Questions for Gary Leboff

[Alex_narey]

Hi all,
Anyone having any particular on-course issues at the moment with the mental side of their game? If so please fire over any questions and the best two will be sent to Gary Leboff for his next couple of columns.

Many thanks
Alex

 

[brendy]

Happy days, I might get a straight answer to this one!
I have a habit of starting badly but finishing strongly.
Things usually settle down after a handful of holes but like last week's medal it is bad enough to ruin an otherwise pretty good round. It usually involves a higher than allowed outer nine then easily beating my handicap back home. Is this a physical or mental problem?
The reason I ask is that our back nine has more par threes than the front nine (par 71 37 out 34 in) so in theory it should be easier to score on the front nine.
What sort of thoughts should I be considering on the first tee or should I be blocking out as much as possible?

 

[Region3]

I've read a couple of books on the mental side of things, and think it makes a lot of sense.

My partner hasn't, and doesn't, and is forever cursing his luck, saying he hates certain shots, can't putt etc.

What's the best way of helping his mindset without sounding like I'm reading from a book.

P.S. Don't really want a new partner before anyone says it

 

[slugger]

We're all guilty (well, most of us) of a lapse in concentration... normally when things seem to be going along well, we'll forget something very obvious and the outcome can wreck a good score....

what's the best way to keep concentration throughout a whole round?

 

[rickg]

I usually have a great run of pars with the odd birdie thrown in, but as soon as I get a bogy, I almost always follow it up with another 1 or 2 bogies before getting back on the par trail.
What can I do to help limit bogies to single holes instead of consecutive holes?

 

[john0]

Whenever I have a bad round I go home and slap the wife and boot the dog. Is there any way of controlling my anger as afterwards I always guilty about the poor dog?

 

[Swinger]

What is the best way to get 'inside' your opponents head in matchplay??


Or more to the point stop your opponent getting into yours!

 

[brendy]

What is the best way to get 'inside' your opponents head in matchplay??

Probably a wedge (driver and woods are too blunt), it could slice the top right off in one go, MD low bounce would be the best choice I think. Imagine Boiled egg and soldiers!

 

[Swinger]

What is the best way to get 'inside' your opponents head in matchplay??

Probably a wedge (driver and woods are too blunt), it could slice the top right off in one go, MD low bounce would be the best choice I think. Imagine Boiled egg and soldiers!

HA! I have been tempted a few times before!

My Vokey only has 4 degress of bounce, that should do the trick.

 

[Ethan]

Can you teach me to hypnotise my opponent so he believes every shot he hits will be a J Arthur Rank?

 

[bigslice]

my course is a 9 hole with different tees. ive yet to improve on the back nine. i believe if it was a 18 hole course i wouldnt have a problem. it just gets in my head ive already played this hole. what can do to get over this mental block. help help

 

[HomerJSimpson]

How do the pros (Westwood on Sunday excepted - harsh but fair) manage to stay so loose and focussed when the heat is on. It can't all be down to pre-shot routines and trusting their swing

 

[viscount17]

What's the recipe for holding things together around the turn? It's usually over three holes either 9, 10 and 11 or 10, 11 and 12. I think if I can just slow the hemmorage through these I could start to turn in half-way decent scores.

(That's not to say I can't cock it up elsewhere but nowhere else is it so consistent.)

 

[vig]

What's the best way to prepare for a tee shot that doesn't suit your eye. eg. shot shape a fade and a draw is required. trouble to the right

 

[SammmeBee]

Does actually thinking about/actively working on the mental side of golf affect your game in an adverse way than 'just getting on with it'?