inner_game_coach

I stood on the 18th tee not aware of my score - it is recorded automatically through Arccos. I knew I was playing well (to my standards) but it didn’t feel lights out. There were some mishits, but they were saved. Some short putts that were missed. I didn’t even card a single birdie - which I have done in the past multiple time and still card in the high 80's, low 90's
I put a drive about 245 into the fairway - I am not a long hitter. I had 135 left to the front of the green, pin set 10 paces on. I stood over my bag and without thinking or making judgments, I let myself pull my 8i. On the range my 8 is my 150 club - but I took the ego out of the situation and trusted my feeling. I put a smooth swing on it and the ball just cleared the sand trap guarding the right of the green - pin high, 10 yards to the right of my target.
So, when stepped up the 18th green at Architects to take my 35ft birdie putt, I was surprised to see that I had shot a 75 through 17 holes and that if I carded a par here, I’d break 80 and my lowest round ever. I immediately got nervous and though there was no one to care about my score and no crowds watching me, I felt this perceived pressure mounting. Something I had avoided for 17 holes. I let my thoughts get the best of me and I left myself with a nerve-wracking 5ft left. I became acutely aware of my tense upper body so I took a deep breath and allowed my shoulders to relax. “This truly doesn’t matter one way or the other”, I told myself. I stepped up the ball after getting my read and I imagined the feeling of picking the ball out of the cup and took my shot. It landed true and I finished the hole with a par. 79.
While I celebrate that accomplishment, I know that some days will be better or worse than others and that I should not feel defeated if the next time I go out I shoot an 89. Expectation is the enemy of enjoyment.
Up until that round I hadn’t played 18 in 3 or 4 weeks. I had been to the range a bunch because I am one of those nuts that loves to practice. But practice has been different lately. Instead of trying to “perfect” a certain swing, or come more from the inside, or hitting the ball first, I am working to practice what I preach - learning how to feel and getting my mind in the right space to play. I am learning to trust that my body can make the swing that it needs to make to get the ball where it needs to be.
I was going out with little expectation on myself. The only thing I told myself as I played was trust your “learning self” and accept the uncertainty - because uncertainty is part of the fun. If I could control every shot, I’d be great but at the cost of not enjoying the game. I was great at my job and could control most aspects of the work I did, but I still quit because it didn’t bring me joy in doing it anymore. I don’t want golf to be a job. I’m here to have fun, release stress, and enjoy nature.
Accepting the uncertainty in turn allowed me to unconsciously loosen up as a played. And being loose allowed me to have a smoother, more athletic swing than normally wanting to control how I swing and tightening up.
I don’t know how often I’ll shoot that low, but I’m inclined to continue accepting the uncertainty and enjoying the game a little more. I know working on my mental game will make a larger impact for me than trying to engineer a better swing.

I stood on the 18th tee not aware of my score - it is recorded automatically through Arccos. I knew I was playing well (to my standards) but it didn’t feel lights out. There were some mishits, but they were saved. Some short putts that were missed. I didn’t even card a single birdie - which I have done in the past multiple time and still card in the high 80's, low 90's
I put a drive about 245 into the fairway - I am not a long hitter. I had 135 left to the front of the green, pin set 10 paces on. I stood over my bag and without thinking or making judgments, I let myself pull my 8i. On the range my 8 is my 150 club - but I took the ego out of the situation and trusted my feeling. I put a smooth swing on it and the ball just cleared the sand trap guarding the right of the green - pin high, 10 yards to the right of my target.
So, when stepped up the 18th green at Architects to take my 35ft birdie putt, I was surprised to see that I had shot a 75 through 17 holes and that if I carded a par here, I’d break 80 and my lowest round ever. I immediately got nervous and though there was no one to care about my score and no crowds watching me, I felt this perceived pressure mounting. Something I had avoided for 17 holes. I let my thoughts get the best of me and I left myself with a nerve-wracking 5ft left. I became acutely aware of my tense upper body so I took a deep breath and allowed my shoulders to relax. “This truly doesn’t matter one way or the other”, I told myself. I stepped up the ball after getting my read and I imagined the feeling of picking the ball out of the cup and took my shot. It landed true and I finished the hole with a par. 79.
While I celebrate that accomplishment, I know that some days will be better or worse than others and that I should not feel defeated if the next time I go out I shoot an 89. Expectation is the enemy of enjoyment.
Up until that round I hadn’t played 18 in 3 or 4 weeks. I had been to the range a bunch because I am one of those nuts that loves to practice. But practice has been different lately. Instead of trying to “perfect” a certain swing, or come more from the inside, or hitting the ball first, I am working to practice what I preach - learning how to feel and getting my mind in the right space to play. I am learning to trust that my body can make the swing that it needs to make to get the ball where it needs to be.
I was going out with little expectation on myself. The only thing I told myself as I played was trust your “learning self” and accept the uncertainty - because uncertainty is part of the fun. If I could control every shot, I’d be great but at the cost of not enjoying the game. I was great at my job and could control most aspects of the work I did, but I still quit because it didn’t bring me joy in doing it anymore. I don’t want golf to be a job. I’m here to have fun, release stress, and enjoy nature.
Accepting the uncertainty in turn allowed me to unconsciously loosen up as a played. And being loose allowed me to have a smoother, more athletic swing than normally wanting to control how I swing and tightening up.
I don’t know how often I’ll shoot that low, but I’m inclined to continue accepting the uncertainty and enjoying the game a little more. I know working on my mental game will make a larger impact for me than trying to engineer a better swing.

I stood on the 18th tee not aware of my score - it is recorded automatically through Arccos. I knew I was playing well (to my standards) but it didn’t feel lights out. There were some mishits, but they were saved. Some short putts that were missed. I didn’t even card a single birdie - which I have done in the past multiple time and still card in the high 80's, low 90's
I put a drive about 245 into the fairway - I am not a long hitter. I had 135 left to the front of the green, pin set 10 paces on. I stood over my bag and without thinking or making judgments, I let myself pull my 8i. On the range my 8 is my 150 club - but I took the ego out of the situation and trusted my feeling. I put a smooth swing on it and the ball just cleared the sand trap guarding the right of the green - pin high, 10 yards to the right of my target.
So, when stepped up the 18th green at Architects to take my 35ft birdie putt, I was surprised to see that I had shot a 75 through 17 holes and that if I carded a par here, I’d break 80 and my lowest round ever. I immediately got nervous and though there was no one to care about my score and no crowds watching me, I felt this perceived pressure mounting. Something I had avoided for 17 holes. I let my thoughts get the best of me and I left myself with a nerve-wracking 5ft left. I became acutely aware of my tense upper body so I took a deep breath and allowed my shoulders to relax. “This truly doesn’t matter one way or the other”, I told myself. I stepped up the ball after getting my read and I imagined the feeling of picking the ball out of the cup and took my shot. It landed true and I finished the hole with a par. 79.
While I celebrate that accomplishment, I know that some days will be better or worse than others and that I should not feel defeated if the next time I go out I shoot an 89. Expectation is the enemy of enjoyment.
Up until that round I hadn’t played 18 in 3 or 4 weeks. I had been to the range a bunch because I am one of those nuts that loves to practice. But practice has been different lately. Instead of trying to “perfect” a certain swing, or come more from the inside, or hitting the ball first, I am working to practice what I preach - learning how to feel and getting my mind in the right space to play. I am learning to trust that my body can make the swing that it needs to make to get the ball where it needs to be.
I was going out with little expectation on myself. The only thing I told myself as I played was trust your “learning self” and accept the uncertainty - because uncertainty is part of the fun. If I could control every shot, I’d be great but at the cost of not enjoying the game. I was great at my job and could control most aspects of the work I did, but I still quit because it didn’t bring me joy in doing it anymore. I don’t want golf to be a job. I’m here to have fun, release stress, and enjoy nature.
Accepting the uncertainty in turn allowed me to unconsciously loosen up as a played. And being loose allowed me to have a smoother, more athletic swing than normally wanting to control how I swing and tightening up.
I don’t know how often I’ll shoot that low, but I’m inclined to continue accepting the uncertainty and enjoying the game a little more. I know working on my mental game will make a larger impact for me than trying to engineer a better swing.

I stood on the 18th tee not aware of my score - it is recorded automatically through Arccos. I knew I was playing well (to my standards) but it didn’t feel lights out. There were some mishits, but they were saved. Some short putts that were missed. I didn’t even card a single birdie - which I have done in the past multiple time and still card in the high 80's, low 90's
I put a drive about 245 into the fairway - I am not a long hitter. I had 135 left to the front of the green, pin set 10 paces on. I stood over my bag and without thinking or making judgments, I let myself pull my 8i. On the range my 8 is my 150 club - but I took the ego out of the situation and trusted my feeling. I put a smooth swing on it and the ball just cleared the sand trap guarding the right of the green - pin high, 10 yards to the right of my target.
So, when stepped up the 18th green at Architects to take my 35ft birdie putt, I was surprised to see that I had shot a 75 through 17 holes and that if I carded a par here, I’d break 80 and my lowest round ever. I immediately got nervous and though there was no one to care about my score and no crowds watching me, I felt this perceived pressure mounting. Something I had avoided for 17 holes. I let my thoughts get the best of me and I left myself with a nerve-wracking 5ft left. I became acutely aware of my tense upper body so I took a deep breath and allowed my shoulders to relax. “This truly doesn’t matter one way or the other”, I told myself. I stepped up the ball after getting my read and I imagined the feeling of picking the ball out of the cup and took my shot. It landed true and I finished the hole with a par. 79.
While I celebrate that accomplishment, I know that some days will be better or worse than others and that I should not feel defeated if the next time I go out I shoot an 89. Expectation is the enemy of enjoyment.
Up until that round I hadn’t played 18 in 3 or 4 weeks. I had been to the range a bunch because I am one of those nuts that loves to practice. But practice has been different lately. Instead of trying to “perfect” a certain swing, or come more from the inside, or hitting the ball first, I am working to practice what I preach - learning how to feel and getting my mind in the right space to play. I am learning to trust that my body can make the swing that it needs to make to get the ball where it needs to be.
I was going out with little expectation on myself. The only thing I told myself as I played was trust your “learning self” and accept the uncertainty - because uncertainty is part of the fun. If I could control every shot, I’d be great but at the cost of not enjoying the game. I was great at my job and could control most aspects of the work I did, but I still quit because it didn’t bring me joy in doing it anymore. I don’t want golf to be a job. I’m here to have fun, release stress, and enjoy nature.
Accepting the uncertainty in turn allowed me to unconsciously loosen up as a played. And being loose allowed me to have a smoother, more athletic swing than normally wanting to control how I swing and tightening up.
I don’t know how often I’ll shoot that low, but I’m inclined to continue accepting the uncertainty and enjoying the game a little more. I know working on my mental game will make a larger impact for me than trying to engineer a better swing.

Hi all! Saw the NE Spy Classic happening in MA and it makes me want to do a meetup a little closer to the Mid-Atlantic area.
I've got a free Sunday on Oct 23rd and hoping some of you around also do! I put a couple options in the poll. Hoping to get a good group going 

okay, what's your secret sir??

Wife's Uncle's neighbor is a member!

Hi all! Saw the NE Spy Classic happening in MA and it makes me want to do a meetup a little closer to the Mid-Atlantic area.
I've got a free Sunday on Oct 23rd and hoping some of you around also do! I put a couple options in the poll. Hoping to get a good group going 

Hi all! Saw the NE Spy Classic happening in MA and it makes me want to do a meetup a little closer to the Mid-Atlantic area.
I've got a free Sunday on Oct 23rd and hoping some of you around also do! I put a couple options in the poll. Hoping to get a good group going 

Mishits are the worst cause they get you thinking you messed up your swing somewhere and then lose trust in it.
Curious, what are you looking to accomplish with the stats you take down?

I would need to make a note of what happened with the shot that was bad or didn't go as planned.  Although I can remember the FIR, GIR, putts, saves... I don't think I would remember the particulars of the shot.  I don't know if that would be too distracting; hard to do while walking, may be possible if riding but not driving a cart.  Maybe just a note to help me remember after the round would be enough.
I don't think much over the ball.  After picking a target I get in my setup, make a practice swing, then pull the trigger.  Although I am constantly working on my swing with a coach, I don't think about that when I play... only on the range.  I do hold on to the bad shots, but not as long as I used to; work in progress, but as swing has improved, so has my attitude.  A mishit here and there can be dealt with; many mishits gets to be frustrating 

This comment seems familiar for some reason.  I never tracked anything until I came to MGS, then I used the stats in The Grint because that's where I recorded my scores.  I kept them on my scorecard.  However, I found that too distracting, and I could remember what happened on every hole until I went to sleep at night; then forgot everything!!  After tracking these stats for awhile, it became obvious to me that I knew what my weaknesses were without tracking.  So I spent a lot of time practicing, and they have improved somewhat.  Now, I tend to just enjoy the surroundings, and still practice.  Once in awhile I'll post some extra special stat of  my round, something that is much better that normal for me... usually GIR since that is my worst stat.
I am curious about @inner_game_coach tracking of mental stats, but haven't decided if I can do that without too much distraction... testing to start.

Interesting routine I could try, since a month in a Coma 3 years ago I honestly couldn't say what I was thinking about in that moment? But now I'm starting to think about focusing on hitting the ball rather than my mind being blank, back in the day when I made A grade I was ecstatic because I couldn't see good enough to read a green. My coach at the time said I would be better than a 5 handicap if I could SEE, ball striking was good enough for that level of play now I'm happy just to hit one good shot in nine holes lol...

I think you're right on the money in your first point. The idea is to use the time between shots to not over-analyze, or think too much, but rather to relax and prepare for the concentration needed for the next shot.
What am I thinking about before I clear my head - great question. For me it's to go through my pre-shot routine, engage in the process that I've built for me and then just before stepping up to hit, I tell myself to swing to my picture. I think going through my routine also helps me work through any intrusive thoughts. Then I let go and do my best to not have any thoughts while I'm over the ball. With the small exception of a process I use to be mindful of where my clubhead is through my swing. Not so much thoughts but more like checkpoints - for example, when I hit the top of my swing I say "one" to myself, then after impact I say "two" and after the swing but before looking up I say "three". 
I'm certainly far from perfect but it helps. And that's why I keep score of my mental, so I can know which shots/holes I did a better job with. I understand that disappointment when I don't shoot to my picture but I am working on letting go of that feeling pretty immediately. I have trust that any changes or reinforcements I need to make happen on the range and the course is for playing.
Hope that makes some sense.
 

I've recently started keeping "mental" stats for myself. Some of those metrics include: how long (in seconds) did it take me to clear my head before taking the shot, did I go through my full pre-shot routine, did I self-talk after the shot, did I analyze a shot after a mishit, and more. I just use a scorecard and make little checks down the side where other players names would go

I think you're right on the money in your first point. The idea is to use the time between shots to not over-analyze, or think too much, but rather to relax and prepare for the concentration needed for the next shot.
What am I thinking about before I clear my head - great question. For me it's to go through my pre-shot routine, engage in the process that I've built for me and then just before stepping up to hit, I tell myself to swing to my picture. I think going through my routine also helps me work through any intrusive thoughts. Then I let go and do my best to not have any thoughts while I'm over the ball. With the small exception of a process I use to be mindful of where my clubhead is through my swing. Not so much thoughts but more like checkpoints - for example, when I hit the top of my swing I say "one" to myself, then after impact I say "two" and after the swing but before looking up I say "three". 
I'm certainly far from perfect but it helps. And that's why I keep score of my mental, so I can know which shots/holes I did a better job with. I understand that disappointment when I don't shoot to my picture but I am working on letting go of that feeling pretty immediately. I have trust that any changes or reinforcements I need to make happen on the range and the course is for playing.
Hope that makes some sense.
 

Welcome Andy! I'm in the Eastern PA area. I gotta make my way down to central Jersey to meet up with you and @Golfspy_Lukesfor a round!

I've recently started keeping "mental" stats for myself. Some of those metrics include: how long (in seconds) did it take me to clear my head before taking the shot, did I go through my full pre-shot routine, did I self-talk after the shot, did I analyze a shot after a mishit, and more. I just use a scorecard and make little checks down the side where other players names would go

Welcome Andy! I'm in the Eastern PA area. I gotta make my way down to central Jersey to meet up with you and @Golfspy_Lukesfor a round!

I've recently started keeping "mental" stats for myself. Some of those metrics include: how long (in seconds) did it take me to clear my head before taking the shot, did I go through my full pre-shot routine, did I self-talk after the shot, did I analyze a shot after a mishit, and more. I just use a scorecard and make little checks down the side where other players names would go

Hi everyone! Seriously, pleasure to be here. I'm new to forums but found out about MGS recently!
How long have you been playing golf? What’s your handicap or normal score?
I've been playing off and on for about 20 years, with a big gap of not playing for a good 6-8 years in my teens. I got back into golf as a religion about 6-7 years ago. Doesn't mean I'm that good though, I tend to shoot 90 to mid 80's on any given day. But I breathe golf. I love everything about the game.
What do you love about golf?
Everything! I love watching it, I love playing it, I love being outside and using it as meditation, I love the architecture, I love seeing my friends play and improve their games. I love the sound of a pure shot and the sound of the ball bouncing around in the hole. Part of me wanted to be a pro (not a touring pro but a PGA pro) but I don't have the energy to commit to doing that; especially now that I have a young daughter.
What brings you to MyGolfSpy? Do you already know any other Spies?
Love watching the YouTube videos. Helps me keep grounded about my own game and make the little improvements I need. I don't know any other Spies yet, though I imagine there are more around me
Where are you from? What is your home course?
I'm originally from CT but moved to PA last year. I live in Easton - close to NJ on i78. My home course is the Architects club in Phillipsburg NJ. About 15v mins from where I live. What are the best and worst things about golf in your region?
Best things - the landscape. It's a beautiful area with rolling hills and forests. Great northeast style golf Worst things - Expensive to play and we have a winter season so I can't play all year round What do you do for a living?
I actually just quit my full-time corporate job to follow my passion of being a golf coach (not an instructor, but a mindset coach). My goal is to work with passionate casual golfers and help them shoot their lowest scores and get their handicap to where they want it to be.  How’d you pick your user name?
See answer above. I'm an aspiring coach and I'm looking to surround myself with the people I can support!

Oh heck yeah, let's do it Lukes! I do live close to Morgan Hill -- that course is a hell of a battle haha
Shoot me a message and we can exchange numbers!

Oh heck yeah, let's do it Lukes! I do live close to Morgan Hill -- that course is a hell of a battle haha
Shoot me a message and we can exchange numbers!

Oh heck yeah, let's do it Lukes! I do live close to Morgan Hill -- that course is a hell of a battle haha
Shoot me a message and we can exchange numbers!

I’m down just South of Princeton now. Grew up in hillsborough. Played architects a bunch. 
 
you must live pretty close to Morgan hill! Played in a few outings there. Really fun course 
Really looking forward to what you have to say about the golf mental game. Maybe we can get in a round together this fall and you can analyze me on a forum post!