The wrong mindset?

[Hobbit]

For a number of years I've been working on think of the next shot not the last one. Forget the mistakes because you can't do anything about them. I usually know when things are going ok but I couldn't tell you the score. In fact, I rarely bother totting up my score at halfway, believing its the score you sign for after 18 holes that is the only score of relevance.

Fast forward to yesterday's round. I hit some great shots, which I really enjoyed in the moment, and the odd not so good one but typically can't remember them - that bit is working great. But as we walked off the last green one of my playing partners said what a fabulous round it was to watch. One under par on the front 9, level par after 18 and 4 birdies...

Yes, a fantastic round but does living in the moment mean you don't get the high's as you're going round? I enjoyed the birdies as they dropped but they were quickly filed away whilst I went onto the next hole. Is saving the satisfaction till the end of the round detracting from gaining full enjoyment as I go round?

 

[Oddsocks]

I find enjoying rounds like that as you go are awesome, get momentum going and relish every shot. Good shooting for an older age Mexican that is

 

[Imurg]

I guess it depends on what you're after
In a comp it seems like a good way to go because you're definitely after the best score you can put in.
In a more social game you'd lose a lot of the point of being out there.

Can't say I've ever been quite that much "in the zone" though.

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

It can work both ways, but finding out your onto a cracking score can put the pressure on to keep it up. You would never back off if your playing well, but you might end up trying to hard to keep a good score.

I think your doing it right at the minute and just play your game. If it's a good round then you'll know in yourself, if not don't worry about the score and move on.

Now, if only I could follow my own ideas

 

[chrisd]

I think you could be right Hobbit.

Staying in the present is good while you're actually hitting but I do think that feeding off the birdies and realising its a good round helps too. If you get buoyed up during the round it can only increase your confidence, so my view, enjoy it while you can. Well played too!

 

[G_Mulligan]

I would stick with what you are doing, look back and remember those shots after the round but while you are out there just stay in the moment and let it flow. You should get a different level of pleasure when in the zone anyway, rather than bursts of excitement which gets your blood pumping and could possibly throw you out of your rhythm you should feel a quiet level of contented calm which may if anything be more satisfying.

 

[3565]

Just carry on with your mindset, the compliments from your FC's after the round should make you feel good and the score reflects that. In January in a comp, I had the best 10 holes ever, stood on 11th tee I was 6 under gross, then had a stupid thought whilst looking at the ball on the tee,

'it would be nice to keep this ball after this round'

no prizes for what happened next, next 8 holes were the complete opposite and I shot level par. It was hard then to get back to the front 10 way of thinking.

 

[TheClaw]

I suppose the question is - would you have played so well if you knew your score all the way round?

 

[kid2]

My lowest round has been a gross 75.... Like you i hit some not so good ones and down right great ones..... made a few birdies along the way and saved some equally great pars..... Your not alone in not taking the enjoyment straight away..... For me that day it was stay in the present and play the shot now... not ponder on what went.... I took the birdies and pars and it was business as usual on the next shot.... I knew i was playing well and anyone that plays with me knows i dont like to know my scores when Im playing well... But i do get enjoyment after tge round... And i always analyse what i could have done better.... Im always learning

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My mindset in competitive play is notoriously fickle. I was in the perfect place at Camberley and anywhere but where I needed to be in the last medal. Played with Hawkeye today and despite wayward drives, some poor putting and a few iffy chips I managed to just focus on where the ball finished and play the best next shot I could from there. A few technical thoughts crept in on the back nine which I got out of the head and to be honest it was a "hit it, find it, hit it again" day without trying.

On the plus side I have the trip to the Grove to look forward too and hoping the expert will sort my thinking out for once and for all

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The question you need to ask yourself Hobbit

"Did you enjoy yourself on the way round . "

 

[Region3]

I can relate to the OP. I know one shot at a time and only think about the score when you run out of holes is probably the best way to score your best, but on the odd occasion it happens to me I feel robbed of the enjoyment and excitement of living it as it happens.

On a different note I also had 4 birdies today but didn't break 80!