Your hands shake as you approach the ball to play your approach shot on the 18th hole, the final hole of the club matchplay championship. It has been a tough match and you are currently one up, but your heart is racing as you realise that it could all come down to this final shot.
You take a deep breath and try to calm your nerves, but as you line up your approach shot , your mind starts to race. What if you mess up? What if you miss the green?
Despite your best efforts, your hands twitch as you swing and you can feel the club pulling to the left. You watch in horror as your ball sails towards the rough on the left side of the green. Your opponent, on the other hand, seems to be in a better position, with a clear shot for three and a 10-foot putt for par.
As you walk towards your ball, you start to feel the pressure building. This is it, the moment you have been preparing for. You know that this shot could make or break the entire competition. That’s when you remember the 3 P’s – a system you’ve been working on to help you stay focused under pressure.
You take a deep breath and remind yourself of the first P – “Picture.” you stand behind the ball and visualise where you want it to land and finish, selecting the club and shot you are going to play to make it happen.
Next comes the second P – “Practice” You take a few practice swings and visualise your shot, picturing it landing perfectly on the green. You block out any negative thoughts and focus on the task at hand.
Finally, the third P – “Play.” this is not the time to doubt your picture or your ability to play the shot. Play the ball as soon as your set up is completed. In that moment, be positive and stay focused.
As you lift your head to watch the ball finish by the side of the hole, you can’t help but feel grateful for the 3 P’s. Without them, you may not have been able to stay composed under pressure and make that crucial recovery shot. From now on, you know that whenever you feel the jitters in a tense moment, you can always rely on the 3 P’s to help you stay focused and bring home the win.