Strategy: from best-ball to your own ball

[StrokerAce]

So I play in a weekly best ball league and am the longest hitter of everyone.  

Inevitably the strategy becomes  

- let me hit one in the fairway and then you can 'go for it!!'  

Sometimes that works but it gets me way out of my rhythm and tempo and causes me to swing like I probably never would if I were hitting my own ball in a regular round.  I've been able to hit some of my longest drives ever but it's not a good way to play.

 

My question is: how do you transition from the oh-well-we-have-4-shots best ball mentality to the I'm-hitting-my-own-ball-now-and-every-shot-matters mentality?

 

One thing I've tried recently is to play best ball like my ball will be the only one used the entire round (even if it's not) and slow down and make a good swing.

 

Thoughts?

[hckymeyer]

I think you mean Scramble, not best ball.

 

And I think you are on the right track. Scramble thinking is different than regular thinking. You go for things you normally wouldn't and get upset with shots that you would be happy with on your own ball. Pretending that it's only you out there is a good way to look at it. Another is to focus on the shot at hand. Even if it's not what you would do as a single, just focus on executing it to the best of your ability.

 

Either way though playing within yourself and not trying to crush everything will probably lead to better scores

 

 

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[Kor.A.Door]

I always enjoy the scramble (captains choice), I play then for what they are, for me I am pretty long and accurate so I just play my normal shots, since you are the longest hitter, hit your normal tee shot, and play the same round as normal, what I find is that the shots where the other guys help is occasionally an approach shot, and then most everyone can putt so you get help there as well, but as the longest hitter, just play your normal game.

[revkev]

I avoid them for anything but fun.

 

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[Jmikecpa]

I play the same in a scramble or on my own ball for most of the holes so it is not an issue for me. I play my own game regardless of what he others position and will not hit driver any harder or when not needed when playing a scramble.

 

 

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[Kenny B]

Seems like all good advice because I am the one that would say... "Let me hit one in the fairway, then you can go for it."  That's the main reason I don't play in scrambles unless it's a charity event and I don't care if I come in last.

[HighFade]

I just had that happen. I played a scramble on a Thursday and a casual round Friday (with Jamboy and Barbajo). I ended up swinging for the fences during the scramble, and it took at least 2-3 practice sessions at the range since then to get my swing back.

 

Lesson learned: avoid those issues instead of recovering from them. Play your game, swing your swing. (Easier said than done when you're the last to drive on a long par 5 during a scramble, and your partner is in the fairway)

[EthanSterlingPrice]

I think your on the right track. In a scramble I don't play a shot I wouldn't be comfortable with playing individually. All it does is screw up your thought process and rhythm and all you'll normally end up with is an extra 10-15 yards as compensation at best. As far as the thought process I would honestly say never get into the scramble mindset of oh-well because every shot counts, circumstances could make yours the only playable ball. What I would suggest is play just like you would in a normal round doing only shots you would be comfortable playing on your own but instead of the oh-well-it-doesn't-matter mentality think about how much of the pressure and stress are relieved because you have a team behind you to back you up and just make the best effort you can with no holding back. Aggressive swing conservative target. That's my take, hope it helps.

 

 

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[StrokerAce]

I think you mean Scramble, not best ball.

 

And I think you are on the right track. Scramble thinking is different than regular thinking. You go for things you normally wouldn't and get upset with shots that you would be happy with on your own ball. Pretending that it's only you out there is a good way to look at it. Another is to focus on the shot at hand. Even if it's not what you would do as a single, just focus on executing it to the best of your ability.

 

Either way though playing within yourself and not trying to crush everything will probably lead to better scores

 

 

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Your right...scramble. Thanks for the advice! My last 4 rounds since changing my strategy a bit have been 30, 30, 27, 29...

 

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[StrokerAce]

I think your on the right track. In a scramble I don't play a shot I wouldn't be comfortable with playing individually. All it does is screw up your thought process and rhythm and all you'll normally end up with is an extra 10-15 yards as compensation at best. As far as the thought process I would honestly say never get into the scramble mindset of oh-well because every shot counts, circumstances could make yours the only playable ball. What I would suggest is play just like you would in a normal round doing only shots you would be comfortable playing on your own but instead of the oh-well-it-doesn't-matter mentality think about how much of the pressure and stress are relieved because you have a team behind you to back you up and just make the best effort you can with no holding back. Aggressive swing conservative target. That's my take, hope it helps.

 

 

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Thanks! Great advice. Thankfully I have a great partner but I never want to let him down.

 

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[hckymeyer]

4 under pars nines as a 13 handi?  I better not be playing you for money, and you better not be a 13 for long.

 

Well done!

[StrokerAce]

4 under pars nines as a 13 handi?  I better not be playing you for money, and you better not be a 13 for long.

 

Well done!

 

Thanks... not sure what clicked but something just fell into place.

[sp0rtsfan86]

I played one recently. I just play my game but would get more conservative off the tee and then get much more aggressive from the fairway. Just goes to playing your game and having a good attitude. Going back to stroke play means you just play a little more conservatively and try to manage the game rather than force shots.