Concentration

[Owen_Thomas_14]

I normally find myself losing concentration during my rounds. Has anyone any good things they do or any tips? which could help me even that little bit as i think this is letting me down big time . Thanks

 

[Bobirdie]

Are you eating and keeping yourself hydrated through the round???

Drinking water helps

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Eat plenty of slow releasing foods and drink lots. If you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated. Try not to have mars bars etc as you'll get a quick high and a big low. I tend to go for bananas, raisins, a 750ml water and a 500 energy drink (not suppose to have them so keep it in reserve). In the summer I'll take at least 1.5 litres of water out (thank god for the go kart).

Actually it could be that carrying isn't helping anyway especially if your course is a bit hilly or long. Maybe try using a hire trolley from the pro (or borrow an electric one if you can) and see if that helps keep you fresh

 

[Losttheplot]

Take one hole at a time. Focus on each shot for that shot only and switch off and chat to your playing partner inbetween shots.
Ex. You drive off the tee 250yds down fairway on a 400 yard par 4. Switch off from the tee until 20yards before your ball. At this stage think about where the flag is, hazards/bunkers, slopes on green for ball landing areas. All this as you are walking towards your ball. Go through your routine including this and it's all done in roughly 30secs. So in a 8minute hole you might only really focus for 2 mins. The rest is walking, talking and watching your opponents.

Works for me.....

 

[pokerjoke]

Also having a clear head is crucial,having things in your head like,work,homelife,or even what youve got to do after golf can really screw up a round,as difficult as it maybe these things in your head can be card wreckers as its so hard to concentrate on the job in hand.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Thanks guys i do drink water every now and then just not every hole so probably will take a drink every hole from now on. Im using a electric trolley already which helps fatigue but its in between shots where i lose a lot of focus. I like talking to people but when it comes to my shot im not really focussed which is where i think im going wrong but i cant exactly ignore people, can i?

 

[JustOne]

What was the question?

 

[Screwback]

TBH looking at some of the replies if you switch off between shots and only think about the next shot just before you are going to hit then you are going to loose concentration becasue you are not thinking about what you are doing therefore loosing the rhythm to your game and mind set.

As soon as i have hit my tee shot i start thinking about the next shot, how i am going to hit it what hazards could be in my way roughly the length and the club i may use then when i get over to the ball i am fully contrateded on the task in hand and not having to worry about alerting myself after being "switched off".

 

[Losttheplot]

I suppose it's down to you really, if you need to concentrate throughout the whole round then that's fine. I find switching off inbetween shots works for me.

Maybe just try to read some of bob rotella's books and that might answer your problems. He's great with the mental side of the game.

 

[Tiger]

Just started reading Bob Rotella's The 15th Club. Looks really promising.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

I like to think constantly i think so think my playing partners will have to speak to someone else then during my rounds then

 

[JT77]

I am struggling to get into 15th club, maybe give it another try at the airport on friday!

I found when I was playing well I was carrying hazelnuts in the bag. Maybe something in them!! And a large waterbottle!

 

[Losttheplot]

Ive read 'golf is not a game of perfect'. I thought it was a great read and at the end of the book is a list of phrases he speaks of during the book which is a useful thing to copy down.

I've not read any others but heard they are all a good read and thought provoking.

 

[CrapHacker]

Im using a electric trolley already which helps fatigue but its in between shots where i lose a lot of focus. I like talking to people but when it comes to my shot im not really focussed which is where i think im going wrong but i cant exactly ignore people, can i?

1) Get fitter. A fit brain in a fit body and all that.

2) Get a trigger to help you switch on over the ball. It looks like Ernie kept his glove loose while he was wandering around ( or in your case chatting ) then when he was ready stood a couple of yards behind the ball, tightened up his glove, and everything after that was focused.

Homer does something similar, I think.

3) Without being too focused, just keep your eyes open as you are walking the course. You'll see the potential hazards in front of you naturally - you don't need to be a brain surgeon to get a feel for the problems ahead. And you'll enjoy the relaxing / nature side of the game more as well. ( It's also good for the posture to keep your head up as you approach the green )

Do you have any problems with stamina etc?

 

[19th]

I think we are all different but I feel sure some of the above advice will suit you. What is correct for one is not for another and we only have to remember Faldo and Trevino on the course, to confirm this. Faldo somehow managed 5 hours of what appeared to be unbroken concentration and Trevino never needed more than the time it took to hit the ball, if fact in some cases you felt he was still speaking as he swung his club!
I think both those players were extreme examples and in my experience the scratch and plus handicap golfers I have played with did not appear to be very intense.
However I can allow outside concerns to creep into my thinking if held up on the course and this does need to be addressed at that point or my score will reflect this. My method is to remember each shot I have already played and take the good/bad points from it and consider my next hole using my new found mental direction.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

I dont have problems with stamina at all, i can play 36 holes a day no problem but i think i need to stop talking about 30 yards before my ball to make sure im truly concentrated. If that dont work then maybe ill try just concentrating all the way round which i used to do before but found it wore me down mentally at the end but seemed to work if i remember correctly. Thanks for all your tips i think ill try some of them out soon as the snow goes away again

 

[HomerJSimpson]

CrapHacker is correct. I use my glove as a trigger. Once I've got to my ball I'll make the usual checks (yardage via SC, wind etc) and just befire its my turn to play I'll put my glove on. Thats my cue to take my club (as others are getting ready to hit their shot) based on the information, take a practice swing, address it and hit it. Once the shot is over and I've taken my glove off thats my cue that I can't do anything else to influence it and to switch off from thinking about it and the execution and think about how I get my Go-Kart that far into the trees