Playing without Fear!

Normally if someone asks a specific question I try to answer, but sounds like you've got your head in a right mess! Don't worry, effective help is easily at hand.

Zen Golf - Joseph Parent.

Changed the way I thought about golf completely. Nice easy read, can pick it up for about £5.
 
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Hitting balls on the range means nothing, You know and your brain knows it too.
As soon as your brain knows that this shot actually means something well of course like with most of us it freaks out.

Ive learned to just enjoy my golf, wont be the end of the world with a bad round of golf
 
HomerJSimpson said:
New Golf Thinking. Great book, no mumbo jumbo and very simple to use. Helped me loads.
Click to expand...

Is this the new stock reply, moving on from "get lessons from your pro"?

I'm yet to see anyone who points out how good NGT is, actually show any positive results.

Happy to be convinced otherwise, or see something tangible, but until then, I'm a bit bored of seeing it in most threads asking for help. It would be like someone asking about new clubs, and me replying "get the Ping G25s, they're really good" everytime.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
New Golf Thinking. Great book, no mumbo jumbo and very simple to use. Helped me loads.
Click to expand...
How much did it cost homer??

I'm always slightly puzzled by these threads. Not being critical but fearful of what?

No handicap golfer should need sports psychology surely. If they do, they really need some perspective:o
 
I had the same issue when I played cricket - batting was a nightmare as I was so caught up in thinking about the game that I found it impossible to relax, so I decided not to over think about what I was doing and just rely on my ability.

I try the same with golf and it does help. having a pre shot routine also helps as after a while you don't think about what you are doing.
 
@therod, Cheltnamhacker. I appreciate your comments. For me, i am very relaxed on the range, even placing myself under 'pressure'. But when playing, I tend to take say a 5 iron of the tee, which I know can hit very well and straight, instead of my driver or even my 3 wood as I am nervous of it going wrong, resulting in an 7,8,9 or no Stableford points. Hence me asking for any tips of playing through that "What if it goes wrong?" fear. Cheers
 
Should sign up for an Audible account free trial, and listen to the Bob Rotella Audiobook "Golf is not a Game of Perfect". You need to develop a pre-shot routine that gets you properly prepared for your shot, confident and able to let the shot go. You shouldn't have anxiety stood over the ball. Look at the target, look at the ball, let the club go.

Also, Golf is your hobby, enjoy it. Pull the driver out, and if it goes wrong, smile, go find it and whack it again. If you're not scoring anyway, what harm will it do? What are you fearful of? What is actually the worst that can happen?
 
njrose51 said:
@therod, Cheltnamhacker. I appreciate your comments. For me, i am very relaxed on the range, even placing myself under 'pressure'. But when playing, I tend to take say a 5 iron of the tee, which I know can hit very well and straight, instead of my driver or even my 3 wood as I am nervous of it going wrong, resulting in an 7,8,9 or no Stableford points. Hence me asking for any tips of playing through that "What if it goes wrong?" fear. Cheers
Click to expand...
Absolutely not having a go, but the sooner you realise that it doesn't really matter, the better you will play.
Everybody likes playing well, but you can't always. Learn to enjoy it and you'll play better by default.

Some fellas on here bang on about psychology and swing mechanics, sounds like they're having no fun at all :(
 
There is nothing to fear! It's only a game. Enjoy the good shots and don't dwell on the bad ones. The only person putting pressure on is yourself no one else cares.
 
I really don't like hearing the word fear in regards to playing golf, or any sport. No-one should play with fear or anxiety about their game or their score. It's a hobby, we should enjoy it. I've never had fear as such, but since I've made a conscious effort to worry/think less about my technique and think only about the direct target I'm aiming for, my scores have tumbled, and I've enjoyed the game much more. You shouldn't fear playing golf, or playing any shot, you should love it.
 
I was struggleing with my game last year worrying that my handicap wasnt comimg down.
mentioned it to a friend over a beer and his attitude was its not life or death just enjoy what you can do and stop worrying about results.
And thats how ive been playing this season. No drop in handicap but playing some nice golf.
So as a few others have said just go out and enjoy it:)
 
therod said:
How much did it cost homer??

I'm always slightly puzzled by these threads. Not being critical but fearful of what?

No handicap golfer should need sports psychology surely. If they do, they really need some perspective:o
Click to expand...

Not sure I'd actually call it psychology to be honest. More a simple way of explaining what we already know we should be doing and not doing. Ask some of the others that went to the Grove. Pretty sure they'd say it was definitely not anything in the psychological camp and that we actually need to keep a perspective on what we think and do on the course. Just a different way of presenting it
 
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