A golfer I know...

[AmandaJR]

Joined me yesterday and again on the course today - me :whoo:

It's been a rough few weeks and hit rock bottom confidence-wise. Had a lesson on Tuesday and my coach refused to talk technical stuff, video my swing etc etc. Instead he worked on what was between my ears and, whilst I doubted him for the first time ever, the results have day by day been very surprising and to enjoy the game again feels great.

Confidence is still fragile and not putting it to the test in the first medal of the year next weekend but just happy to feel more positive about the season ahead and maybe all my hard work through the winter hasn't suddenly been in vain.

Onwards :clap:

 

[Heidi]

yipeeee! keep on with the 'not thinking' method of playing golf!!

 

[anotherdouble]

Stay positive. What would you say to a runner who you might be training and they started to lose their confidence as to whether they could do the distance. All in the mind. You cannot become a bad golfer after 2 or 3 indifferent rounds. Stay focused.

 

[bigslice]

its defo your head that messes up, played rubbish last weekend. went out for nine holes with not a care in the world. concentrated on each shot but inbetween was taking in the scenery, counting the swans 14 and twenty ducks and two geese (i think canadian) you getting im not really concentrating golf wise. shot level par scratch job done.

 

[AmandaJR]

yipeeee! keep on with the 'not thinking' method of playing golf!!

It's working! I almost begged to be told what was wrong at the top of my backswing but nope he wasn't gonna spill the beans!

Stay positive. What would you say to a runner who you might be training and they started to lose their confidence as to whether they could do the distance. All in the mind. You cannot become a bad golfer after 2 or 3 indifferent rounds. Stay focused.

Thing is I took a bad run on the chin as there was nothing technical wrong rather than poor prep, tired, dehydrated etc and all things within my power to address. Need to think that way about golf too I guess.

its defo your head that messes up, played rubbish last weekend. went out for nine holes with not a care in the world. concentrated on each shot but inbetween was taking in the scenery, counting the swans 14 and twenty ducks and two geese (i think canadian) you getting im not really concentrating golf wise. shot level par scratch job done.

Awesome. What is this life so full of care....and all that :thup:

 

[goldenbare]

I know the feeling Amanda, I've been hacking around all winter and thought my new pings would never work. Haven't broken 85 on our par 68 for months.

I visited another course today with a mate as I've had the week off and shot a 79 on a par 70. (including an 8 on a par 5). Smoother greens reminded me that I can putt in the right conditions.

What will happen though in the comp on my own course tomorrow though? I think its a question of knowing where the demons are on the home course though and carrying many years of baggage.

As you say its all between the ears

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I know some of it was feeling crap yesterday but I really wasn't swinging the club well at Woburn or at the range in the last few sessions. Prior to that I was hitting it great but not transferring it to the course. Still feel rubbish and unsure whether to go out with the usual suspects in the morning and chop it or have a lie in and work on it later. Want to play and see if its just a fatigue/illness thing as I seemed to find a way to get it round the Marquess and finished 3rd.

 

[DaveM]

Some people do overthink the golf swing. When really its just 2 turns and a swish. What I'm saying is just relax and let it happen. You seem to have all the parts but are over thinking. Just let it happen don't think on the course.

 

[Rob McBride]

27 previous years in the military has taught me that strengths come from good training and the development of muscle memory. The ability to turn effect to result comes from being able to apply training to actual, and also being able to accept advice in the face of madness and apply it anyway - wisdom for some people. I have had 3 lessons for the same issue over the last year with the same pro, and for the 3 times I have seen him he has tried 3 diffferent thoughts to change the effect. It is only with the last lesson that I could actually feel what he was asking me to do. I dropped 2 shots next comp - was that him or me? clearly me, I now understand the journey. Decision making is now my weak point!

 

[JustOne]

Amanda, you've had some great games and results recently, it's hard to live up to that standard all the time and often you need a break, a change of scenery, format or just a different approach for a while... it's hard to maintain a good spell without burning out... just look at any pro golfer who had a great year and then didn't live up to it the entire next year.

The sun is out... work on your tan :thup:

 

[Mr_T]

its defo your head that messes up, played rubbish last weekend. went out for nine holes with not a care in the world. concentrated on each shot but inbetween was taking in the scenery, counting the swans 14 and twenty ducks and two geese (i think canadian) you getting im not really concentrating golf wise. shot level par scratch job done.

This is what makes the pros so good, not just their swings but the ability to switch on and off inbetween shots, no one can concentrate for 3-4 hours and consistently get good scores, you need to be concentrating when your setting up and playing your shot, but apart from that minute or so just enjoy the course for its natural beauty and if your with friends try and have some banter

Gone a bit off topic sorry, but well done Amanda as they say in football, form is temporary, class is permanent

 

[SocketRocket]

This is a very interesting topic. Most golfers know that within themselves there is someone that has the ability to put together a good game. They also know that there is also a person that can make erratic golf shots.

Is this a mental or physical issue? The likes of Bob Rotella will say it's mental, the likes of Hank Hanley will say it's physical.

I tend to think the two aspects are inter related, the subconcious mind has a bearing on things like tempo and rhythm. The conscious mind has more of a bearing on things like, setup, swing mechanics and course management.

I find it is important to have a number of 'Go To' shots that can get you on track when the mental side is lagging.

 

[AmandaJR]

Thanks guys. Looking back I guess I was heading for a bit of burn out as playing a lot of golf with intensive lessons and practice. Whilst it all came together nicely I probably started to strive too hard and wasn't in a good place to handle disappointment. Played a nice social game today and whilst my game is still relatively on the ropes it didn't actually feel that way as I was way more relaxed. There's even a part of me now relishing the challenge to get it back to top form again rather than resenting where I am right now. I also stood over a few shots today with that sense of inner "nothingness" in the confident knowledge I knew what to do and would execute it...

Onwards - meantime my current reading is "The Inner Game" :thup: