No confidence!!!

[flandango]

Played today on a different course and the only thing that affected my game was me!

I was playing like a complete donkey. Mainly from around 100 yards in....the important shots!

I was quiting, on shots, playing them half arsed etc!

This is usually the strongest part of my game but today I didin't commit to any of them. I know how far I can hit each shot and know roughly where they will land.....don't know why today was any different.

Next time i'm just going to take the distance and the relevant club, then head down and swing.

I'm so angry with myself. Didn't hit a bad score but it could have been great.

Just wanted to let off some steam to people who would understand!!!

 

[TonyN]

Have been guilty of this, and the best cure???

Go to the range, take your wedges and smash the living daylights out of them. See how far you can hit them max.

Next time you have a 100 yard shot with danger at the back, take out your 100 yard club and know that even if you catch it right with 100% power, you cant put it in trouble. (just dont thin it)

I did this and it certainly helped me not to quit on the down!

It was mainly on 3/4 wedges to be fair, I always thought what if I hit it too hard on the down swing and before you know it your trying to speed up again but its too late, the ball has fluffed.

 

[RGuk]

Have been guilty of this, and the best cure???

Me too. I hit a few 1/2 and 3/4 wedges on Thursday (in practice) and sh****d the lot. Yesterday, I had 4 of these and each one was fine....I just tried to keep calm and trust myself.

Sometimes, the shortest clubs reveal a problem that isn't so clear with long clubs....for me it's too much weight shift to the back foot. If I'm feeling nervy with a short club, I'll often swing the club a few times (back and down, back and down, no breaks) trying to stay very still and catch the turf in the same place. Works for me.

 

[flandango]

I usually end up catching them fat rather than anything else. I know how far I can hit them and how they land / stop but just having the smaller greens and different obsticles played with my mind a little.

I was so disapointed with myself, I usually deal ok with the mental side of the game!

 

[Basher]

Hi Flandango, I feel your pain.

Go out and play well and your mood and whole demeanour is lifted until the next time you play.
Play like a "donkey" and it spoils your whole day, even when back home with the family.

Golf's like that, I think everyone else feels the same given the circumstances.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The important thing next time is to trust yourself more. Before you play the shot look at the target (not the bunkers or any trouble round the green). Stand behind it and remember a similar shot you have played which came off with good results. Take a practice swing and then commit to the shot.

My only other advice is to get out onto the range and just work on short shots. Try hitting a nine iron with only a quarter swing and seeing how it flies and how far it goes. Try different length swings and vary the ball position etc and just have fun trying different things. If you know you have the shots and you have practised them nothing but your own self doubt wil stop you playing them. Visualise and trust

 

[TonyN]

Smaller greens, do you mean temps?

If so, I have no answer for this because I can NEVER hit temp greens!

 

[flandango]

Yes, sorry should have been more spesific.

Only a few, it also lashed down last night which played havoc with the greens, couldn't get the speed on any of them!

 

[Clansman]

Smaller greens, do you mean temps?

If so, I have no answer for this because I can NEVER hit temp greens!

I can hit temp greens but only when they are not in play!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I wouldn't lose any sleep about not hitting temps. They are normally just bits of mown fairway or on the approaches and aren't designed to receive proper shots. Just try and get as close as possible and accept everyone is in the same boat

 

[Herbie]

Good advice here, all I would add is no matter how much backswing you feel is needed, always always go right through the ball.You may still make mistakes but a lot less often than if you chicken out. Its a bit like bunker syndrome, people who play them badly are often those who fail to complete the stroke, scared of hitting it to the next tee.lol. When you get this problem again just imagine the kind of follow through you need in a bunker.

But have no fear as weve all been there and when I go there I just make sure I swing through like in a bunker and it usually brings me back into the game.(not always though.lol.)