Do you tell yourself the big lie?

[cnosil]

4 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

A couple of them did not pay off and both cost me a stroke.

In situations like this, one is not lying to themselves saying their score would likely have been better not taking on the risky shots.  As with so many things, the article is not a universal truth.

 I don’t think the article is about to taking risky shots; it is about thinking you should have played better than you did and thinking those risky shots should always pay off and that you should make every 3 footer..  

as for your round, You simply chose to take shots that would more likely result in higher scores   iF you think the score would have been better not taking the risky shot it should even be a consideration to try the risky shot.  

[fixyurdivot]

16 minutes ago, cnosil said:

 I don’t think the article is about to taking risky shots; it is about thinking you should have played better than you did and thinking those risky shots should always pay off and that you should make every 3 footer..  

as for your round, You simply chose to take shots that would more likely result in higher scores   iF you think the score would have been better not taking the risky shot it should even be a consideration to try the risky shot.  

You are still missing my point.  We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

[Golf2Much]

I think a couple of different applications of expectations come to mind.   First would be the harsh realization that statistically you should only shoot your handicap once every four or five rounds.  Your handicap is intended to represent what you could score, not what you will score.  Expecting you'll always shoot your handicap starts you down a path of golf disappointment!  And what fun is that?

I totally agree with comments about knowing your game, playing to your strengths and minimizing your weaknesses.  If you look at my current 11.7 index, you can tell I'm not the best golfer out here.  I'm realistic with what I can and cannot effectively do.  However, when faced with a situation that's consistent with one of my strengths, I expect I'm going to execute the shot and reap the rewards.  History says I hit over 70% of my fairways so when I step up to the tee, I expect I'll be in the short grass.  When I'm short of the green (as I usually am) and I'm chipping the ball, history says I get up and down for par 4.5 times per round.  So, I expect I'll get up and down on a regular basis.  Yes, there's disappointment when I don't execute, but having confidence when I step up to the shot is often half the battle.

Finally, I think there's a lot to be said about never giving up.   I play with too many people when they make a mistake (a ball out of play, miss a short putt, etc.) they let it affect them for the next three or four holes.  That's especially true with some of them who have the skill and capability of easily recovering from their miscues.  Rather than wallowing in self-pity or doubt, my focus is how do I put myself in the best position to try and recover.  Though I'm ecstatic over my up and down for pars, I equally embrace the up and downs for bogeys.  Those bogeys could have been much worse.  Rather than feeling down about a physical or mental mistake, you have to learn to let it go, do what you can do and rely on the capabilities you have.   

I was partnered with a single digit handicap friend who is his own worst enemy if he hits one bad shot.  As we approached a tough driving hole with water all the way down on the left and OB on the right.  I could see the growing tension as he walked to the tee and knew if he missed the shot, he'd be done for the rest of the match.  So, I reached into my bag, pulled out a ball and told him to throw it into the pond.  His expression was classic, but he did what he was told.  As he turned back I said "now that you put one in the water, don't worry about it and drive the ball in the fairway!"   He laughed and proceeded to stripe one down the middle!   

[Javs]

34 minutes ago, Golf2Much said:

I think a couple of different applications of expectations come to mind.   First would be the harsh realization that statistically you should only shoot your handicap once every four or five rounds.  Your handicap is intended to represent what you could score, not what you will score.  Expecting you'll always shoot your handicap starts you down a path of golf disappointment!  And what fun is that?

I totally agree with comments about knowing your game, playing to your strengths and minimizing your weaknesses.  If you look at my current 11.7 index, you can tell I'm not the best golfer out here.  I'm realistic with what I can and cannot effectively do.  However, when faced with a situation that's consistent with one of my strengths, I expect I'm going to execute the shot and reap the rewards.  History says I hit over 70% of my fairways so when I step up to the tee, I expect I'll be in the short grass.  When I'm short of the green (as I usually am) and I'm chipping the ball, history says I get up and down for par 4.5 times per round.  So, I expect I'll get up and down on a regular basis.  Yes, there's disappointment when I don't execute, but having confidence when I step up to the shot is often half the battle.

Finally, I think there's a lot to be said about never giving up.   I play with too many people when they make a mistake (a ball out of play, miss a short putt, etc.) they let it affect them for the next three or four holes.  That's especially true with some of them who have the skill and capability of easily recovering from their miscues.  Rather than wallowing in self-pity or doubt, my focus is how do I put myself in the best position to try and recover.  Though I'm ecstatic over my up and down for pars, I equally embrace the up and downs for bogeys.  Those bogeys could have been much worse.  Rather than feeling down about a physical or mental mistake, you have to learn to let it go, do what you can do and rely on the capabilities you have.   

I was partnered with a single digit handicap friend who is his own worst enemy if he hits one bad shot.  As we approached a tough driving hole with water all the way down on the left and OB on the right.  I could see the growing tension as he walked to the tee and knew if he missed the shot, he'd be done for the rest of the match.  So, I reached into my bag, pulled out a ball and told him to throw it into the pond.  His expression was classic, but he did what he was told.  As he turned back I said "now that you put one in the water, don't worry about it and drive the ball in the fairway!"   He laughed and proceeded to stripe one down the middle!   

Love that answer and having your buddy sacrifice one to the golf Gods! Ha ha 

[Rob Person]

My biggest enemy is.... wait for it..... ME!

I NEVER go into a round with any expectations.  Simple, right?  Wrong!

I've learned to mostly abolish my negative shots and it's impact on the next shot.  Could I have hit it better? different? Sure, but you can't get it back.

One of my issues used to be thinking I could pull off that hero shot... every time!

Sure, I want to do better, and yes I want that amazing shot that gives me a chance at having a great score for that hole. 

One thing about being part of MGS is that I read and absorb alot of different things that have improved my game. It's as much mental as it is physical,  if not, more!

[Stuka44]

Just want to get my two cents in on this one.

I believe the first example  if someone is regularly shooting 94, and for no reason at all believe they should make better contact, and not hit bad shots, and somehow shoot 85 nine strokes better, this is deluding ones self, and living in a fantasy world, not just lying.  To just BLINDLY state, and believe that "ONE SHOULD BE BETTER", with no factual  basis for how often one does anything in the game of golf, is lying to oneself.

I however disagree with notion that the evaluation by a 10-12 handicap after their round, and looking over their stats, and seeing that they only got up and down 20% of the time, when their average is 40% of the time, and concluding that this could have been a couple strokes better, had I just met my average up/down percentage is "telling oneself a lie".  Sure the score is what it is, and I accept that.   I don't believe that believing I could have been better, knowing where I gave up a couple strokes compared to average performance, and utilizing this as a basis for what to continue to practice on, to hopefully improve the average performance percentage overall for all statistical categories one keeps. I don't believe this is an impediment to improvement. I think its the opposite.  Its evaluating ones round based on(ONES OWN) average up/downs, GIR, one putt %(especially at less than 8 feet), based on 250 rounds of entered data.  I think this is the essence of how one goes about improvement.

 

[jolter1]

When I was younger and playing competively or money games with the guys, sure I always told myself I could have shot 4-5 shots better than what my score was. Now I can always look back after a round and see where I might have played a hole differently, especially when on vacation or golf trip, but I know that I can shoot anywhere from the mid-70's to high 80's on any given course and any given time with my age and body.

[Shifty]

lol, the big lie keeps me coming back cause I know I can do better 

[MaxEntropy]

On 8/2/2024 at 9:00 PM, cnosil said:

Dispersion depths can be deep:  https://hackmotion.com/shot-dispersion-in-golf/    Best to pick the middle and know that some will be short and some will be long.  

 

I agree with this. The first time I broke 80 was a strange course that didn't have flags color-coded for F/M/B and you could not see the surface of the green on a lot of shots, so I picked the middle number with good success. I believe course management also comes into play. For example, many of the holes on our league course are death (or close to it) if you are long. Short is a much better option. I feel like I have to consider "if I hit it very solid" in my math, otherwise I can be (and have been) in loads of trouble.

[Prodigal Duffer]

Great points, @Golf2Much. I like the idea of the anti-cap. Knowing the upper limits of one's game might help manage self-assessment.

I don't think I'm better than my bad scores (or at least I hope I don't). I know my potential is better, but a bad day drives me to keep working at the things that kept me from making the kinds of shots I know I can make.

 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I enjoyed reading the article. I will say that anyone can look back at their round and see where they left some meat on the table. Its not going to change the result. It's not the big lie. But sometimes it helps you on the next round. I'll say to myself "last time I was here I did this I should club up or down whichever the case. It's more about learning from your mistakes. 

I can honestly say I USED to get lazy. I would look at the course markers and say I'm between the 150 and 100 and pull a 125 club. I didn't always take into consideration pin location. We have small greens. Just a "yup thats good enough". I'd hit the green and I could be 5 feet or 35 feet from the pin. My scores were still good enough. Nobody would complain about even par right. Good enough.

Well my course decided to remove all the yardage poles without telling anyone. I'm out there , hit a decent drive and ? No markers. Pulled out my laser range finder, got the exact distance and stuck the pin. I continued to play very well. I know my distances and now I knew the actual distance to the pin. That turned out to be my low round of 63. I learned my lesson and what I am capable of. My rounds since have still been in the 60's. Lets see how tomorrow goes. No pressure it's not going to change my life any. Just do the best I can on that day with the conditions Mother Nature gave me.

I used to use the range finder all the time when the course was new to me but over time just got lazy and the irons I was using at the time were not helping me any. So I was just going through the motions. 

I also learned years ago to not take hero shots. Play smart golf. That lowered my scores. We are all going to hit bad shots. It's how we handle it and recover from it. If you see me hit a bad shot its usually followed by a chuckle. I laugh it off and focus on the next shot. I've hit a great drive and chunked a pitch. Then still chipped in for birdie. If I let that chunk get to me it could have been a bogey.