Positive thinking

[chrisd]

I have read a fair bit on golf psychology but some times it's forgotten, or not put into practice properly. Yesterday I played in a four ball, two of us played in the monthly Stableford and one guy who holds pro status but is looking to go back to amateur.

On the 1st 9, after a rush to the tee and no chance to even have a warm up (or be held up for an hour +) I shot a sorry 14 points and, although there were a few good shots in there, there were even more poor ones. I do have the tail end of a heavy head cold though and felt rough. Normally I'd let that situation slide into a similar back 9 and, at best, a 28 to 30 point total

The pro lad just said on the turn, when I was negative about my prospects, "you're only 4 over your handicap for that 9, a birdie and a few pars and your back on track". Realising he was right I concentrated harder and I then went birdie, birdie, par, blob, par, bogie, par, par par for 22 points and 36 points overall. So he was right - never give up trying!

Any good tips/ help/ advice worked for you?

 

[ManinBlack]

I don't know whether old age has made me wiser, or what, but I find that nowadays I try 100% on every shot. Bad holes don't affect me now half as much as they did in my younger, club throwing, days. I'm sure attitude comes into it a lot and I think that if you don't put yourself under pressure by expecting too much you can play in a much more relaxed way. As amateurs we can't expect to hit every shot perfectly. Just accept the bad ones as part of a normal round & get on with it.

 

[MashieNiblick]

One thing that has worked for me when playing badly is, rather than giving up mentally, to start acting as though I'm playing really well. So walk confidently, keep a sense of purpose, focus on every shot, take care over putts and don't get whingey. Think I got it from an Alan Fine book. You can sometimes get your game back on track quite quickly so at least the whole day isn't a disaster.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

He was absolutely right Chris, a birdie/nett birdie for 3 or even 4 points and suddenly everything can change. A couple of them on the back 9 and your front 9 deficit is either wiped out or you have given yourself a good chance to make buffer. Seen it happen many times, always worth hanging in there, especially in stableford format :thup:

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I think far too many people judge the round on the first 9 holes and end up with a bad score as a result. For me personally, I know I can shoot par or under for 9 holes as I have done it many times before so I always know that there is a chance. Even if I have used all of my handicap on the front nine, I know that I can still make buffer so that is what I aim for. If the buffer is out of the question I set another target, even if it is to break 90.

I'm not sure any one particular tip got me to this but it's something I have said to many people in the situation you were in, the problem is, I'm not sure most people have the belief that they can actually do it.

 

[Siren]

Ive been lucky enough to play in a couple of Pro Ams and some of the low handicappers have drilled into me you can always recover, a blob is only two pars on holes you have shots on etc or a birdie.

I always seem to have that belief I can make buffer and the the same as Hawkeye if thats impossible I always set another target.

 

[JustOne]

Any good tips/ help/ advice worked for you?

Use the flat end to hit the ball.

 

[chrisd]

Use the flat end to hit the ball.

That's the trouble with you James, always so technical