A common description of golf is that it is a game played between the ears. Every golfer has experienced what it is like to stand over a shot as pressure, anxiety, and doubts begin to mount. TSG Academy players went beyond classroom discussions during a recent player meeting led by Pranav Jose- Sports Psychologist at TSG Academy and Senior Coach Prithviraj Ram, going out onto the golf course to experience these scenarios firsthand.
The lesson of the session was straightforward but impactful: maintaining your commitment to the choice you’ve made in the face of fear. The goal was to learn how to function despite fear, not to eradicate it.
Understanding What Happens on the First Tee
Many amongst the golfers have stood on the first tee in front of spectators. Many thoughts begin to emerge at that point.
Hitting the ball out of bounds is a concern for players. While some worry about embarrassing themselves in front of competitors, coaches, or onlookers, others fear topping the ball.
These emotions are common, the coaches said. They happen to every golfer- a pro-level player or a beginner. Learning to play while these feelings are there is more difficult than trying to ignore them.
The on-the-field session was all about learning while practising. The players came forward to take the shot. After a successful shot, many players experience an immediate boost in confidence. But that confidence vanishes when they play on a new golf course or encounter a challenging hole. Coaches emphasized that the lack of skill is often not the cause. Rather, it is a lack of knowledge on how to manage pressure consistently.
Acceptance Is Different from Avoidance
One of the most important lessons from the session was understanding acceptance.
Acceptance, according to many golfers, entails denying or disregarding fear. In actuality, acceptance entails acknowledging your concern but still deciding to take the desired shot.
A player might be terrified of striking the ball directly into out of bounds, for instance. The player admits the fear and continues to commit to the intended shot rather than acting as though it doesn’t exist.
According to the coaches, soreness is a normal aspect of performance. Avoiding discomfort often leads to more serious issues. In an attempt to prevent a specific result, players start adjusting their swing, guiding the club, or altering their technique.
This generally results in the precise errors that they were attempting to avoid.
Being Honest About Fear
Players were advised to openly share their worries while standing on the tee box before hitting the shot.
Every participant must have clarity over:
- The shot they desired to play
- The club they had selected was the reason for their concern.
- How they intended to carry out the shot
Openness was necessary for this exercise. It is difficult to talk openly about fear in front of teammates. But it made players recognise something more important!
Everybody thinks the same things but become hesitant when it is time to speak their minds. Fear does not indicate weakness. It is just a part of the competition. After discussing their concerns, participants were urged to focus entirely on the shot they had selected rather than attempting to control their swing to prevent errors.
Focusing on Action Instead of Outcome
Players were told about several pressure scenarios during the session. In several cases, a par was required to make the cut. Others included challenging chip shots close to water or high-stress tournament situations.
The question was the same in every situation:
“What will you do?
The coaches constantly reminded the players that they had no control over the outcome. They cannot promise a flawless shot every time.
Their preparation, devotion to execution, and intention are all under their control. Players lose focus on the job at hand when they are solely concerned with avoiding blunders. However, every player increase their chances of success by focusing on making the intended shot.
Learning from Every Shot
Throughout the session, not every player achieved a flawless shot. A few of the bullets were hit well. Some weren’t.
However, evaluating results was not the exercise’s goal. The goal was to see whether players remained dedicated to their process. Poor execution may not always follow from a bad shot. Similarly, a successful shot does not guarantee that the procedure was done correctly. The coaches urged players to assess whether, despite their anxieties, they stuck to their chosen shot.
Because students learn to gauge success by dedication rather than by immediate outcomes, this way of thinking helps golfers develop consistency over time.
What Elite Players Do Differently
The idea that professional golfers don’t feel afraid is one of the most widespread myths. The reality is quite different.
Professional golfers also have to deal with uncertainty, pressure, anxiety, and unsettling thoughts. The difference is that they don’t spend energy attempting to get rid of these emotions.
Rather, they concentrate on their goals.
Regardless of how they feel on the inside, they commit to a goal, a shot shape, a trajectory, or a procedure and pursue it. One of the traits that sets top performers apart from the rest is their capacity to remain dedicated under duress.
The Real Meaning of Integrity on the Golf Course
Integrity was also one of the main takeaway from this discussion.
Honesty and sportsmanship are not the sole aspects of integrity in golf. Being loyal to your choices is also important.
Integrity is the ability to stick to a plan, even in the face of fear, when you decide on a shot, a target, and a strategy.
- There may still be fear.
- There may still be pressure.
- There may still be negative thoughts.
However, when players pursue their desired actions rather than flee discomfort, their performance improves.
This session becomes very important as players continue to be ready for BGC events, South Zone tournaments, qualifications, and other contests. Any golfer will encounter challenging circumstances. There will be apprehension for every golfer.
Eliminating those emotions is not the objective. The objective is to recognise them, remain dedicated to the process, and carry it out with intention. Trust is developed in this way. Consistency grows in this way. Golfers learn to play well under pressure in this way.
We hope you enjoyed this practice session. For more such updates, stay tuned!
Happy Golfing!
