Pressure Play

[Matty2803]

Hi

I've read New Golf Thinking, although I didn't really understand the concepts, may have to try it again, or was I missing something?

I've read a few Rotella books, but still can't play under minor pressure.

For example at last season's junior club champs, I crumbled and got beat by one. Could've forced a play off with a 10 ft'er on the last.

Then today, I doubled the first. Pars after that until the 7th, 3 pt bogey, and then I birdied 9. Missed 15ft'er on 11 for birdie and a 12ft'er for birdie on 12.

I then doubled 13. I was +5 with 3 to play, and ended up +9 after 18 holes...

What can I do to play better under pressure?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It comes with experience, the more you are in that situation the better you learn to handle it. Don't worry about it :thup:

 

[Matty2803]

It comes with experience, the more you are in that situation the better you learn to handle it. Don't worry about it :thup:

Yeah, fair point! Thanks

 

[Odvan]

Don't be beating yourself up for missing putts of that length, if the link below is right, you'll see that there's no shame in it whatsoever! The more you think you should be putting them, I'd imagine the less likely you will, as you'll be tense over the ball.

Being confident over the putt is a different thing entirely.

http://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.405.2014.html

PS: I'm the worst putter this side of the moon.

 

[mcbroon]

Doesn't sound like you're folding under pressure, particularly. Everyone misses putts from that range. Some on here have been known to miss from closer...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The whole point of New Golf Thinking is it's not suppose to be read cover to cover and used in entireity but for you to pick a couple of key topics and focus on those. It does work but they do need to be worked on

 

[Matty2803]

The whole point of New Golf Thinking is it's not suppose to be read cover to cover and used in entireity but for you to pick a couple of key topics and focus on those. It does work but they do need to be worked on

Ok, I've got the book on my phone, so I can have a look before I start tomorrow!

 

[Matty2803]

Medal tomorrow - I'll just take one shot at a time! Thanks

 

[bladeplayer]

Ya need to find out why ur under pressure first ..
Expectation maybe ? Pressure in golf can only be placed on u by u .. ok we all can get nervous & play bad shots etc ,

First step is belief , you gota believe in your ability , if you have the ability then you gota believe you can make this shot /putt .. if you havent the ability then u need to practice it until you know u can make it, hence taking away the pressure because you now have the belief

Wanting it, is the next thing , wanting to have the putt to win , wanting to lower your handicap & the more times you are in this position the more comefortable u will get the more less pressure you should feel ..

Nerves are caused by fear , dont fear it
Want it , Feel it , Love it , embrace it & you will conquer it

 

[3565]

Hi

I've read New Golf Thinking, although I didn't really understand the concepts, may have to try it again, or was I missing something?

I've read a few Rotella books, but still can't play under minor pressure.

For example at last season's junior club champs, I crumbled and got beat by one. Could've forced a play off with a 10 ft'er on the last.

Then today, I doubled the first. Pars after that until the 7th, 3 pt bogey, and then I birdied 9. Missed 15ft'er on 11 for birdie and a 12ft'er for birdie on 12.

I then doubled 13. I was +5 with 3 to play, and ended up +9 after 18 holes...

What can I do to play better under pressure?

your being too hard on yourself. The length of putts your talking about on the PGA Tour the stats show from 10ft they average 1.62 and at 15ft that goes up to 1.78.
It's hard to practise pressure situations that you find in a match/game and no matter how hard you try you can't replicate it. You'll learn through experience but a couple of tips is to practise a routine that you do over and over again on every shot whatever it maybe, this will help you in pressure situations as it becomes automatic, like driving a car, you don't think about it and just do it and this will place little importance of the coming shot. The other is a simple breathing exercise where you take deep breathes but not to fill your lungs up but to breathe into your stomach and let it rise and concentrate on that area. If you've read some of the Rotella books you would of probably read this all ready.

But the most important part you need to do is acceptance. Accept the outcome of the shot/putt/result and learn from it.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Don't worry it's just a natural learning path for the game - trying hard not to be patronising here.

Several things are important to remember (for me at least, YMMV) mainly it's about investing time thinking about positive outcomes and not negative scenario's:

1. Practice the right things so when you're enjoying the heat of battle you can rely on well practiced shots. Turn the pressure into a chance to show off pre-learnt skills

2. Focus hard each shot, not technical stuff like hands and swing planes etc but just thinking about the shot shape and what it will look like and do for you

3. Play shots you are confident in executing, save the hero stuff for impressing your mates in the evenings ;-)

4. Remember how lucky you are to be out there competing and shooting for good scores; looking like you're going low after a few holes means that you're just having a good day so relax and go with it. Starting badly just means you've a great chance to rally and be proud of that.