The Mental Snowball

[Max Diachenko]

Hi Everyone, 

I wanted to first start by introducing myself. My name is Max and I've been playing golf for about a year and half. I'm a high handicapper who gets at least 9 holes in and a range session once a week. Got into this addicting sport and now am in a competition with my friends based off of Mike and Eli's ChasingScratch podcast for those who are familiar. Every two weeks we have to play 18 and call out our round that counts before we tee off. Lowest net score wins.

 

I wanted to write this post to ask the community about tips for the mental game and staying relaxed through 18 holes. A few weeks ago, I played a local course that counted for my competitive round with my friends as described above. So mentally I was stressed because I needed to score to stay in this competition. I started off playing bogey golf which for me as a high handicapper is great! Fourth hole par 5 turned into what I like to call the "mental snowball". I dropped a quad bogey on that hole. Part of my stress comes from the fact that we only had three golfers in our group playing at a respectable pace, however behind us were two seasoned golfers who were flying through the course. Normally I would let them play through but there was a group of 4 in front of us playing slow, so nothing we could really do. But I felt the pressure more and more every time I turned around to see them waiting. Bad shot after bad shot compiled on one another and I couldn't find the club face to the point where I was doing flop shots on the fairway haha. Look I said I was addicted but I didn't say I was good. Mistakes compiled until we get up to the 18th hole and I do not care anymore. I don't care about my score, and I figured I had the lowest net score for my competition with my friends. I proceed to hit the purest 3 wood ever on course with a pretty little fade on a dog leg right downhill par 4. Both other players in my group hit perfect tee shots and the two players that were waiting behind us start clapping it up and tell us "way to finish strong boys". I responded with a quick " sorry it took us 18 holes to learn how to play this game". The guys didn't seem too upset that we were slower than them at the end of the day. I continued on to hit a great wedge shot that left me with 10 feet for birdie. Barely miss on the right edge and tap in for par. Of course, finishing with a par is the gold at the end of the rainbow that keeps me coming back. 

 

My question after this short story is what are your tips for mental game while playing a competitive round? After having two or three triple bogeys in a row how do you bring yourself back in and relax your swing? Would love any tips! 

[chisag]

54 minutes ago, Max Diachenko said:

My question after this short story is what are your tips for mental game while playing a competitive round? After having two or three triple bogeys in a row how do you bring yourself back in and relax your swing? Would love any tips! 

 

... While this is true for every level of play, it is particularly relevant to new golfers and high index players. Focus on the execution and not the results. Score at your level is irrelevant other than helping you keep track of your progress. What you should be doing is just hit some good shots. Put those in the memory bank and hopefully you start adding more good shots during your round. Even if it is only one really good shot, your goal will be to hit 2 really good shots. Then 3, etc, etc. 

... 2/3 triple bogies in a row are again irrelevant unless you are making mental mistakes like trying to do too much. It is a cliche' for a reason but take it one stroke at a time. Never ever "make up for a bad shot" and instead make the best play with the shot you have. If you hit a bad drive, don't take a 3 wood and try to put it on the green. After a bad drive on a 395yd hole, just hit a solid shot back in play and that could be a hybrid or an iron to the fairway short of the green. Attempting to hit a 3 wood from your max distance when your chances of making it to the green are very slim, is how things start to snowball. 





 

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, Max Diachenko said:

My question after this short story is what are your tips for mental game while playing a competitive round? After having two or three triple bogeys in a row how do you bring yourself back in and relax your swing? Would love any tips! 

I would suggest doing some research on expectation management and stroke gained for your handicap level.    

IMO, Keeping mental focus is probably on of the most difficult parts of the game.  Even the professionals struggle to keep mental focus for every shot over 18 holes.  You have to figure out how to forget all the past shots, they are in the past, and focus on the shot in front of you and what you need to do and can accomplish at a high percentage rate.   

How do you relax in other situations you consider to be stressful?

 

[Kenny B]

Welcome to the forums Max!  Great points above by Sam and Chris.  It’s hard to not focus on score in the game, but not doing so helps you improve.  My best rounds are when I don’t record my score; my wife does that for me!!  Chris mentioned expectation management; it is not expected that a 28 hcp would make a bunch of pars.  We tend to focus on par because that is what’s listed on the scorecard; and when we make a bad shot, we naturally want to “get that stroke back”.  Sometimes pros pull it off, but we don’t have their skills to improve our chances.  

Rather than focusing on par on the scorecard, focus on what your NET par is on each hole.  As a 28 you get a stroke on every hole + another stroke on the 10 hardest holes listed on the scorecard.  So, par for you is Bogey on 8 easiest holes and Double Bogey on 10 hardest holes.  Before you begin a round, change the “Par” for each hole on the scorecard to your NET par.  Now when you make a bad shot, get the ball back into a good position where you have a chance at Bogey or Double.  Your focus should be on a quality shot and let the score just happen; don’t force it.  Do this and your scores will come down; don’t forget to adjust your NET pars when they do!!  Good luck!