Crow
Crow Person
Chipping, it's "doin my ead in".
Sport psych Q&A
- Thread starter G_Mulligan
- Start date
Occasionally, I suffer from defeatism. For example, I've played x number of holes and already used my handicap up. From a realistic point of view, I expect to drop a couple more shots going in, and that's when my head drops. But experience shows that I'm capable of birdying the last 4 or 5 holes and pulling it back.
Where has this defeatism come from, and why am I now suffering from it?
Where has this defeatism come from, and why am I now suffering from it?
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
Same thing happens to me at times. I try and make buffer. as you say, its realism. Experience tells you that you will drop a shot or two on the way in. Especially if you are playing poor front 9.
I am highly unlikely to birdie the last 4 or 5 holes. I am simply not good enough to do that. Yet
3565
Journeyman Pro
im at Moortown tomorrow could do with some psychological help round there if your not busy? :thup:
Farneyman
Tour Winner
How to deal with people who continue to remind you (if/when) you are on a good score, you have a chance of winning etc when you just want to play it one shot at a time.
G_Mulligan
Tour Rookie
Same thing happens to me at times. I try and make buffer. as you say, its realism. Experience tells you that you will drop a shot or two on the way in. Especially if you are playing poor front 9.
I am highly unlikely to birdie the last 4 or 5 holes. I am simply not good enough to do that. Yet
That is a difficult one to sum up quickly but I will have a go.
There is a good saying in sport psychology. "Don't change the task change the nature of your beliefs." You have said you know you can can birdie and par your way home so focus on that. Don't let a negative belief like "I will probably drop another couple of shots" to take hold. Relish the challenge of getting home under par.
Alternatively you could set yourself a different challenge over the last few holes. This could be fairways hit, GIR or number of putts/no 3 putts. Focus only on this and use this challenge to motivate you to continue the round to the end. You just might be surprised by your final score.
Gary you would also need to revisit your comment that you are simply not good enough to do that. You play off 7 so you birdie and Par more holes than you bogey. You have probably had a birdie or a par on every hole on the course just never in the same round. That does not mean you can't string 4-5 together when it matters. You are definitely good enough to do that.
Changing beliefs and negative thought patterns is definitely easier said than done but it is entirely possible.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
Ive played thousands of holes and never once hit 4 never mind 5 birdies in a row. most of these have been in pressure off situations.
I am simply not good enough to do that when I really need it. sure I could and do par them easily enough. getting that many birdies is tough.
I usually don't let my head drop and see a new hole as a fresh chance to play well.
I am simply not good enough to do that when I really need it. sure I could and do par them easily enough. getting that many birdies is tough.
I usually don't let my head drop and see a new hole as a fresh chance to play well.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Someone comes on with a valid question and asking for help and you have to look for an "angle" and question the motives. From my point of view and in response to the OP my input is simple. How to turn off the technical thoughts especially on chips
3565
Journeyman Pro
this is what I'd like you to focus on in your videos, as it is hard to stop the negative thought patterns. Maybe you could explain the scenario like garryinderry has given then give us your spin on it and how the psychology would work.
3565
Journeyman Pro
you need to make your chipping reactive. I've been struggling myself, and reverted to my musical days playing guitar, and that's counting. I use my walking pace to create the rhythm, as I walk I count the paces 1,2,3,4, over and over and you get some rhythm. I use this rhythm while chipping so when I'm counting the rhythm in my head, when I say 1 I'm looking at the flag/target/landing area, on 2 I'm looking at the ball, on 3 I'm doing my backswing and on 4 I've struck the ball.
It just seems to free up everything and gives the front half of your interfering mind something to do other then saying you can't chip!!!!
Darren24
Assistant Pro
Thinking negative thoughts as I set up for my shot, thinking I'm going to thin it/ hit it fat just generally going to balls the next shot 😁
G_Mulligan
Tour Rookie
errr...yeah what he said.
Technical thoughts will rob you of your natural rhythm and feel for a shot. A 'fluid cue' as it is called stops the analytical front of the brain getting involved with what should be an automatic subconscious action. Numbers are good but I don't usually make it as complicated as 3565 described as this could also get in the way and focus more on the timing to the numbers than to a natural rhythm.
I usually suggest one number or a set of numbers. Nice soft numbers are best like one, seven, nine, or eleven. You approach your shot and analyse the conditions, select the club and line up the target as usual. Then switch off the analytical brain and make your thoughts very quiet and very soft, repeat your number over in your head and make it quieter and quieter and further and further to the back of the head and down the spine. Then just swing. Don't think of target, or outcome, or length of stroke or whatever else is getting in there at the moment.
It can be difficult at first but once you get the hang of it and practice it it gets easier and quicker to get right and the results can be quite remarkable. It is a great way of getting into a state of flow and making a smooth rhythmic swing when the pressure is on.
3565
Journeyman Pro
Err mine is more complicated????
How do you switch off the analytical mind?
How do you make your thoughts very quiet?
How do you make the numbers go further into the back of your head and finally,
How the hell do you make it go down your spine?
You even admitted that your technique can be difficult, how can you teach someone that technique and when does that person know that they will be in a state of flow?
Im no psychologist and I'm not wanting to disrespect your profession, i believe that psychology plays a part and I have the Rotella, Parent, Galloway, Nielson & Marriott books and read them all and unless I've missed read them that's the first I've heard of the technique your describing. No offence but I can't see how a simple 1 target, 2 ball, 3 backswing, 4 hit the damn thing, anymore complicated (IMO) then your uncomplicated technique?
virtuocity
Tour Winner
Non loaded question- what are your qualifications Greg?
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
I am of the mind set you really need to think about the technical movements of chips.
First you need to assess the lie and decide if you are going to swing steep or shallow into the ball. Decide what height you want the ball to fly. Work out how far you want to carry it, how much it will run out. You should then take a practice swing or two in order to get the feel for the power in the shot. Do this near the ball to see how the club interacts with the ground. If the club digs too much or catches in the grass you may need to Change club. If good to go then repeat the movement you practised.
Each chip is different so you cant just step up to the ball and switch off. If anything, you need to switch on rather than dumb down your mind.
First you need to assess the lie and decide if you are going to swing steep or shallow into the ball. Decide what height you want the ball to fly. Work out how far you want to carry it, how much it will run out. You should then take a practice swing or two in order to get the feel for the power in the shot. Do this near the ball to see how the club interacts with the ground. If the club digs too much or catches in the grass you may need to Change club. If good to go then repeat the movement you practised.
Each chip is different so you cant just step up to the ball and switch off. If anything, you need to switch on rather than dumb down your mind.
G_Mulligan
Tour Rookie
G_Mulligan
Tour Rookie
No you are wrong. The body has practiced the technique thousands of times and will not forget. If you are a beginner or learning a new technique then you do need to think about it to an extent but once it is ingrained it is best to switch off and let the muscle memory do it's thing. By thinking about it you are getting in the way of the natural instinctive process which is unnecessary and detrimental.
You can do the analysing and assess the lie and type of shot but then it really is best to switch off and let the quiet mind take over.
G_Mulligan
Tour Rookie
Just because you have not come across the technique in those books does not make it valid. I meant no offence and even said you were correct just that I teach it differently. Your way ties the numbers to the action and perhaps this is possible with your musical background but it is not something I would usually suggest. The fact is if your rhythm is off, you are walking fast or slow that day, you are maybe a bit angry with your round or the last shot then it could really throw the technique and your rhythm off and your technique too fast or too slow.
You don't want any technique cues whatsoever. You want to completely empty the mind of all thoughts. I agree it can sound difficult and complicated at first especially when reading it. Maybe I did not explain it very well but I usually do it in person one on one. When you get the hang of it though it is very easy to quiet and soften the numbers and send them back and down.
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
I will pay you very very healthily if you can teach me to just "completely empty my mind of any thoughts" on a repeatable basis!
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
I'm sorry you simply can't just step up to a chip and switch your mind off and hope that your sub conscious is a far better player than you. It simply doesn't work like that. I've seem countless people not think about what they are doing and they make a complete has of it.
If what you are saying is true you would never see a pro take a practice swing on a chip. Why would they? They've hit countless. Even they practice the swing to find where they want the club to bottom out. They practice how long they want the back swing to be. They practice if they want to abbreviate the follow through. They practice the tempo and power of the stroke and try to feel if that is what they are looking for. They imagine if the swing is enough to create the picture in their head.
They do not step up to the ball and switch off their mind. Anything but. They are fully focused on the task at hand. They relax and play the shot as they have done all the calculations they can and execute the shot exactly as planned.
