When the pressure is on the line, pull out the go to shot!

Whether it's a five dollar nassau with friends, a club championship or standing on the 18th tee box during a US Open Qualifier, at some point you will need to hit that pressure packed shot.  Your go to shot should consist of a shot that comes very natural to you, one you don't have to manipulate and one that should be automatic.  Most people get nervous when an event is on the line, money is involved or people are watching you, so when it's your turn, dig deep, take a big breath and trust your swing.  I would recommend practicing these shots while on the range.  Put yourself in a situation where you need to make a swing and have the swing count.  By practicing these shots, you'll feel more comforatble when you have to do it for real.

Below, take a look at how Dustin Johnson hits his go to high draw: 

When I need to hit a fairway, I play my go-to tee shot: a three- to five-yard draw. I set up down the right side of the fairway and swing a little more from in to out, with the clubface closing through impact. Remember, the curve on the shot is dictated by the path of the club and the position of the face when you make contact.
But honestly, you can't think about all of that when you're playing. So what I do when I want to draw the ball is visualize the shape and then allow my body to make it happen.
As I said, to hit a power draw, the club has to swing down from inside the target line. I feel as if I'm creating space on the downswing between my body and the ball for the club to travel (above). That's the big feel for me. To do that, your lower body must lead the way through. If you have room on the inside, you'll have an easier time turning it over.

How to Have Perfect Tempo

When you feel yourself swinging fast or your tempo is getting out of wack, try swinging a driver with a headcover on it to slow your speed down and allow yourself to feel the club.  The headcover on the driver is similar to a baseball player warming up with a donut on his bat.  The heavier the club feels during your practive swing, the faster you'll be able to swing it when it's crunch time.

1. Good tempo is as much mental as it is physical. You get fast because you're trying to stretch more out of the shot. Remind yourself that every club has a distance limit; when you need more distance, take a longer club. And don't think you have another gear for the driver. Use one speed for every full swing.

 

2. I see a lot of amateurs fighting to stay in balance at the finish, shuffling their feet and twisting their bodies around. This usually comes from swinging too hard. One tempo check I use is to rate my balance at the finish on a scale of 1 to 10. Try it: If you're averaging less than 7, your tempo is too quick.

3. When I lose my rhythm during a round, I'll step off to the side and make right-handed swings. With only one hand, you can't accelerate too quickly. You can't rush the club down from the top. Make some swings like this, and you'll see how it teaches you to build speed gradually.