Mental Help!

[Fraz]

Got a busy 7 days ahead of me, and hopefully take a step in the right direction with my scoring too, but need to make sure I get my head into the right place.

As some background - been playing just over 2 years and seen my handicap come down a few shots this year as it is. I still however feel that the scores I shoot nowhere near represent how well I can play. No one I play with believes my handicap until I start to rack up a few 7s 8s and 9s for silly shots.

I strike the ball well, can hit a considerable distance when required and have quite a good short game. Where the problem lies is I have a tendency to loose balls - around 5 per round. I either hit it well or miss big, there is rarely anything in-between. I have started to mark on my scorecard where I have lost balls and 9/10 times its a double bogey, so would have shot par if i had kept it on the short stuff.

I can only put it down to lack of concentration, as it is not one standard shot that causes the problem, it could be right off the tee, hook left with an iron, you name it... there is no consistency to it at all.

I have read Bob Rotella's "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" in the last week or so and a lot of it makes sense, I am starting to try to get into a proper pre-shot routine, thinking about the target etc. in a hope to keep my concentration and eliminate these silly shots that I take.

Has anyone else had the same problem and if so what did you use to get around the mental side of the game?

Looking to try some things this week as it has turned out to be my golfing week of the year...
Today - 9/18 holes
Tomorrow - Lesson
Thursday - 9/18 holes depending on weather
Saturday - AM - monthly stableford, PM - visiting friends course
Sunday - Strathlene and Cullen
Monday - Trump

They do say practice makes perfect... so I want to make sure I go for perfect practice makes perfect!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Fraz.
The scores you shoot DO reflect your ability.

Accept reality then try to improve on what you are, not what you think you are.

A bit blunt I know, but a fairly common fault with golfers who are improving.

 

[patricks148]

Got a busy 7 days ahead of me, and hopefully take a step in the right direction with my scoring too, but need to make sure I get my head into the right place.

As some background - been playing just over 2 years and seen my handicap come down a few shots this year as it is. I still however feel that the scores I shoot nowhere near represent how well I can play. No one I play with believes my handicap until I start to rack up a few 7s 8s and 9s for silly shots.

I strike the ball well, can hit a considerable distance when required and have quite a good short game. Where the problem lies is I have a tendency to loose balls - around 5 per round. I either hit it well or miss big, there is rarely anything in-between. I have started to mark on my scorecard where I have lost balls and 9/10 times its a double bogey, so would have shot par if i had kept it on the short stuff.

I can only put it down to lack of concentration, as it is not one standard shot that causes the problem, it could be right off the tee, hook left with an iron, you name it... there is no consistency to it at all.

I have read Bob Rotella's "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" in the last week or so and a lot of it makes sense, I am starting to try to get into a proper pre-shot routine, thinking about the target etc. in a hope to keep my concentration and eliminate these silly shots that I take.

Has anyone else had the same problem and if so what did you use to get around the mental side of the game?

Looking to try some things this week as it has turned out to be my golfing week of the year...
Today - 9/18 holes
Tomorrow - Lesson
Thursday - 9/18 holes depending on weather
Saturday - AM - monthly stableford, PM - visiting friends course
Sunday - Strathlene and Cullen
Monday - Trump

They do say practice makes perfect... so I want to make sure I go for perfect practice makes perfect!

i'm currenly off 7 ( went down from 8 at the weekend) and still get bad holes had an 8 on a par 4 in my last round and still shot 78 gross.

if you find the answer let me know

 

[la_lucha]

I have found that it's concentration. I was rushing my shots, making sure I wasn't holding up the guys behind and not thinking properly. Could be a simple fact that you need to slow down more than just the swing.

 

[bobmac]

At your lesson tomorrow, ask your pro to check your grip

 

[User 105]

Fraz, I'd be highly surprised if your only problem is a mental one.

You're doing the right thing having lessons and make sure you take time to practice what you have learnt. The pro will gradually eliminate the swing faults that cause your problems.

One of the keys if you think there is some mental side to the problem is ensure you have a set pre-shot routine, and stick to it. It will really help stop the mind wandering.

 

[Fraz]

Fraz.
The scores you shoot DO reflect your ability.

Accept reality then try to improve on what you are, not what you think you are.

A bit blunt I know, but a fairly common fault with golfers who are improving.

See, I don't agree with that. I have the ability to shoot low 80s if I can keep concentrating properly for the length of a round. When I take my time, concentrate properly and do everything I have been taught I hit the ball well. It is when I fail to do this that problems arise.

Looking at our online scoring system my best round, made up from the best score on each hole from this years medal rounds is a 73 (par is 71). Now I am not suggesting I should be hitting that every time but I should be at least coming somewhere in the middle IMO. None of the scores on that were flukes, they were all played using my ability.

 

[Fraz]

i'm currenly off 7 ( went down from 8 at the weekend) and still get bad holes had an 8 on a par 4 in my last round and still shot 78 gross.

if you find the answer let me know

See you only have one... I will have 5... and then the score goes haywire...

 

[Fraz]

At your lesson tomorrow, ask your pro to check your grip

Will do, thanks bob.

 

[Hendo007]

See, I don't agree with that. I have the ability to shoot low 80s if I can keep concentrating properly for the length of a round. When I take my time, concentrate properly and do everything I have been taught I hit the ball well. It is when I fail to do this that problems arise.

Looking at our online scoring system my best round, made up from the best score on each hole from this years medal rounds is a 73 (par is 71). Now I am not suggesting I should be hitting that every time but I should be at least coming somewhere in the middle IMO. None of the scores on that were flukes, they were all played using my ability.

Fraz, My ecletic score for this year is currently 61 (7 under) but am afraid that doesn't make me a scratch golfer. If there was away to play perfect golf all the time then I wish I knew what it was. I too feel that my H/C should be lower than it is but as yet I have not managed to lower it this year.

The game is coming but just not sure when that decent round will arrive. Once it does then I hope it will be easier to reproduce.

The fact that you take 5/6 7's, 8's 9's a round means that your H/C is probably correct. I believe that what you totally need to concentrate on is your course management. Eliminate these big ones and your H/C will tumble.

 

[Fraz]

Fraz, My ecletic score for this year is currently 61 (7 under) but am afraid that doesn't make me a scratch golfer. If there was away to play perfect golf all the time then I wish I knew what it was. I too feel that my H/C should be lower than it is but as yet I have not managed to lower it this year.

The game is coming but just not sure when that decent round will arrive. Once it does then I hope it will be easier to reproduce.

The fact that you take 5/6 7's, 8's 9's a round means that your H/C is probably correct. I believe that what you totally need to concentrate on is your course management. Eliminate these big ones and your H/C will tumble.

I agree with that, like I said I don't see myself as a scratch golfer - but the difference between an eclectic 73 and constant 93+ rounds is pretty huge. I am not asking to hit perfect golf, I am just trying to, as you say, reduce the handful of big scores that usually ruin a pretty steady round. I seem to be Par or Bust!

My PB is an 82 on a non medal day, with many others in that sort of range, yet on a Saturday morning I just cant repeat the form... And the difference between regular and medal tees on my course is almost negligible!

Course management is also something I have been working on, my driver now comes out the bag only on special occasions, the 2H is now my favourite club, 210+ yards and straight every time. Even on par 5s this is the case, 2H, 7I, full wedge etc. to the green, nothing stupid!

I should really just rename this topic as a "rant at the inconsistencies of golf" now I think! lol

 

[patricks148]

See you only have one... I will have 5... and then the score goes haywire...

but my one or two per round works out at about the same as i get 15 less shots than you.

What i'm saying is we are all handicap golfers and have bad holes, even most pro's do too and they are doing it for a living. You should do what i' trying to tell myself myself, i do this for fun not a living.

just go play and if you have the skills your handicap will come down, don't worry about it. I tell myself hat too

 

[Doon frae Troon]

See, I don't agree with that. I have the ability to shoot low 80s if I can keep concentrating properly for the length of a round. When I take my time, concentrate properly and do everything I have been taught I hit the ball well. It is when I fail to do this that problems arise.

Looking at our online scoring system my best round, made up from the best score on each hole from this years medal rounds is a 73 (par is 71). Now I am not suggesting I should be hitting that every time but I should be at least coming somewhere in the middle IMO. None of the scores on that were flukes, they were all played using my ability.

Fraz...not being a pain but I am trying to help you.

I have the ability to score in the low 60's, but I don't.

You really want to concentrate on the total number of shots you hit for 18 holes and work on lowering that.
I think you are getting carried away with the good shots and airbrushing the bad shots.

Like the guy who said that he would have broken 80 if it was not for two missed short putts.
He has probably forgotten the lucky bounces and monster putts he has holed to get to 81.
Being consistant is what golf is all about. Staying calm when it is going well AND going badly.
I am sure you will get there but you need to be honest with yourself.

 

[Val]

Fraz, 5 years ago I played with a guy who said I hit the ball too well to play off double figures and one day I will shoot the lights out and finish 5 or 6 over Par and those Ive played with wouldn't be surprised.

That day has still to come, Im still off 16 although have been as low as 12.

Accept that your scores reflect your game currently and strive to get better, everyone has the ability to shoot level par but not everyone can.

I don't buy this scores don't reflect your game or the scorecard doesn't reflect how well you played. IF you scored poorly you generally have played poorly. If you consistantly have double bogeys or worse then thats your form unfortunately.

 

[Ian_S]

Like the guy who said that he would have broken 80 if it was not for two missed short putts.
He has probably forgotten the lucky bounces and monster putts he has holed to get to 81.
Being consistant is what golf is all about. Staying calm when it is going well AND going badly.
I am sure you will get there but you need to be honest with yourself.

Got to agree with this. My last handicap round I was shooting really well but ended up losing 4 balls over the last 5 holes and coming in a 99. Take off the lost balls and it's a 91, but I also need to remember that I chipped in from the cart path after pushing one way right that deserved to be lost (indeed, a few yards either side of where it ended up and it would have been) and I would have struggled to get down in three from where my provisional ended up so that few minutes of luck saved me at least four strokes. There were plenty of other wayward shots that we happened to find as well that could have been +2s. Overall it probably all came out in the wash.

 

[Fraz]

Fraz...not being a pain but I am trying to help you.

I have the ability to score in the low 60's, but I don't.

You really want to concentrate on the total number of shots you hit for 18 holes and work on lowering that.
I think you are getting carried away with the good shots and airbrushing the bad shots.

Like the guy who said that he would have broken 80 if it was not for two missed short putts.
He has probably forgotten the lucky bounces and monster putts he has holed to get to 81.
Being consistant is what golf is all about. Staying calm when it is going well AND going badly.
I am sure you will get there but you need to be honest with yourself.

I think we are both trying to say the same thing but in totally different ways, I know I have the physical ability to shoot better scores, but not the consistency to do it at the moment and I believe that this inconsistency is down to my mental attitude more than my physical capabilities. I am not taking you as being a pain, I do appreciate all feedback!

As for airbrushing the bad shots... the books I have read all say it is in a golfers best interests to remember the good shots and not the bad! (so I am at least doing something right!)