You might have figured by now that I didn't win that golf tournament and the $1,000. Unfortunately I didn't play well at all that day, but I learned a lot that I want to share with you. 

With everything that has been going on lately with a completely new set with different shafts and grooves, and some new swing changes it's easy to go to the range and hit golf balls with really no particular goal in mind. I have to admit that I've been doing that too much lately. 

The good news is that I realized that during the tournament when I, for the first time in a while, got a little bit of pressure put on me. I still hit my driver great (love that club, lol!), but my irons didn't go where I wanted them to and I didn't putt very well. 

What I did (which is extremely easy to do) is to fall back a little bit to my old habits and my swing were somewhere where it used to be and where I want it to be = a mess! :) I figured out what I was doing, but unfortunately the damage had pretty much already been done. 

After finishing the round, I came in and I had one thing one my mind - practice more putting and play more leading up to the next tournament! Also, I need to practice more under pressure so these are some great drills/things you can do that I've been doing under the past week:

- Have a short game match with a friend.

I like either 21 (which I've talked about in a previous blog) where each of you has 2 balls. You alternate shots and who's picking the hole location. The one with the closest ball gets 2 points, the one second closest 1 point and if somebody chips in that's worth 3 points. The first one to get to 21 points wins! 

Another great short game match is to play an up-and-down game where you always have to put the ball in the whole. If both of you get the same number of strokes, it's a tie and nobody gets a point, but whoever beats the other person gets one point and the person who gets to 10 points first wins. (This might take a while though, especially if you are about on the same level. When I played it, my friend and I played for almost 2 hours and then it got dark so we didn't even finish, haha.)

- Around the clock on the putting green with a minimum number of putts you have to make in a row!

Now this is one of my favorites. I like doing "the clock", where you set up 4 tees around the whole (one at 12, 3, 6, and 9 a'clock) but I realized that I need to practice more tournament like conditions. That's when I, this past week, started setting goals for myself. One day I did 50 3-footers in a row and one day I did 25 4-footers in a row. This really adds pressure because you have to focus on each putt (unless you want to stand there all day)! :) The first 3-4 times around are always pretty easy, then you realize that you've come a long way and have to start over if you miss and that's when it puts some pressure on you.

 - Play 9 holes on the driving range. 

Instead of aimlessly beating balls, picture your home course or another course you know really well and play 9 holes (or 18 if you want). This way you have to set up specific targets for yourself and change clubs between every shot. I skip the putting green, but if you have one close to the driving range you can go back and forth to "hole out" if you want. Instead I do the hitting and then go to the putting green and do my "around the clock" drill or something similar.

- Have a playing match with a friend.

I realized that I need to take my game out on the course a bit more, especially now when the season is coming around the corner. Make a small bet, even if it's just lunch or $5, just so that something is on the line. (The funny thing is that I usually play better under pressure, haha.)

I hope you like my drills and that it will help at least some of you to be more prepared for the upcoming season! Now it's time for me to hit the gym...step class followed by a pilates class, then off to the golf course! It'll be a great day! :) Keep smiling, I sure will! :)