Can't transfer range calmness to course

[Soane]

As posted yesterday I had a shocker so it was off to the range to try and fathom out what was going in my pea-sized brain. Got talking to the Pro about maybe an MOT lesson, showed him my grip and swing and lo and behold - I was striking the ball beautifully. He says just put it all down to experience and crack on with it (I've played 2 comps with his brother so things do get back to him). He says I have the 'tools' to do the job, it's down to me at the end of the day. I've only been a member at the club for 6 months, played in about 7 comps and can count the people I know on half of one hand, so I tend to suffer a little from nerves. Any advice, apart from buckets of Valium, would be gratefully soaked-up.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Why not try one of the Bob Rotella books. It does keep going over the same points but htere is some good stuff in there about patience, expectations, pre-shot routines etc. Might be a good starting point. Do you have a pre-shot routine at the moment and do you stick to it

 

[Soane]

I suppose I have some sort of pre-shot routine but the more I think about it the less structured it is. I suppose it could be broken down into: 1)Oh my God which tee do I use, 2)don't aim for the pin, anything within 30ft is OK, 3)I've got 3 pairs of eyes boreing their way into my skull, don't screw up, 4)did I leave the iron on? Seriously, I think I'm pretty focused on anything but the shot, that's where I need to try and get a grip (I put the effort into concentrating on my shot that Uri Geller does into bending spoons!)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think you need to have something but is has to feel natural and not forced. The idea is that the pre-shot routine is your trigger to focus on the shot and trust your club selection and swing and is supposed to help you keep relaxed. Some are very simple (one practice swing, address and go) others are a little longer. Its up to you to find something that works for you as it is a personal thing

 

[Soane]

I suppose I also feel 'pressured' into taking my shot, not intentionaly by anyone but myself. I've been playing golf for a little over a year, had no interest in it prior to this, was very fortunate enough to get a good set of clubs and now I'm playing a game of which I know nothing and everyone else seems to know everything! I honestly try to play to my own game, but the thought that I'm holding people up really gets to me. When I hit a good drive or a good recovery shot, I change in an instant to a more calm person, screw-up and the heads back down.

 

[kid2]

Evening Soane.
I had this very problem at the start and still do at times and one day i got talking to my pro his advice was to give up 1 sunday morning and just grab a warm cuppa and sit and watch everyone that plays off the first tee for a few hours.... You'll be very surprised at the amount of golfers that mess up single figure and double figure alike... One thing that stuck in my mind was and it goes for everything in life really "No matter how good or how mediocre you are there will always be someone better BUT there will always be someone worse than you also.

 

[Soane]

Kid2 I couldn't agree with you more. The guys I've played with, with the exception of one, have all hit duff tee shots and shots during the round. I whole-heartedly agree with you that there is always someone worse than me but at the moment that someone IS me. I think once I get the hang of playing 'their' game I'll settle down - I know how to hit a ball, I'm fairly accurate so I need a little patience with myself. Saying that this weather isn't helping.

 

[kid2]

You'll get there trust me.
I struggled for months in front of strangers with a very bad slice...Im not one for letting things get the better of me ill persevere until iv cracked it.i cant afford lessons...Anyway this slice to say the least was very embarrassing to the point where i could here the people i played with laughing.... I struggled for a bit , lost faith in my game , lost faith in drivers and through hard work and a little education through this magazine i realised that i had been gripping the club too weak.A little work and a change of driver and im now out driving my playing partners on average by 40 yards......
Who's laughing now!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to be honest and say its absolutely nothing to do whatsoever about anyone elses game and "fitting in". Providing you are not holding the course up by looking for balls (that what provisionals and calling groups through is for) then when its your turn to play its your time. Take as long (within reason) as you feel you need to play the shot. Use the time others are taking to play theirs to decide on your shot and club so that when its your turn you can start your pre-shot routine and play at your pace

If you are getting sarcastic comments when you hit bad shots or pressurised because of them you need to nip it in the bud and explain how its not helping and is actually spoiling your enjoyment (or look for someone more patient to play with)

 

[USER1999]

At least one player in any 4 ball will make a hash of it, just make sure it isn't you. I have stood by the first tee in medal play for an hour, and it is amazing how many rounds are effectively over on the first tee.

 

[EaseNgrace]

The biggest change in my game has been keeping my chin up after a bad shot or a bad hole. I had trouble on the 1st hole, 4 weeks running (3 doubles and a triple) which doesn't get the round off to the best start, but as soon as your head goes down so does the round. I have shrugged it off every time, had a little laugh at myself and carried on with a run of pars. When I got the triple bogey on the 1st, I went out in 41, then I doubled the 10th and 11th and came in in 41. Which was overall a good round for me despite a couple of hiccups.

 

[Fyldewhite]

This may sound strange but what you need to do is transfer the pressure of the course to the range. Anybody can stand there hitting ball after ball and sooner or later you get in the groove and they start going quite well. Problem is, when on the course you only have one chance, 14 drives each at least 15 minutes apart over 4 hours for example.

Try some practice routines that re-create the on-course pressure and thought process to some degree rather than just hitting balls. Select a target, go through your full pre-shot routine and hit the shot. Then do the same with (say) a 7 iron. Hit a long iron off a tee and imagine a long par 3 etc. By doing this you will build confidence in your ability to hit shots in a similar way to how you do in a real round.

 

[jeffc]

Fyledwhite makes a good point, I often mentally play the holes from my course on the range, driver then utility then gap wedge for example for a par 5, or a 4/5 iron to that long par 3 aiming at a specific target.

One simple tip I use on the first hole is to mark my ball with a black spot and tee it up so this is at the back of the ball, then ALL I think about is relaxing and hitting the spot.(ligning up correctly first of course)

 

[RichE]

I agree with HomerJSimpson on the Rotella books. "Golf is not a game of perfect" is a good read and provides advice on how to relax yourself and focus on the useful things when playing. Particulary appropriate discussion on how we build up our main game of golf at the weekend and then batter ourselves if we don't play well.
I've suffered a 3 month bout of the shanks, duffed shots from the middle of the fairway and i'm a single figure player. It's not great at the time but it can happen to anyone.
Personally, i'd just try and relax and accept your not always going to hit it perfect - but you'll always aspire to. Breathing out before you hit a ball helps relax but you just need to find a routine that works and stick to it.

 

[Soane]

All excellent advice gratefully received, thanks guys.

 

[JustOne]

Evening Soane.
I had this very problem at the start and still do at times and one day i got talking to my pro his advice was to give up 1 sunday morning and just grab a warm cuppa and sit and watch everyone that plays off the first tee for a few hours.... You'll be very surprised at the amount of golfers that mess up single figure and double figure alike

That's a brilliant piece of advice. Not only does it prove that imperfect shots are hit but gives you a chance to see how people react to their shots.

I used to be quite happy to play last in a group of friends but now I'm quite happy to stick it on a tee and rip it. if it goes wild then I'll have the opportunity to hit a great recovery shot