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Mental side of the game

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jusme

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Anyone here very successful at recovering from bad shots/holes, and if so any tips on how they go about it?

I wonder how difficult it is to put bad ones behind you. Is it really possible? I notice from McIlroy's interview that he put his two 75 rounds down to mental errors - shots that annoyed him - he admits that he carried them on to the next few holes. If he can't shed the bad memories who can?

I played a decent round today but half way through the back 9 I had my first double. I followed it with another. Blood was boiling after the first and I have no doubt it affected the play on the next. I had a serious word with myself walking to the next tee......trying to let it go, reminding myself that it will ruin the last few holes. Successful on this occasion as I parred the next two and played 'OK' for the last few holes.

I really tend to suffer onwards once I mess up a hole. It can take several holes at times to recover and get back to form. This is a part of my game I really need to work on. So.....how you all doing it?
 
I don't get too annoyed. There is absolutely nothing you can do about the last shot so I just try and concentrate on the next shot.its a simple answer but it does work! I played the last two matches with club throwers, swearers and moaners about shots and frankly they both pee'd me off, it's childish and it is an "all about me" syndrome.

We, none of us will be professional and even those that are make mistakes, compounding the errors while annoyed is daft!
 
Making a bad error used to affect me but experience has taught me to forget it and move on, you can't change history.
I hear very good players say after a bad hole saying "I have to get that shot(s) back". I've got news for them...you can never get those shots back!! Even if you eagle the next hole you won't have got any shots back as you probably would have eagled the hole anyway. Invariably those players don't get a birdie/eagle on the next hole anyway because they are trying too hard and tense up their muscles or go for miracle shots that they normally would not take on.
Bad hole, just move on. I know it's easier said than done but don't go gung Ho afterwards just concentrate better.
 
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It's only a game - there is never any shot worth worrying about and certainly never any shot worth making your blood boil. Just laugh and walk to the next shot
 
As much as you may try, it is physically, mentally, scientifically and historically impossible to get that shot back. Even pros do it. As you mentioned with Rory.

So with that in mind, hypothetically. You have a par four 400 yarder. You have one shot on the hole. first shot goes 200 yd, twenty yards left or right in the rubbish stuff. Your not happy but think you can smash it with a hybrid or even a fairway wood and recover the shot. Next thing you have knobbed it 30 yd and your head has proper gone. The shot you had on the hole is wasted. Instead of playing a pitching wedge and putting it 80 yd onto the fairway with. 120 yd shot into the green with a ? Nine iron and two putts for par we have double bogeyed or worse for a head shaking blob.

whatever the advise, it is called " course management". 😉
 
Is it really this simple? I know what I have to do - doing it is not always that easy. The fact that sports psychologists exist must go someway to confirming its not as easy as 'forget about it....it's done....nothing you can do'

Please don't take this as criticism - it truly is not meant - I'm just saying - the understanding is easy - the doing not so much. I totally admire those of you that really does not let any shot in golf affect you at all - I tip my hat, I really do.
 
When I was a kid, I played one day at a course beside a graveyard. I was playing badly and it was getting to me. My old man said "There's 500 guys in that graveyard who would swap places with you in a heartbeat". Never forgot that.

Perspective is the key. Ultimately, a double bogey doesn't really matter. You're still above the ground, playing the game you presumably enjoy. If you don't, you should find something else to do.
 
What I do after a bad shot (and believe me, I have a lot of practice doing this because my bad shots massively outnumber my good ones) is to pull myself away from the game completely for a few moments. I listen for bird song, look around to see what kinds of trees are standing around me and for example at this time of the year if they are already showing signs of leaves or buds. I breathe in the air smelling flowers, mushrooms, or maybe the sea if I am close to the ocean ... anything to connect me with nature and the here and now, focussing on how privileged I am to be out there, playing this wonderful game, surrounded by a beautiful environment. I know this sounds a bit tacky and almost esoteric, but it really works for me.
 
One shot at a time, I forget the bad shot almost as soon as I have hit it. Unless it a cracking shot then I am living the dream of being a pro!

Enjoy the golf.
 
I expect to make at least seven mistakes a round. Therefore, when I make a bad shot, I don’t worry about it. It ís just one of those seven. Walter Hagen
(adjust up from 7 for a HC golfer....)

 
jusme said:
Is it really this simple? I know what I have to do - doing it is not always that easy. The fact that sports psychologists exist must go someway to confirming its not as easy as 'forget about it....it's done....nothing you can do'

Please don't take this as criticism - it truly is not meant - I'm just saying - the understanding is easy - the doing not so much. I totally admire those of you that really does not let any shot in golf affect you at all - I tip my hat, I really do.
Click to expand...

Yes it really is that simple. I get disappointed with a bad shot but never to the point of anger or throwing clubs etc etc. and I try to never let the last shot affect the next one. The guy I played with on Friday was throwing clubs, moaning and swearing, he was 68 and can play, he just sucked the fun out of the rest of us and I really really had a good game, why be a knob?
 
chrisd said:
I don't get too annoyed. There is absolutely nothing you can do about the last shot so I just try and concentrate on the next shot.
Click to expand...

You were quite annoyed after the 3rd putt missed on our 10th, and not sure you concentrated much on the 4th one if truth be told.:whistle:
 
Golf is always frustrating after a bad shot, I try to take the attitude of "Even if this is in a bad position / lie / distance for me, it's a great chance to practice this next shot on the course, which over time will pay off and improve my game" Embrace bad shots as learning opportunities and try to take something away from misses which you can either practice on, or avoid the next time.
 
Get the club slammed back into the bag.

Get a good swear off your chest

Visualise kicking the cat/ dog/ wife when you get home.

Whatever you need to do, make sure it's done before taking one step forward towards your next shot
 
I am pretty good at recovering form bad shot/hole..

I would like to say every shot but that would be lying.

10th last week I hit a screaming drive, long but slightly left.. Bad bounce left me between two trees. Tried to get clever hitting a hybrid and duffed it.. That's when I usually slam club back in bag and take a deep breath.... Not this time.. Walked straight up and tried it again, same result... Ruined the hole and ended up not scoring as it is the longest par 4 by a long way....

As this was stableford it didn't ruin the whole round and I believe my initial choice of rescue shot and subsequent rush of blood would have been different in a HC Medal...

As everyone above has said.. Its only a game.... Stop, take a minute, look around, think of something else for a moment. Then refocuss on the next shot...
 
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