Why does it happen?

[Basher]

Played a round last Sunday with a mate. Not too bad if I'm honest but several plenty poor shots as well as some bloody good 'uns.
Called up after work last night. Wandered down to the practise area, hit several balls with the 7 iron then jumped onto the 14th and played the last four before it got dark. The difference was quite amazing.
Hitting great off the tee. Distance not awesome but good for me and very straight. On the fairways I was hitting some cracing shots (weakest part of my game) chipped on well around the greens and putted quite well.

Why the hell can't I do that when I'm playing with company or competitions?

Is it the mental side? Playing solo, no pressure? Is it due to the fact that I'd knocked a few practise bals?

It's a funny old game!

 

[fastmover2]

Mental side I would imagine! Also how many times do you warm up before you play usually.

Probably trying a bit too hard against your mate, we all ahve a tendency to push it against certain opponents, usually with an undesired result.

When you play your mate totally ignore what he is doing/scoring and focus on your game and getting the best score YOU can on any hole.

 

[CrapHacker]

Why the hell can't I do that when I'm playing with company or competitions?

Is it the mental side? Playing solo, no pressure? Is it due to the fact that I'd knocked a few practise bals?

It's a funny old game!

From the bottom up.....

Yes, yes, yes, and You can, you just don't.

Why don't you ? Coz you're human, and every bit as fallible as the rest of us.

Just a few thoughts.

1) You only played 4 holes. If you had played a full round you probably would have blown up on a few if not several.

2) You weren't trying too hard. Against opposition, especially a mate, we often try too hard to play the perfect drive 280 yds down the middle. Missing the drive makes the rest of the hole pretty tough.

3) If you want to score well in any particular game you have to know yourself, and how to get the best out of yourself. Personally, I never have been able to play my best when I'm out with a mate. But I've worked out how to score as well as I can when necessary.

For me to score well competitively, I need to know the course, and I need to work backwards from the hole to the tee mentally before I tee off. I think it's fair to say that in all my best rounds I never go in a bunker, or get into any serious trouble.

Obviously there's loads more to it that that, but if you only ever play shots you KNOW you can make 90% of the time, then the game becomes a tad easier than trying those 50/50 shots which can get you in trouble. ( Of course, never trying those 50/50 shots makes the game blimmin' dull - just decide which rounds are for fun, and which ones you wanna win ) .

 

[Herbie]

Know how you feel Basher, on Mon I shot 78 gross, on Wed I did a rare thing and spent 4 hrs at the range and just about everything was working fine.....come sunday comp 7 pars 7 Bogey's, my golf wasnt really that bad, then what the hell happened in just 4 holes that left me shooting 91? I think finding 4 lies against 4 trees wasnt helpful

I dont think I will practice before a game any more.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I always play better on my own. Down in the most part to knowing my own limitations and playing within them. I'm not too bad in competitive rounds as I have enough experience to fall back on and a lot of good mind sets (Rotella etc) to help me focus. I tend to come unstuck in the £3 per head Saturday games with my mates where I try too hard or force the issue and play silly shots and always seem to have a much quicker tempo.

Mind you Rotella et al couldn't stop me blowing up on 17 and 18 today when the prize was in sight. There always next week

 

[Herbie]

On Mon when I shot 78 I was playing a pal, so I cant even use that as an excuse

The ground has hardened up now and although the extra distance is lovely when all goes well, its not when you get a bad bounce. must concentrate on being more precise down the middle as the bounces today were wicked, but I will be ready for it next time.

 

[golf_bug]

Mental pobably.
My best score ever was 10 over gross when I was playing off 22 in a Saturday stableford. Shooting that low a score at that time was the worst thing that could have happened as far as my golf enjoyment goes. Every time I go out I expect to play as well as I did that day, and every time I can't, even though I am a much better player now.
My goal for this year is to start to enjoy the game again and to try and not put immense pressure on myself. It is, after all, only a game.

 

[Herbie]

It really boils down (in response to OP) to not knowing sometimes why it happens, I cant say that today I had any mental issues, I was relaxed, my short game was great, my putting was superb (apart from the 4 holes I gave up on) 5 of the 7 pars were so close to birdies its unreal, I made 7 holes GIR and one to the fringe and only 3 putted once, it all went with Driver and Long/Mid irons. The trouble with my h/c is that if you have had a few bogey's and then get just one 8 or 9, you tend not to try too hard as its a big ask to get back into it, so if you have another baddy its not worth trying to break your back over, I dont believe in wasted effort and when the winning nett score was 67 (I think?) I would have to gross 76, its hard work sometimes and I dont like working too hard for nothing.