Why Your First Tee Rhythm Fails: The Secret To A Smooth Start Every Round

A common fault on the first tee is allowing tension to creep into your game. Nerves can kill your rhythm if they’re not controlled. Nerves are adrenalin and we need this to help us perform to our best. However, while we want some, we don’t want it over spilling into shaking hands and loss of control!

If your tension levels are sky high before you set foot on the first tee there may be trouble ahead. Some golfers build up the first tee shot in their minds to be this make or break moment in the round, but it doesn’t need to be.

A poor start doesn’t always mean the round will be a disaster. In fact many golfers have gone on to have their biggest wins after a diabolical start! Here are some tips to set you up for success.

Power Of Song

Imagine those walk-on songs that boxers use to get themselves pumped up as they head into the ring. Well, golf is similar. We need to put ourselves in a good mood.

Humming your favorite tune on the way to the tee is a way to release tension, and given that the acoustics of the XXIO 14 clubs have been tuned for a longer, higher pitch, it’s the perfect match for a sweet note every time you hit the ball.

Get the right pace of song for your swing. If you’re someone who needs to inject more energy into your swing, then go for something by AC/DC. I love ‘Thunderstruck’ to get that energy dial up. If you need to calm your pace and get everything under control, then go for some jazz or a bit of country music.

And Breathe!

Now you’ve settled your nerves into a happy place song wise, work on your breath. Use breath work to actively lower your heart rate and calm yourself down. This is not a life or death moment, so remind yourself that you can do this.

Find a rectangle shape somewhere near the tee, for example, a bench or your scorecard. Fix your gaze on one of the bottom corners.

Breathe in as your eyes follow the short edge, then slowly and calmly breathe out as you follow your gaze down the long side. You’ll be breathing out for longer. This will need to be repeated a few times and you’ll soon start to feel more calm.

Squeeze Gently

The worry of the first shot will cause you to squeeze the club really hard and this in turn will send your rhythm off the charts It will also mean your club lifts further away from the ground, so a topped tee shot is on the cards! So let go a little, soften your hands and relinquish the squeeze.

The grips on the XXIO 14 clubs are lovely and tacky so there’s no need to strangle them. When you soften your hands, you’re more likely to hit the tee under the ball and hear a wonderful crisply struck sound.

Stick To Your Routine

A pre-shot routine will help you rehearse and visualise the shot before it happens. Make a smooth complete practice swing, then stand behind and pick a distant target. Breathe out as you walk into your set-up.

Swing back smoothly and complete the swing all the way to the end. A great tip is to pretend it’s another practice swing. Simply click the tee and finish your swing.