Mental Game Help

[numberonecoog]

I feel like i have a kind of odd situation going on with my game.

 

When I went out this last time I went out as a single after work. I was playing ok when I caught a group in front of me. They offered to let me play through. I was playing the tees behind them and out drove all of them. My approach stuck 15 feet from the cup. 2 putted for a par. Having no one around me I proceeded to triple the next hole. That was hole 8. I par'd the short par 5 9th

 

Fast forward to the back 9. I was hitting it ok. When I caught another group on 11, I started striping it again. Then on 16 we decided to play longest drive for some cash. I hit one of the best drives of my life. We did the same on 18 and again another amazing drive.

 

What gives? How can I take that mentality to every shot. Any ideas? 

[Kenny B]

Some people play well when the pressure is on, like you did when you played through the first group.  You have an audience.  Count yourself lucky!  Other people never play well going through another group.  They try to rush to get out of the way and don't focus on their shots; get sloppy.  I played at a CC a few weeks ago about 100 miles up the valley, and a couple of members caught up to our foursome.  We asked it they wanted to play through, and we were told that they never play well doing that, so they just skipped the hole!  

 

Clearly you play better when you think something is "on the line".  Good for you!  When you play alone, there is no challenge to make you focus.  If you make a bad shot, you don't lose anything whether it be cash or image.  So, you either have to make a game of it with yourself, or resolve to spend your alone time just practicing shots on the course; after all, you can't post your score playing alone anymore anyway.  Play against yourself and put something that you don't want to do "on the line".  Also, make a game of it; try playing two balls on every shot, and then play from the worst one.  You need a challenge.  Good job though!  Keep it up, and "You are just going to have to keep beating yourself."  

[sp0rtsfan86]

Some people play well when the pressure is on, like you did when you played through the first group.  You have an audience.  Count yourself lucky!  Other people never play well going through another group.  They try to rush to get out of the way and don't focus on their shots; get sloppy.  I played at a CC a few weeks ago about 100 miles up the valley, and a couple of members caught up to our foursome.  We asked it they wanted to play through, and we were told that they never play well doing that, so they just skipped the hole!  

 

Clearly you play better when you think something is "on the line".  Good for you!  When you play alone, there is no challenge to make you focus.  If you make a bad shot, you don't lose anything whether it be cash or image.  So, you either have to make a game of it with yourself, or resolve to spend your alone time just practicing shots on the course; after all, you can't post your score playing alone anymore anyway.  Play against yourself and put something that you don't want to do "on the line".  Also, make a game of it; try playing two balls on every shot, and then play from the worst one.  You need a challenge.  Good job though!  Keep it up, and "You are just going to have to keep beating yourself."  

This. Challenge yourself. Set a goal and go for it. The pressure suits you. For me that was the case when putting. I had 30 foot putts with a guy 15 foot away and two putted all of them in one tournament in sudden death. Sometimes it just comes down to giving yourself the feeling of the pressure is on.

[KrudlerAce]

I agree with the first two comments, but also think you might concentrate a bit more and commit to a better golf swing when people are watching. Perhaps you're conscious of what your golf swing looks like in front of other people and really focus on making a nice, smooth golf swing. 

 

Either way, I think you may have found the key to playing your best golf. You just need to tap into that when you are playing on your own.

 

All the best.

[Gogolf]

It helps me too when there's some money on the line. 

 

I noticed that my sequencing changes unconsciously when there's pressure. My heart starts to beat faster and the pace of my swing speeds up. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's a bad thing, but I noticed that when I can get my pace into the same rhythm that I was practicing at the driving range, that's when I start to play consistency under pressure.

[Metaylo5]

I'm having difficulty with my irons because they no longer feel comfortable as I approach my down swing & I then close the club face as I hit the ball. Anyone experienced similar feeling and was able to fix it or have opinion?

[tony@CIC]

I agree with the first two comments, but also think you might concentrate a bit more and commit to a better golf swing when people are watching. Perhaps you're conscious of what your golf swing looks like in front of other people and really focus on making a nice, smooth golf swing.

 

Either way, I think you may have found the key to playing your best golf. You just need to tap into that when you are playing on your own.

 

All the best.

Funny you should say that. My best shots are when a group tells me to play through and then they watch me. On the other hand my wife hates it and has her worst shot - same scenario.

 

 

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[Liberty Ball Markers]

I think you just concentrate (or focus) more when others are around. I do the same thing.

 

I can focus like that alone too. My issue is when I'm with the old group of buddies (who I should be most relaxed with) - all the goofing around completely kills my concentration!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy