Do I need a sports psychologist??!

[Canary_Yellow]

Went to the range tonight, striking the ball beautifully - bomb after bomb out of the middle of the club. Good tempo and rhythm, really comfortable and relaxed.

But when I try and take this to the course it just doesn't work. My game falls apart, I can't get comfortable over the ball etc etc.

It must mostly be in my head right? Part of it is tricky lies etc, but for the most part it must be in my head. Any tips for how to convert ball striking on the range into scores?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No you don't. Simple answer. What you many need at your level is more coaching to deal with tricky lies and get a swing that repeats more often. Perhaps a short game lesson or two. I was offered a chance to go to a group session a few months back but decided I've enough mumbo jumbo in my head when I play already.

I'm going to talk to my teaching pro about visualisation on the short shots though. I find it hard to see the shot and pick how I want to play it. I think though a lot of that is down to a flaky technique and a lack of confidence and that once I can chip better more often this will come as second nature.

If you really want to go down the psychology route the cheapest answer would be get some of the Bob Rotella books out of the library or cheap on Amazon

 

[AmandaJR]

I think it's a bit of both and when I started out was a great range player but rubbish on the course. For starters there's no real penalty for a bad shot on the range - just re-load and hit again. Then there is the difficulty of tricky lies, ball sitting down, bare lies, boggy lies etc etc. Do you tee it on the range or hit off the mat?

Perhaps you need to start setting some "pressured" shots on the range? Imagine you're playing 9 holes on your course and select the next club according to the shot you'd be left with if it were in the real world. Keep a virtual score and try and beat that next time so there are consequences to the shot as you contemplate it.

Then it's simply a matter of playing on the course as often as you can to get used to the conditions and get "course fit".

Good luck.

 

[Imurg]

Unless you're a Pro....

Thinking you needa Sports Psychologist means you're taking things too seriously.........

 

[bigslice]

yes you do. all i need is your sort code and account number, then we will talk. just play golf saturday i shot 101 and then 77 the next day(diff course). play golf for fun

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Thanks guys! My suggestion of a sports psychologist was tongue in cheek - but I do need a way of converting my striking on the range into confidence on the course. Sounds like just more practice needed and trying to build in realistic course situations to my routine.

I always hit off the mat, the only club I tee up is my driver. However, it's always a perfect lie! Will get to the practice ground midweek and practice hitting off the grass and all kind of different lies. Short game lesson is a good tip too

 

[bigslice]

i really hate driving ranges, its nothing like the course imo

 

[SGC001]

How do you practice at the range atm?

Would making it more realistic, changing targets and maybe clubs too every shot rather than hitting driver, driver, driver at the same target help?

You could pick a bay with obvious sight lines to mimic a fairway and score yourself to add a bit of pressure. A point for hitting fairway, a point for over a certain distance. Hit say 10 balls (max 20 points), and try and beat your previous scores. Then narrow the imaginary fairway down.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Good suggestion to mix up the clubs and challenge myself a bit harder.

I'm bloody impatient! Want to be seeing improvement straight away but I guess it's not really realistic.

 

[pbrown7582]

try playing the course on the range, ie driver then depending on strike left a 7 iron then another tee shot and so on, also walk away and complete pre shot routine for each hit rather than just stand in the bay and keep reloading from same position.

 

[CMAC]

Experience experience experience, get on the course by yourself when it's quiet.

Hit 1 drive -same pressure as medal
Hit 2 shots into the green, dropped balls no improving the lies, both must be different ie 1 high 1 low or a fade and a draw
Finish hole then throw down 4 balls around the green and play them as they lie.

Repeat for 3 or 4 holes.

Put self pressure on the drives ie promise yourself to give up a treat or fav pint/food etc for 3 days if your drive doesn't finish in the fairway- no cheating!

 

[bobmac]

You're good on the range because you've practiced on the range.
The range is where you learn the swing. The course is where you learn confidence.
Practice on the course when it's quiet and learn the confidence.

 

[USER1999]

Every one has two swings, a range swing, and a playing swing. If you can narrow the gap, you will be doing well.

As an aside, do you have a pre shot routine, and do you do this between shots at the range? If you just keep larraping balls, one after the other, you get in a groove. This teaches you nothing much after the first two balls hit. You need to step away after every shot, and make the next ball a new shot. This is more realistic, and you might find your range form drops to a form more like your golf.

 

[Heidi]

Are you playing off mats or grass at the range
the biggest problems with mats is that they will straighten up your clubface and help you hit a nice shot even if you're swing is not a great one
playing off grass is different - thats when you get fat and thin shots!

get out on the course later in the day and try a few holes! you can do it!