If you don’t eat before a golf match, you’re literally toasted. The sun is hot out in the field and you could get nauseated or dehydrated when you stay out too long. Having the right nutrition enhances your golf performance. But you might be doing your diet a bit wrong. Here are seven things you might need to review.

1. Caffeine

Caffeine products, including soda and alcohol, influence hormones and dehydrate body tissues and the brain. You may have cut back on these products. However, if you’re still drinking coffee before a game, you may get light-headed fairly quickly due to dehydration. Instead, drink caffeine after your game. In moderate amounts of course.

2. Water

There is such a thing as over-hydration. If you keep on drinking water for the duration of your game, you could get bloated and feel heavy while you take your swing. Hydration is good during sunny games because it helps your physiology and stamina. However, consider the effects of added water weight to your game performance.

3. Eating Before A Game

If you’re consuming a heavy meal, make sure you do so two hours before your golf game. It is essential you eat food two to three hours before you start playing. If you think a light energy bar is good to consume while playing, it isn’t good practice. It works for some athletes, but metabolism is different from one person to the other. Gauge your body’s digestion and the small meals you consume in-game.

4. Small Meal Choices

Most golfers go for potato or corn chips. Unfortunately, these are still processed foods. Golfers need foods that are not sugar-based, or do not use glucose as a primary flavoring ingredient. These food choices include authentic dark chocolate bars, nuts, chicken bits and the like.

5. Alcohol After The Game

It is seen as a healthy choice to drink after the game instead of during the game. It does minimize the risk of dehydration and lackluster game performance. However, alcohol also slows down the muscle recovery you need right after a game. Straining your body is similar to taking a golf swing. Your damaged muscles would take time to repair. If you choose to drink, prepare for some extreme body pains at night.

6. Protein Bars

It is essential to watch out for sugar and glucose-based protein bars. While protein bars do contain a small amount of sugar for flavoring and energy, high levels of sugar would give you an energy boost that could crash at a later time.

7. Listening to your Body

It doesn’t mean that your stomach is howling that it needs food. However, when you feel your energy wavering, it is possibly time for you to eat. Your food and energy consumption depends on your body’s reaction to the task. If the result is weakening, you may need to take some rest or consume some food. Don’t overstrain yourself during a game or during a workout.