Confidence

[kid2]

On reading an article today in another magazine i came across 5 questions that Pete Cowen asks every player he meets for coaching...

One of those questions was "Where do you get your confidence from?"
Now im not a cocky sod by any means but i have a great sense of confidence in myself when im playing...(I think it stems from playing football)
Anyway when my confidence is high i will take on anything the situation throws at me on the course and if it dont come off i just shrug my shoulders and concentrate on the next shot....
I think what keeps me going is actually keeping my ball in play...Card wreckers for me are usually lost or wayward balls off the tee....But if i manage to get to 12 or 13 with the same ball i know that im playing well and keep things moving along the back nine...

What gives you confidence?

 

[JustOne]

Having shot a 67 last year

 

[jammydodger]

Good rounds of golf on top of other good rounds of golf etc

 

[stevek1969]

If i get on a run of pars then the next one just comes easy last year at Dundonald Links i was 1 over for the last 11 holes which included at double at 17 ,its a course i love playing just got on a run and it felt easy.

Went back about a month ago and chopped my way around ,karma or what.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I rely a lot on my experience. I know I can play the game and have to work hard at convincing myself that a bad shot and a bad hole doesn't mean my swing is unravelling. I've come back from bad holes before and won and its about trusting yourself to do it again. Easier said than done.

It was interesting that I played really well in a roll up on Saturday though and yet in a medal I wasn't that confident standing on the first and it transcended my game. I'm a streaky player and if I get on a roll then there's a swagger and it builds. Hit a wall and the head goes. It's all about re-learning that self-belief and know that I can do it

 

[Oddsocks]

Confidence for me comes after about 4/5 holes when the card says +2 or less

 

[BROOKIE]

For me its keeping the ball under control,nothing flashy
just limiting my mistakes,and trying not to 3 putt.

 

[Alex1975]

I am a cocky sod so some of it comes from within. On the 18 tee last week I was with my best mate, he knows just about everything about me. As you know I was on a bit of a blinder and he said to me "last drive of the day mate, make it a good one" I said to him "play it safe or smash it over the trees?" he simply replied "those words don’t even exist in your vocabulary". As a side note I smashed it into the trees, played a sand wedge sideways out, smashed my hybrid back into the trees a quick 5 iron under the trees onto the green and a 1 putt par.

Really though I think my answer would be as long if you asked me how I lose my confidence as if you ask me where I get it so I think I am a fairly balanced player in that regard.

My boss is a very wealthy and successful man and is quite outwardly the life coach, power sales, self help book reading type. His way of managing me helps my confidence a lot, as much as I tried to kick against it at the start you do get sucked in by positive thinking and mind management crap. Last week I read something in a book he gave me that challenged me not to moan or make excuses for 7 days, the rules state that you are not even allowed to do it in your head. The outcome was a very pleasant week for my wife and mother and….. Me.

Positive mental attitude, A lot of quality practice, My shiny clubs, the knowledge that I have all the shots on a good day or prefect game, Huge man sausage, irresistible to woman, delusion…. You get the point.

I look forward to tomorrow night’s Kid post of what kills your confidence, see you… about your usual 10 o’clock mate.

 

[kid2]

Having shot a 67 last year

Off what handicap Pal.
Need a caddie

 

[kid2]

I am a cocky sod so some of it comes from within. On the 18 tee last week I was with my best mate, he knows just about everything about me. As you know I was on a bit of a blinder and he said to me "last drive of the day mate, make it a good one" I said to him "play it safe or smash it over the trees?" he simply replied "those words don’t even exist in your vocabulary". As a side note I smashed it into the trees, played a sand wedge sideways out, smashed my hybrid back into the trees a quick 5 iron under the trees onto the green and a 1 putt par.


I look forward to tomorrow night’s Kid post of what kills your confidence, see you… about your usual 10 o’clock mate.

You should change that Sig. to Seve1975 pal.



Got roped into playing 5 a side indoor footie on tuesday nights with a few of the lads Al...After i was quietly retired from the game...I guess the boots are never really hung are they?

 

[Fyldewhite]

I think you only build confidence by scoring well consistently. An acceptance that sometimes the swing just isn't there but the knowledge that when it is you can shoot low. One thing's for sure, it's the biggest factor in playing well. Over the last year I have "played one shot at a time" much better, my scoring has been more consistent as a result and my confidence is much higher when I step on the 1st tee than 12 months ago.

 

[USER1999]

Stella.

 

[Imurg]

Having shot a 67 last year

Off what handicap Pal.
Need a caddie

It was a par 60 course though....

 

[kid2]

Having shot a 67 last year

Off what handicap Pal.
Need a caddie

It was a par 60 course though....

Too short for a caddie so Murg!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

For me it's from hitting good shots, simple as that.

 

[Losttheplot]

I like to think my confidence comes from having the 'never say die' attitude. Nothing is too hard or unachieveable and I thrive on the challenges of being able to do something. Atthe moment I'm very inconsistent so my challenge is just to be able to hit the ball properly and with a degree of accuracy. I know it's getting the better of me at the moment but I won't give in until I can do it... never say die!

 

[Region3]

For me it comes partially from the knowledge that I can play reasonable golf when I'm playing well, but mostly from previously well struck similar shots.

For example, I'm always confident standing on the tee of our S.I.1 7th hole because I normally hit a good tee shot there.

S.I.12 10th is a different story though, as it's a tee shot I've messed up plenty in the past.

Regardless of how my overall game is going, previous shots on a specific hole from previous rounds affect my confidence much more.

 

[ScienceBoy]

It is one thing I lack at the moment, I do not trust my swing enough as my confidence in my game is poor. Silly when my last two rounds have been 10 and 12 over gross.

I know I can, I often do but I still fear! It leads me to take less risks on the course and probably costs me 2 or 3 birdie or par chances per round.

My pro has been working on it with me and when I get a hybrid I hope I can start attacking more greens from further out and trying to go at flags rather than just try and get it on the green.