball I could feel myself filling up with anxiety and I started the process of what Wayne had told me to do. I suddenly felt a lot more at ease and just resumed to the normal nervous energy (which I like). I have now also hit a screamer down the middle in fact buttoned it. You can only imagine the relief I had as this was the first time I had successfully gotten away for a long time. I have had seven straight clean get always and still use what I was told to do as I can still feel the initial tension building up. I now use  Santo as my 15th club in the bag as my mind coach and has saved me quite a few shots and no more FTBlues

did he suggest having a mental image of him butt naked? That surely would have gotten rid of any nervous anxiety!

He used that one to cure my premature ejacu...................