For many golfers and/or potential golfers, the most intimidating thing in the world is stepping up to the tee. For some reason, the tee becomes ten feet tall and a sudden and insurmountable foe. These players step up to the tee and begin reciting all the steps they should do and get so nervous and sweaty palmed that they literally forget everything.

Or, these players are so stiffly reciting the ‘proper protocols’ in their minds that they forget that the very reason they are playing in the first place is to have fun, to relax, and to be entertained. Wow, what a concept! It’s amazing how seriously we take this sport that is supposed to be a source of fun for us.

The tee can be intimidating, but it is just another golf shot. If you hit a worm burner that only goes 100 yards it doesn’t mean your world has ended. We have all had bad shots and I don’t think there is an honest golfer on this planet that would dare tempt the golf fates by claiming otherwise. If you do find one such player, rest assured that he or she is being a little less than honest. We all shank, hook, slice, hit rampant worm burners, and land in the lake on occasion.

Allowing yourself to be intimidated by the tee is almost quadrupling the odds that you will make one of these miss hits. In fact it almost guarantees that you won’t be making your best possible golf shot. If you want to know the absolute basics of the tee off, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are a few steps you can take towards a much better tee time:

1) Breathe. This is often overlooked and yet so necessary. If you don’t breathe during your swing, chances are you will rush your shot subconsciously in order to get to the point where you can take the breathe that your body so desperately needs.

2) Swing through the ball rather than to the ball. By swinging an equal distance before and after the ball you are insuring that your club will carry the ball up and outward to go the distance that you need in order to have a nice, long drive.

3) Keep the clubface square. An open or closed clubface can result in a nasty hook or slice. While a good slice sounds good in the clubhouse, it is not a good thing on the course. In fact it can quite easily result in much time squandered searching for your ball or worse taking a drop.

These three things may not seem so significant and yet when combined, they work to create a solid drive that will impress not only you, but your fellow golfers as well. Remember not to sweat the small stuff. Rounds of golf are won and lost on the green not at the tee. Worry more about your putts than your drives, practice often, and play consistently—these things will serve your golf game well in the long run.