One shot at a time didnt work for me during a tournament that I won.....here's my alternative

[El Chivo]

I have no absolutes after finally learning how to win.  

Biggest change for me was my mind.  I didnt wake up thinking about score.  Or how many birdies or what holes to take advantage of....BECAUSE I've never seen it before in my life! 

I tried to play spontaneously.....if a palm or a spot in the fairway caught my attention I tried to feel with my hands and mind where I needed to hit it. 

I had a tremendous level of awareness but nothing at all like a zone.....I WAS STILL THINKING OVER EVERY SHOT.

 

I'm curious about what you guys that perform at a high level use. That is different than 'one shot at a time.'

[BMart519]

I'm confused as to how playing spontaneously is not playing 1 shot at a time, especially if you were thinking of a target score or holes to attack. It seems like what you describe is very much about being in the moment and playing 1 shot at a time to a specific target. 

[heavygolffeels]

Yeah. Sounds like you were thinking one shot at a time. No overall game plan to conquer the course. Not predetermining anything and getting frustrated when it didnt go to plan. Just stepping to the shot, looking over the surroundings, picking your play, committing to it, and then striking the ball to the best of your abilities (hopefully).

[El Chivo]

20 hours ago, scooterhd2 said:

Yeah. Sounds like you were thinking one shot at a time. No overall game plan to conquer the course. Not predetermining anything and getting frustrated when it didnt go to plan. Just stepping to the shot, looking over the surroundings, picking your play, committing to it, and then striking the ball to the best of your abilities (hopefully).

I would say that the term "one shot at a time"  vs "spontaneous" is a new spin on it.  

One shot at a time vs. One hole at a time.  

I saw the hole from the green back to the tee....I wanted to paint what I wanted to score.... and yes probably the most important part was removing any emotions from the outocome. 

I wanted to make the most beautiful/fundamentally sound swing I could for each shot.  I have two swing thoughts per type of shot required(putt/chip/pitch/knockdown/full). Hard to describe I could only find maybe two books that talk about this....most golf psychology books are full of anecdotes but none delve into the actual routines.

[El Chivo]

On 6/10/2020 at 11:39 AM, BMart519 said:

I'm confused as to how playing spontaneously is not playing 1 shot at a time, especially if you were thinking of a target score or holes to attack. It seems like what you describe is very much about being in the moment and playing 1 shot at a time to a specific target. 

Spontaneously for me: meant to pick targets/swings/clubs based on as much info as I could process in order to not allow any other thoughts in there. 

The term 1 shot placed too much importance on a single shot for me. 

Maybe 1 shot at a time leaves out too much.  For me it was drink in the experience.

Example: Game changer mentally. I had 220 into a par 5 over a creek into a kidney shaped green, ball below my feet, not the greatest of lies in the fairway probably 90/100, meaning I needed to hit a squeeze cut about a ball back of normal, just enough to compress it a little bit more, wind was blowing right to left, right before pulling the club back I thought IF i hit it at 85% of max it will easily get there and wont go over because its only 210 to the front and will release a bit but not so much that it will roll thru since my fade was being knocked down a touch since the yardage played closer to 235, which is my stock 2 hybird anyway. 

(this all took place within 15-20 seconds before standing over the shot). 

 

Very WOO WOO but its probably why most dont talk about it so openly.

[El Chivo]

On 6/10/2020 at 11:39 AM, BMart519 said:

I'm confused as to how playing spontaneously is not playing 1 shot at a time, especially if you were thinking of a target score or holes to attack. It seems like what you describe is very much about being in the moment and playing 1 shot at a time to a specific target. 

If I play 1 shot at a time it sees to make me more concerned about execution that about playing conditions....not sure if that clarifies it a bit. 

[cnosil]

Spontaneously for me: meant to pick targets/swings/clubs based on as much info as I could process in order to not allow any other thoughts in there. 
The term 1 shot placed too much importance on a single shot for me. 
Maybe 1 shot at a time leaves out too much.  For me it was drink in the experience.
Example: Game changer mentally. I had 220 into a par 5 over a creek into a kidney shaped green, ball below my feet, not the greatest of lies in the fairway probably 90/100, meaning I needed to hit a squeeze cut about a ball back of normal, just enough to compress it a little bit more, wind was blowing right to left, right before pulling the club back I thought IF i hit it at 85% of max it will easily get there and wont go over because its only 210 to the front and will release a bit but not so much that it will roll thru since my fade was being knocked down a touch since the yardage played closer to 235, which is my stock 2 hybird anyway. 
(this all took place within 15-20 seconds before standing over the shot). 
 
Very WOO WOO but its probably why most dont talk about it so openly.

Sounds pretty much like one shot at a time to me. If it were “spontaneous” you wouldn’t do that analysis in you head, you would just grab a club and hit it.

Not questioning what you are doing since that basically how I assess my shot; I am building a plan for that shot.

[El Chivo]

11 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Sounds pretty much like one shot at a time to me. If it were “spontaneous” you wouldn’t do that analysis in you head, you would just grab a club and hit it.

Not questioning what you are doing since that basically how I assess my shot; I am building a plan for that shot.

Building a plan implies preplanning....this isnt that. but agree to disagree.

[THEZIPR23]

What you have described is the essence of one shot at a time. It may be your interpretation of it or what you need to do to convince yourself to do it. However every post you have made on this thread is one shot at a time. 

[DaveP043]

19 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Not questioning what you are doing since that basically how I assess my shot; I am building a plan for that shot.

 

7 minutes ago, El Chivo said:

Building a plan implies preplanning....this isnt that. but agree to disagree.

I think you're saying the same thing in different ways.  You make a decision on each shot based on an evaluation of the various conditions, layout, hazards and problems, weather, lie, etc.,  combined with your own patterns and abilities.  The result of that decision is a club selection, an intended direction and shot shape.  Call it a plan or not, its a decision.  Then you attempt to make the shot that you've decided you want to try.

[CarlH]

Whatever you want to call it, congratulations on your win!

[El Chivo]

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

 

I think you're saying the same thing in different ways.  You make a decision on each shot based on an evaluation of the various conditions, layout, hazards and problems, weather, lie, etc.,  combined with your own patterns and abilities.  The result of that decision is a club selection, an intended direction and shot shape.  Call it a plan or not, its a decision.  Then you attempt to make the shot that you've decided you want to try.

Yes....in the end its not so much what you call it...its the process right?

[El Chivo]

48 minutes ago, CarlH said:

Whatever you want to call it, congratulations on your win!

Yes. And yet I've learned much more about myself in defeat....so true what they say.