Competition Drill: Add Pressure to Practice and Sharpen Focus Under Stress

Key Points

• End Every Lesson with Competition
  Simulating pressure situations at the end of practice helps assess how a player performs when it counts.
• Closest-to-the-Hole Challenge
  A fun, competitive drill encourages focus, execution, and mental resilience in a game-like setting.
• Add Pressure with Playful Trash Talk
  Lighthearted banter adds pressure in a fun way and helps mimic real match tension.
• Compete to Improve Focus
  Competition teaches players to stay present, handle nerves, and execute under stress. It often heightens focus, though too much pressure can also lead to overthinking.
• Self vs. Peer Competition
  Compete against friends, but also set internal benchmarks (e.g. get within 6 feet) to build personal accountability.
• Practice Like You Play
  Incorporating challenges and score-based goals in practice builds the skills needed for real performance under pressure.
• Learn How You Respond to Pressure
  Only by regularly introducing competition into practice will players understand how they naturally react to high-stakes moments — and how to improve.