How do you prepare for a competitive golf?

[Kenny B]

Both jmiller and rev have good comments on addressing this topic. I respect both opinions and take something from each. I am older than rev but I need more discipline in my preparations for a round because unlike rev, I have not been playing golf as long. I believe that jmiller has some ideas that, if I incorporate, will help me. I appreciate that. I also understand rev's point, because at my age I can't afford to waste good shots on the range. I do need to get my mind into the game earlier, so I thank you both.

 

Stay in the short grass everyone!

[PlaidJacket]

Interesting topic. Too bad for the misunderstanding that went on. That's what happens sometimes when things are typed instead of spoken. I enjoyed jmiller, revkev, and others. I'm not at all that serious of a tournament player as some of you guys. I've actually gotten to where I might only play one or two a summer. And those are usually a partnership or the club championship. Now days my routine is very simple. I eat a decent but light breakfast 2 hours before leaving for the course. I arrive 1.5 hours before tee time. I'll warm up with some wedges and get loose. Than I'll go putt for a little bit and yack with a few guys I run into. I'll swing by and grab a large cup of ice water and head over to the practice area again and hit some mid-irons. Finally finishing with a few driver shots just before we're called to the tee. I've always felt it best to finish my pre-round routine by hitting the club I'll use first on #1. Most of my tournaments these days are played on my home course. I know it well so there's no need to get all technical about it. It's just like it was yesterday. Oh and one more thing.... I make sure my shoes are nice and clean and I'm wearing a handsome tournament shirt. Gotta look good ya know.

[ACcustomX]

Oh and one more thing.... I make sure my shoes are nice and clean and I'm wearing a handsome tournament shirt. Gotta look good ya know.

Exactly! Look good! Play good! In the case you don't play so well...... at least you looked good doing it!

[JBones]

Exactly! Look good! Play good! In the case you don't play so well...... at least you looked good doing it!

I have two mottos....

 

1. I'm here to drink beer and f$@k sh1t up

2. I may play like sh1t, but I'll look good doing it

[revkev]

BTW Kenny the only points I was trying to make in my reply to JMiller were:

 

1.   When you get older you have to be careful about hitting too many balls prior to the round.

 

2.   I don't know that I agree with the notion that you should observe how you are hitting the ball on the range because you tend to revert to form once on the course - someone else also made that point BTW and I replied then - my experience is that you will revert to your normal form once you get on the course.

 

3.  There are many different approaches for pre-round routines, his works for him and I'm sure it works great, mine works for me.  Mine took a long time to figure out - I admire the fact that he was able to develop his at a younger age.

 

 

Additionally I wanted to throw in the reminder about hydration and eating something to maintain energy levels throughout the round.

 

If we're talking a tournament as opposed to betting with some friends - I'm not drinking beer or anything else - whatever benefits might be gained are eliminated by the hydration issue.  I don't drink beer in league until the league nine is ending - I'll catch the cart girl around 8 and not crack my beer until I'm coming off of 9.

[Kenny B]

Rev,

I got the points, and agree with many.  

 

I don't hit very many balls on the range; usually just for getting loose after stretching.  I just don't have that many swings in my body anymore.  Several years ago, I would hit quite a few balls before a round, but found that my swing would start to go away over the last few holes so I cut way back.  Most of the time my wife will get a small bucket and I will hit maybe 10 at the most.  If it's a course that I am not familiar with, I do it mainly to feel turf interaction with irons.  Might hit 1-2 drivers.  So I don't look at how I hit the ball, because I always play it straight.  If it fades or draws a little, not a big deal.

 

I spend most of my time on the putting green.  I know, I know... Broadie says that on the green, I am not that much different that a 100 shooter, so I should spend more time on the range     I don't think I buy all of that; at least not for me.  A nice round can easily become a terrible round if I don't get up and down which means good putting.

 

During a tournament (which isn't that often), I do not drink on the course, except water of course.  If it's a fun round, but the score is not all that good, I will start drinking at the turn.  Can't hurt; might help.  

 

With that said...  I appreciate jmiller's suggestions to help relieve stress and get my game focused before the round.  Too many times I feel rushed and don't have a specific game plan, probably from all my years of "winging' it"

[revkev]

Most of his points are spot on and I normally say it - that one about slowing down to relief stress took me forever to figure out.  I do it from the moment I get out of the car at a tournament - he does it even sooner than that.  I try to walk slower, breath slower, do everything slower because no doubt nerves will cause me to speed up.

[JMiller]

I wasn't even going to make another post.

 

However, I didn't want to leave on a bad taste. I'm moving onto bigger and better things, maybe you have read my status update, maybe you haven't.

 

I'm not an ignorant person, I have educated myself and try to educate other so I can help them improve. I try to give references to my thoughts for the underlying ideas. Part of me hopes that people will learn to educate themselves and learn more about themselves as a Player.

 

I'm not an agent person, I wasn't intending in the past 3 months to write anything that was directed towards anyone only myself. I gave people the benefit of the doubt that they are smart enough to take things they like about the mental game and my PSR and toss out the crap they don't.

 

I hope that my writing and thoughts on things the past 3 months of posting all a little more often has helped someone. For anyone that wants to bounce something off of me, you can feel free to contact me via PM here at MGS, PutterTalk or the "Other" site. My username is the same on all three websites.

 

I'm branching out to increase my knowledge and hopefully keep improvising my game. I wish the best for everyone and hope more of you make it to single digit handicaps and keep getting better:

 

Best Regards,

JM