| How high you tee the ball depends on which type of | | | | anxiety - yet it shouldn't be. Try to remember that |
| club you're going to use. The reason the height | | | | most players suffer the occasional bout of butterflies |
| changes is because the position of the "sweet spot"- | | | | on the first tee, especially if there are people |
| the part of the clubface that produces optimum | | | | watching. The secret of conquering your nerves is to |
| contact - is different for each club. On a driver, for | | | | think positively and pay attention to what you want |
| instance, the sweet spot is higher up the face, | | | | to achieve on the hole, rather than to the other |
| whereas it is lower on a 7-iron-so learn to tee it | | | | players looking at you. |
| accordingly. | | | | Try not to focus on the result of the shot you are |
| When you reach the hole, you'll see three or four | | | | about to play, but do focus on the actual process of |
| sets of color-coded tee markers at varying distances | | | | hitting your ball. If you've set up correctly and made |
| from the green. Average players should play off the | | | | a good swing, your ball will ind your chosen target. |
| next set of marketers, the yellow tees. Red tees are | | | | Use a club that you know you can rely on. Take a |
| usually reserved for female players. These are placed | | | | few practice swings to loosen up, and then begin |
| nearest to the putting green. | | | | your preshot routine. Whatever you do, do not be in |
| When you're using a long iron off the tee, you need | | | | a hurry. While you want to get the shot away, it's |
| only to tee the ball up very slightly. Think of it as | | | | good practice to take your time. Try breathing in and |
| giving yourself the best lie that you can. If you're | | | | out through your nose. This can help bring your heart |
| using a short iron, tee it up to a minimal level to give | | | | rate down and calm your nerves. |
| yourself the best possible chance of getting a clean | | | | Don't hit the ball too hard-this only increases the |
| contact and imparting some backspin on the ball. | | | | likelihood of a poor result. A shorter tee shot that |
| If you're using a fairway wood to tee off, then tee | | | | finds the fairway is nearly always preferable to a |
| up the ball enough so that half of the ball is visible | | | | longer one that makes your next shot too difficult.If |
| above the top of the club head. Do this and you | | | | you've hit your ball into the rough, make a mental |
| stand a better chance of finding the sweet spot. | | | | note of an object, say a tree or a bush, that it may |
| When you're teeing with a driver be sure to tee the | | | | have landed near. This will make the ball easier to find |
| ball up with at least half of the ball visible above the | | | | when you begin looking for it. |
| clubface. This will help you to hit the ball on an | | | | Teeing up and teeing off isn't difficult once you get |
| upward path. | | | | used to it. It'll become a natural process of your |
| For many players, the first tee is cause for certain | | | | game before you know it! |