what are some tips to playing golf under pressure?

QUESTION:
I am a 14 year old boy from wisconsin and plan on making it to state in this year and would like some tips on figuring out the mental aspects of golf. My father always told me as a young boy that golf is 90% mental and 10% mental. I would appreciate any tips i can get to help me be as mentally tough as tiger!

ANSWER:

Answer by Mark
Golf take a long time to play and most of that time you are not actually hitting shots. It’s important in a round to be able to switch off and relax whilst not hitting the ball but being able to switch back into “game” mode once you looking to play. The most fundamental way of doing this is having a repeatable pre-shot routine. The pre-shot routine should be for all shots including putting and you should even practice your pre-shot routine on the range. It doesn’t matter what your routine is it just must be the same all of the time for every shot. I suggest you don’t make the routine too long, keep it simple and comfortable. My routine I stand directly behind the ball looking down the target and pick an aiming line. Take one practice swing and then step into the ball, 2 waggles and then swing.

Also one very good tip when under pressure is to think back to a good shot or strike that you made in the past with the club you are about to use. If you have 4 iron shot into a tricky par 3, think back to a good 4 iron shot that you hit in the past. Remember the feeling of the strike and see the flight of that shot in your mind. This will help install confidence before you take your next important swing and you can do this before you start your pre-shot routine