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The Tee Shot

Erin B

Entry posted by Erin B in Golf shot

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The Tee Shot:

OK, slow on the backswing, fast on the bottom, I’m going to crush this, don’t top it, are my shoulders fast...squirrel. These are some of the thoughts that sometimes go through my mind when I’m getting ready to hit a tee shot (except the squirrel, that was comic relief). Sometimes I think about my lead arm being stiff, sometimes my wrists, my hips, depending on what I’m struggling with in a round. But when I am in the zone, I just try to think about making solid contact. I love being in the zone! Maybe I’m thinking too much…

For me, the most important shot in golf is the tee shot. A good tee shot can set a positive tone for the hole, giving you confidence and momentum. Conversely, a poor tee shot can lead to a challenging recovery, affecting your mental game. Yes, putts are important, and so are irons and wedge shots, but that tee shot sets the stage.

The mental aspect of golf is significant. Golf is 90% mental, 10% physical; we’ve all heard that, right? These days, some might think the physical part is a little greater, with all those bombers on the tour, but that’s not the point. Starting a hole with a strong tee shot can boost your confidence, while a bad one can create doubt and pressure for the rest of the hole. A good tee shot can set up birdie or par opportunities, while a bad one can lead to bogeys or worse. It directly influences your ability to score well on a hole. Consistently good tee shots can lead to more predictable and manageable rounds, reducing the number of high-stress recovery shots you need to make. Overall, the tee shot is crucial because it lays the foundation for the rest of the hole, influencing both your physical and mental approach to the game.

Golf is hard, hard on the mind. It’s hard to get into the zone and stay there. You get one shot off the tee, one shot! That’s why I think the tee shot is the most important shot in golf. Do you think the tee shot is the most important shot? Do you have a favorite strategy or routine for your tee shots?

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Lefty11

Great blog @Erin B!
I agree that the tee shot is crucial. At the moment, I’m having some trouble with my driver, so I've switched to using hybrids off the tee since I don’t have a 3 wood yet. It’s definitely playing with my psyche at the moment! While this approach might sacrifice some distance, the hybrids are helping me maintain consistency and accuracy. My swing thought is simply to pick a target and aim for it.  Keep up the great work!

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Erin B
1 hour ago, Lefty11 said:

Great blog @Erin B!
I agree that the tee shot is crucial. At the moment, I’m having some trouble with my driver, so I've switched to using hybrids off the tee since I don’t have a 3 wood yet. It’s definitely playing with my psyche at the moment! While this approach might sacrifice some distance, the hybrids are helping me maintain consistency and accuracy. My swing thought is simply to pick a target and aim for it.  Keep up the great work!

Thank you! Last year when I started competing again I couldn't get off the tee consistently and prompted me to write this. I took a lesson/fitting at the beginning of the season to see what I was doing wrong. It was just little things that compounded. I didn't have to fix that much. Highly recommend spending the money on someone who won't try to sell you something, just fix the small problems that lead to big ones. Thanks for the read!

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Erin B

Well, just played and got to tell you, wasn’t good off the tee today and it showed. IMG_5917.jpeg.b2238db9067b03e5aec635640c53a983.jpeg

I had to scramble to keep a somewhat low score. What was interesting was I didn’t get frustrated. I just rolled with it. Tells me I’m handling the mental aspect of it better than before. Glad I wrote the blog.

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Erin B
10 minutes ago, Rob Person said:

Great blog post! I don't know anyone who hits ot perfect everytime off the tee

Today I had a fluke round using the "stand taller" at address method, and hi5 every fairway, and hit it longer than I ever have.  Now they weren't perfectly down the middle, but I was overjoyed at the end. 

Stand taller method? Do share! 

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Erin B

Played with my sons, my baseball sons! Well, anyway they can crush a ball and were out driving me most of the day. But, they had no real game after their drives. I beat them badly. I did have three dribbles and still either tied or beat them. This does go to show that while i believe the tee shot is most important, so is that second shot. But, hitting that tee shot in the fairway does set a player up, otherwise not an easy second shot.

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RetiredBoomer
8 hours ago, Erin B said:

....... But, hitting that tee shot in the fairway does set a player up, otherwise not an easy second shot.

My five-iron takes me right to my seven-wood.
From a purely gapping perspective, there' no need for a long iron in my bag.

BUT I've always had to have one.   
That fairway-finding long iron off the tee on tight, scary driving holes has ALWAYS been critical to my game.
I HATE being out of a hole after one shot!

With many of the stronger-lofted GI irons today, the matching 4-iron makes a very reliable little driving iron,
even if one NEVER uses it from the fairway.  

 

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Vegan_Golfer_PNW

Nice blog post Erin. 
 

As for my tee game, I am usually full send with driver as my course is fairly open. Now the course I am playing Sunday is tighter and has ob on almost every hole to the left. Luckily my driver miss lately has been to the right, however due to the trees lining most the fairways I need to be more tactical. I know for sure there are at least 5 holes I need to club down to either my DI (18°) or my UW (21°). I could also hit 4w but that can get hooky, which with the left OB is no bueno. Curious how it plays out. I will say I do have a plan which makes the mental side easier. At the tee box I like to clear my head, just focus on my breath, take a few looks with the breath and after three or four of those, swing away. Most the time t works. Breathe Golf by Jayne Story is a great book for those who want to dig into calming the body to execute during a round. 

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