MVP
Journeyman Pro
I know mine is on the up thats what helped me shoot my 2over on the back nine on christmas eve!! 2 birdies and 4 pars amongst a few mistakes!
HOW GOOD IS YOUR MENTAL GAME????
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HTL
Tour Winner
Mine is spot on during golf, not so much in my “normal lifeâ€
My job is a Sports Science lecturer and as part of my degree I covered a Sports psychology module, this has had an unmitigated degree of success on my game. I also teach a module to my current BTEC students, who have a similar experience when they put theory into practise.
The sports psychology articles I have read in Golf monthly and another big selling golf magazine have both been excellent, and would implore you to read them if you have not done so.
My job is a Sports Science lecturer and as part of my degree I covered a Sports psychology module, this has had an unmitigated degree of success on my game. I also teach a module to my current BTEC students, who have a similar experience when they put theory into practise.
The sports psychology articles I have read in Golf monthly and another big selling golf magazine have both been excellent, and would implore you to read them if you have not done so.
AliB
Q-School Graduate
Well done MVP.
But mental game is about handling the bad shots/holes. Did you have any? How did you recover?
I had a pretty untidy round today with a bad blob ono teh third adn a disappointing first nine but I came away with 37 points. My mental game has improved since I've been able to play more. Each individual round matters less, because I know I can get back out soon. It's harder when you have only one chance a week to play. Having said that, I think I only came good on a few holes today because I was too cold to care!
AliB
But mental game is about handling the bad shots/holes. Did you have any? How did you recover?
I had a pretty untidy round today with a bad blob ono teh third adn a disappointing first nine but I came away with 37 points. My mental game has improved since I've been able to play more. Each individual round matters less, because I know I can get back out soon. It's harder when you have only one chance a week to play. Having said that, I think I only came good on a few holes today because I was too cold to care!
AliB
MVP
Journeyman Pro
after a double bogey on 16 i finished PAR PAR so i found that strong minded!
I'm getting better but I think its more a case of growing up than anything else. I use to be quite petulant as a youngster if shots went astray. That continued into my late twenties and early thirties and I think wasn't helped by the fact that I use to drink a lot and so wasn't always in a fit state mentally for golf.
Since my illness last year and having to stop drinking completely I've got a different outlook on not just golf but life as a whole. I no longer get stressed if the train to work is cancelled or I have a bad day in work. I was lucky and I intend to enjoy myself.
In relation to my golf I realise that hitting every shot is not humanly possible (even Woods makes mistakes). If I miss a 2 foot putt now I might go "oh s**t straight after but I no longer stew over it. As a result I let each bad shot go and so when I'm over my next shot I am not thinking about the mistake already made (compounding the error) but have a new clarity on what I'm trying to achieve.
It has also helped in my putting and short game where I am able to visualise the shot a lot better now. Don't always pull the shot off but at least I know what I was trying to do.
Since my illness last year and having to stop drinking completely I've got a different outlook on not just golf but life as a whole. I no longer get stressed if the train to work is cancelled or I have a bad day in work. I was lucky and I intend to enjoy myself.
In relation to my golf I realise that hitting every shot is not humanly possible (even Woods makes mistakes). If I miss a 2 foot putt now I might go "oh s**t straight after but I no longer stew over it. As a result I let each bad shot go and so when I'm over my next shot I am not thinking about the mistake already made (compounding the error) but have a new clarity on what I'm trying to achieve.
It has also helped in my putting and short game where I am able to visualise the shot a lot better now. Don't always pull the shot off but at least I know what I was trying to do.
Plenty of tiny misjudgements today but still got through +3. What miffed me was on our 15th par 4 dogleg left, took a 5 wood for position, got that, middle of the fairway, 200 yds left into the wind, I pulled out a 3 iron aain for position, I thought that I'd go straight at the green (wind straight against) and if I came up short (which I believed I would) I'd have a straight forward pitch onto a slightly uphill green. Hit it slightly fat and pushed it around 170 yds and into the edge of the trees on the right, had no shot out bar straight at the flag, with overhanging branches above me I had to hit it low, found the bunker in front of the green and took 6 with a lip out, apart from that I was happy with my round too.
Toad
Tour Rookie
Mine was pretty poor this year.
In medals I was just waiting for my game to fall apart and it always did.
Working hard at the one shot at a time routine, in the hope that next year can see me improve.
In medals I was just waiting for my game to fall apart and it always did.
Working hard at the one shot at a time routine, in the hope that next year can see me improve.
Leftie
Tour Winner
For me there is only one way - put it behind you. What's done is done. You cannot do anything about it. Give yourself a good talking to if that's what you need but by the time you get to the ball for the next shot, the last shot is history, and you have already a mental image of what the next shot will be. Have you ever watched Tiger after a (rare) bad shot? That petulant look, muttering away to himself but fully composed again for the next shot.
It's difficult in a medal to put bad shots behind you but on more than one occasion I have been 3 or 5 off the first in a medal but still come in with a score close to my handicap. A couple of people I know would have either N/R at that stage or walked off using an excuse of "didn't want to spoil your game...." or some such rubbish.
I really enjoy matchplay as whilst playing a bad shot can cost you the hole, once it's gone it's gone. Go on and win the next one!
medwayjon
Tour Winner
I'm good aty playing one shot at a time and burying the bad ones to the past. You cant change what has happened so I try not to let it affect me and cock everything else up!
I saw a sports psychologist in the past over something that happened in another sport that completely screwed my head up badly. The benefits are now showing as my golf head is good and I have returned to the sport which caused me all those problems.
I saw a sports psychologist in the past over something that happened in another sport that completely screwed my head up badly. The benefits are now showing as my golf head is good and I have returned to the sport which caused me all those problems.
AliB
Q-School Graduate
Now we're all curious, MWJ. Are you going to tell us your other sport?
AliB
AliB
medwayjon
Tour Winner
Ali, a few of the guys know that I used to play pool to a high standard until I missed a black I should have potted which would have earned me serious cash!
I play 9-ball now which I am going to practise hard at for a while and then see if I can nick a few quid at it
I play 9-ball now which I am going to practise hard at for a while and then see if I can nick a few quid at it
shanker
Q-School Graduate
What about snooker, Jon? Pig of a game if you ask me. The best break I ever made was 32.
medwayjon
Tour Winner
I play snooker occasionaly but not to any good standard, 47 was my best break, I was 19 at the time and spent most evenings in the snooker club so was half decent back then.
MVP
Journeyman Pro
My best break is 34 and was a one off for sure, normally i got 11 or something equally as poo.
I do rate snooker tho its a quality sport!
I do rate snooker tho its a quality sport!
RGuk
Tour Winner
I'll challenge you to pool anytime mwj! let me just work out how to play over a distance of about 220 miles.
By 9 ball, do you mean the big ball version....I played a good deal of standard yellow/red pub style, won a few comps as well.
Can't remember struggling with pressure, nor with golf either, always played well under pressure.
Dave
By 9 ball, do you mean the big ball version....I played a good deal of standard yellow/red pub style, won a few comps as well.
Can't remember struggling with pressure, nor with golf either, always played well under pressure.
Dave
medwayjon
Tour Winner
Yeah, big balls and the rules are basically you have to pot the balls in number order. They do get more complex though.
MVP
Journeyman Pro
where do you play jon
shanker
Q-School Graduate
47 is not bad at all. Bit like shooting 73 or 74 on a 6,500 yard golf course. It also means you had a ''misspent youth''.
RGuk
Tour Winner
I've played the 9 ball at the club in Guildford, i.i.r.c. there is an opportunity to finish off the game by potting the 9 ball after hitting the current ball (same shot) in play. Good if you know how to control the white/cue ball.
Always enjoyed the English 8 ball, remember a new year's eve years ago when my mate gave me the 50p to rack and break, when he returned (from the bar) I'd cleared up....all mine followed by the black then all his too.....had about 20 witnesses! It was winner stays on.
Dave
Always enjoyed the English 8 ball, remember a new year's eve years ago when my mate gave me the 50p to rack and break, when he returned (from the bar) I'd cleared up....all mine followed by the black then all his too.....had about 20 witnesses! It was winner stays on.
Dave
medwayjon
Tour Winner
Exactly dave, the reason I like 9 ball is because you can be creative with shot choice in a bid to pot the 9 early.
MVP, I play at rileys in gillingham and very occasionally at suzy-q maidstone.
MVP, I play at rileys in gillingham and very occasionally at suzy-q maidstone.
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