Golf Psychology

[GMAC88]

I played in our Club Championship yesterday, and the third time in three years I got myself in a position to win, and had a crisis of bottle. I've read and listened to "Golf is not a game of perfect" and was wondering if there's anything else out there which is worth a read/listen to on audiobook?

 

[duncan mackie]

Just read Homer's posts on the subject....

 

[Region3]

Zen Golf by Joseph Parent is pretty good if you're into that sort of thing.

Rotella tells you not to get ahead of yourself etc, Parent gives you methods to help you do it.

Not something I have the patience to practice/learn, but they sound like they make sense.

 

[GMAC88]

I'll have a gander at the Zen one. Trying to stay in the moment works occasionally, and not calculating scores etc, it seems to be dealing with pressure, almost causes yippy swings with any club!!!

 

[VVega]

the unstoppable golfer and the secret to you playing great golf. Both are quite similar to "not a game of perfect" but still worth skimming through.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

At least you're getting into winning positions. It's something you need to experience and perhaps learn how to close it out. Keep going, and perhaps some of the suggestions above will help. At least you're playing some good golf.

 

[Tashyboy]

I played in our Club Championship yesterday, and the third time in three years I got myself in a position to win, and had a crisis of bottle. I've read and listened to "Golf is not a game of perfect" and was wondering if there's anything else out there which is worth a read/listen to on audiobook?

Reading a book at the moment, daughter got it me from pound land or somewhere like that. It's called The unstoppable golfer by Dr Bob Rotella. It really is an excellent read. Won't tell you how to play your shots, but the way he relates on how to play your shots when under pressure is excellent. Well worth a quid.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You could try Golf: The Mind Factor by Karl Morris. Think that's available as a download

 

[sev112]

Steve Peters and his Chimp Paradox seems to have worked for many top sportsmen and gold medallists

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Dan Abrahams - Golf Tough, excellent read.

 

[the_coach]

I played in our Club Championship yesterday, and the third time in three years I got myself in a position to win, and had a crisis of bottle. I've read and listened to "Golf is not a game of perfect" and was wondering if there's anything else out there which is worth a read/listen to on audiobook?

good job for getting into those positions of being in contention

would consider starting by trying to objectively analyze what exactly was the thought process contributing to the 'crisis' (x 3)
my guess would be a general lack of focus

so some thoughts maybes worth considering around that
folk in general at elite level only able to execute good golf and continue to put the scores in 'under pressure' by staying in the present and concentrating entirely on the process of the shot being faced at that particular moment

all about the present:
past or future don't exist:
all about shot process, within that it's real crucial to start by defining the smallest possible target to focus the brain, and seeing the start line of ball's direction to that defined target drive or putt - so no thoughts around staying out of trouble - finding the middle etc as all that's way too vague

about executing a totally repeatable order and time taken and always repeated psr
finding a trigger point for the actual swing motion to begin (example - my personal trigger is when my eyes return to the ball the 2nd time - I always look to target twice)

how folks practice has a big bearing on being able to take a score home - you gotta have part of the practice routine where you put pressure on by trying to beat a particular score - in terms of target so number of balls within a certain radius at all distances - 20 yards to whatever the norm driver carry distance

how many times you can go round the clock at eight feet (6 - 8 balls) without missing a putt - all those putting drills under pressure whether its the clock, the ladder, whatever, miss you gotta to go back to the start from scratch until you complete one circuit without missing then 2, 3 circuits .....

playing a keep score up and down game with 10 (12,15) balls scattered around the green, fringe, light rough, heavier rough, bunkers holing out all putts - 10 balls par is 20 - to be able to beat par got to hole out at least once but got to keep a record to have a score to beat next session

with 'random target pressure practice' at all distances (as opposed to block technical practice) you got to repeat the 'process' that would happen out in play in the 'thinking box' then the psr to trigger/execution - this all helps ingrain the focus on the process and the 'staying in present moment' - have to keep the brain focussed on what is - not what might be

out in play after shot execution allow '15 secs' to objectively observe the shot outcome along the lines of what can you take that will be of use into the next shot, such as how wind effected out come or what the ground was like bounce/roll etc that kinda stuff - but completely limiting any kinda of 'value good or bad' 'if only' kinda self judgements - so being mindful of maintaining an even emotional response

then after that 15 secs objective review switch off golf concentration, relax, breathe, observe surroundings enjoy the walk/talk - at pro ams, or mid state ams, nationals will spend the time in-between talking with Pro's fellow AM's about anything, cars, music, holidays but never about the current 'golf' situation beyond a 'good shot comment'

get to the ball then gotta 'step back' into the 'thinking box' of the process of what the next shot entails, shot/club selection, line to defined target once that's decided step into the next 'box' at the ball for the psr process, trigger, execute - last thing in my mind is just my defined target - trigger eyes back to ball - then the swing motion and execution is automatic

never think of the final outcome until you have arrived there

 

[williamalex1]

I think it was Big Jack that said something like, between shots think or talk about anything except golf, chill until your next shot.
It's very hard to concentrate for long periods, so relax it's only a game.

Looking at the final scratch scores, ATM you play of 5.1 and you finished only 6 shots behind the winner who plays of 1 [0.8]
And only 2 shots scratch behind 2nd place who also plays off 1 [0.7]
And only 2 shots scratch behind the 3rd and 4th placed players who both play off 3.

You're being way too hard on yourself , very well done kiddo :thup:

 

[3565]

Again Zen Golf by Joseph Parent is good and
Vision 54 by Pia Nielsson and Lynne Marriott, who worked with Annika Soranstam and Swedish golf is an excellent book to read.
I prefer these to the Rotella books and I've got them too.

 

[GMAC88]

Cheers the_coach, have tried to adopt a few of those principles in my game generally such as the small targets, and as I said staying in the moment.

Cheers William_Alex, and you just have to look at how long it took our previous champion to win one.....I don't fancy another 10 years of chucking the opportunity away.

The handicap is irrelevant, other than the two who play off scratch/1, I'd fancy my chances against anyone else. I blame the birth of the wee one for the rise in handicap!!