I find the first shot off tee #1 sets the mood for the whole game.
Bad first shot = Bad round
Great first shot = Great round
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I find the first shot off tee #1 sets the mood for the whole game.
Bad first shot = Bad round
Great first shot = Great round
Bad first shot = GET OVER IT! :-)
I NEVER let my first tee shot dictate my round. I've nuked them off the first tee, and shot 80, and I've snapped one dead right and shot 72. Sometimes a bad tee shot, combined with an amazing par save, is all I need.
I know it could be bad for your score but it usually takes me about 2-3 holes to get warmed up, so I never read too much into the opening tee shot. Have anywhere from a 3-7 on the opening hole with a mix of good and bad drives. If by the 3rd hole nothing is working, then I get a little concerned about what kind of day it is going to be.
My home course starts with a easy Par 4, then an island green par 3 then a par 5. Been 4 over walking off the 3rd hole and shot 5 over for the round. Been 6 over after 6 holes and walked off 9 at +3, birdie, birdie, birdie. (Ahhhhhhhh not too many times this season though!)
Sure I think it helps if you bomb your first drive, just to set the tone for the round. However if you don't do that you can not let it get you down. That is what seperates the good golfers from the average golfers. They learn to shake it off, it was just one hole. They used to keep the Bounce Back Stats for PGA players. If they made a boogie did they bounce back with a birdie. You would be amazed at the amount of tour players that do that.
Relax on the first tee. If you tend to slice your first few tee shots then play that slice. Same thing if you hook. Hit a 3 wood if need be, just git er in play:-)
My first tee shot does not "normally" reflect my game. One shot does not a round make.
www.charrongolf.com
Not today! Striped a 303 yard drive into the middle of the fairway, chunked the short pitch and went on to shoot 8 strokes over my handicap.:grumpy:
It's not my first tee shot that dictates how well I play, but I do tend to think that if I'm driving the ball well off the tee I do play better, and I guess that's just normal, but I know what you mean. I think getting off the tee well om any hole is very important.Quote:
Originally Posted by wantobegolfer
I can't help thinking that either. The first 3 holes will really dictate my game, and its too bad, cause I know its ridiculous. I remember Jack Nicklaus was asked that question about having a bad start and his response was "No, I love it...it means my bogeys for the day are out of the way and I can really go for a low score now."Quote:
Originally Posted by flagolfnut
sometimes, but I am usually quite good off the first tee. It's more the 2nd and 3rd shots that are my concern, especially after I hit a good drive. I find it takes me 3-4 holes to get going so if I am not playing well those first few holes, I know I will find my game shortly.
A perfect thread for me today.
First hole: Smoke a drive right down the pipe into very strong headwind, 4-iron to 12 feet, drain-o for birdie.
Two -> ten: Alternate bogey and double. Can't hit an iron or sink a putt to save my life.
Eleven -> Eighteen: 5 pars in a row, followed by two bogies and a par.
Golf sucks. :(
My first shot is always like the rest of my game...a random walk.