Almost every round I play is with NO opportunity to hit some practice shots prior to tee-off, because there's no time or in one case, just nowhere to hit any.

The result is that the first two or three holes cost me a lot of shots, and only then do I start to feel ready to play.

What to do?

I used to have the same issues... rushing to the course from work and teeing off with no warmup and then coupled with nervous jitters would blow up a bunch of holes, but I seem to be gradually getting past it simply through more playing and more comfort in my ballstriking through practice. To clarify, the additional 'frequency' of playing will make you more comfortable. Before last year, I was only playing a few times a year, so when I did get a chance to play, I would be really wound up and nervous. Now that I'm trying to play once a week, I'm far more comfortable.

I don't have a good answer for you other than play more and practice more and eventually, the jitters won't screw up your first few holes that bad.

I stretch.....

Hammys, back, shoulders.....

Stretch, then stretch some more: wrists, neck, shoulders, lower back, hips, hamstrings, calves. Then start swinging very slowly with a pitching wedge, increase the speed a bit, then take 2 irons (eg 8 and 9), grip them together and swing them both slowly, back and forth and back and forth. Grab a single club now and you can start freely swinging. Perhaps get the driver out and swing it as well (all that without a ball, of course), paying more attention to your setup: grip, position, alignment. Drop two or three balls and chip them and putt them, if you can, trying to get a feel for the green speed.

You are now ready. Step up to the first tee... and don't whack it! Just go for a controlled swing, maybe 80% of what you would be doing later in the round. If it's a par 3, take more club to compensate. Usually the first hole is pretty forgiving anyway...

I stretch my back muscles, my thighs, and my calves. And I take a whole bunch of practice swings. while I'm waiting on the first tee, I hit a whole bunch of practice swings.

But the most important thing a person can do to warm up is to clear your mind.

This is what I think:

This is my element.
This is where I want to be.
This is what I love to do.
I've been practicing hard for three years.
The time I spend on the practice facility is work.
This is play.
It's time to have fun.

The first issue can only be solved by you: get there in time to do warmups. Get on the course at least half an hour before your tee-time. An hour would even be better if you also want to do some putting and chipping.

If you are late for some reason (traffic, overslept, whatever), take out 2 mid-irons and swing them together. Perhaps you can hit some chips on the first teebox.

First stretch. Most important thing you can do. Not just a few seconds worth, but a dedicated 5 minutes or so. Next, put a tee in the ground at the height you would normally use for your drives. Then take some easy practice swings working on just clipping the top of the tee. Once you have clipped 5 or 6 in a row, using a controlled swing, you are probably as ready as you can be. If you have to wait longer than expected to tee off, sneak a few more swings in at tees if you can. Finally, when you are up, step up to the ball, teed at the same height you have been practicing. DO NOT try to kill the ball. Just take a nice controlled comfortable swing and you will be pleasantly surprised more often than not, at how well you hit it.

First stretch. Most important thing you can do. Not just a few seconds worth, but a dedicated 5 minutes or so. Next, put a tee in the ground at the height you would normally use for your drives. Then take some easy practice swings working on just clipping the top of the tee. Once you have clipped 5 or 6 in a row, using a controlled swing, you are probably as ready as you can be. If you have to wait longer than expected to tee off, sneak a few more swings in at tees if you can. Finally, when you are up, step up to the ball, teed at the same height you have been practicing. DO NOT TRY TO KILL THE BALL. Just take a nice controlled comfortable swing and you will be pleasantly surprised more often than not, at how well you hit it.

Man, this posting process, since the "maintenance" is screwed up. I hit "preview" to read my post, then "submit" to put it up. Both versions appeared in the forum. Anybody else having this issue?

[

DougE wrote:

]Man, this posting process, since the "maintenance" is screwed up. I hit "preview" to read my post, then "submit" to put it up. Both versions appeared in the forum. Anybody else having this issue?[

]

No, never happens to me!

[

DougE wrote:

]Man, this posting process, since the "maintenance" is screwed up. I hit "preview" to read my post, then "submit" to put it up. Both versions appeared in the forum. Anybody else having this issue?[

]

No, never happens to me!

[

bkuehn1952 wrote:

] No, never happens to me![

]
Bwahahaha. You got me good. On the train and everything.

I face the same situation usually. My all-time best rounds have somehow been shot without the benefit of a warmup. What I started doing a few years ago is to view the first third of the round as a sort of warmup. Making the transition from the real world to the golf world if you will. Expectations of a score are kept pretty modest for the first six holes. I want to keep it in play, make some good swings, make some routine pars. Also pay closer attention to all the pitch chips and putts that are going on, not just my own but everyone else's to hopefully get better sense of the speeds and how the ball is reacting with the green today. Basically if I can get through the first third without something terrible happening then in most cases I'm on my way.

So I don't know, maybe give yourself a modest number to try and shoot and that might give you something to focus in on and take your mind off of technique and nerves and what not.

[

bkuehn1952 wrote:

][ DougE wrote: ]]]]]Man, this posting process, since the "maintenance" is screwed up. I hit "preview" to read my post, then "submit" to put it up. Both versions appeared in the forum. Anybody else having this issue?[[[ ]]] No, never happens to me![

]

Very funny!

Just for the record, I rarely play with any sort of a warmup. At most, I'll get in a few chips and a few putts. I'm usually a single looking to get paired up with the first unfilled group that comes along.

If I hit the range, I usually do it after a round. The reason is because I have found that taking 30 extra swings before a round makes me mentally tired on the back nine. I lose focus, and I start taking half-ass swings.