Stop Beating Yourself Up, Dent

I used to be a tennis coach/successful junior tennis player and I've actually noticed your posts, for the same reason, before: you are unbelievably hard on yourself.

This post is off-topic but please take my advice to heart. You either love playing golf or you don't. If you don't then I could care less if you improve or not. But if you do , you've gotta figure out a way to be more confident in your ability to get better. There's a huge difference between being confident that you're the best junior in Canada and being confident that you have the talent to improve , so that you can get to where you want to be at. A HUGE part of that is having a positive attitude when you have bad days, weeks, months, etc. I know it's hard but it's such a valuable lesson - the more you tell others, and yourself, that you're so bad you haven't even bothered to play for a week, the more you're going to struggle. You've gotta get your head in a place where you feel good about your efforts to improve, and don't judge yourself on your immediate results.

I've noticed this from Dent lately too. Everyone dores through the ups and downs, even me. hahaha.

Dent, you're not a bad golfer. I'd love to be where you at right now, just keep playing and having fun, why you being so hard on yourself. I'm the same age as you and I'm a 12 handicap and your like a 7. You're a very good golfer as it is, just enjoy the game...it's GOLF. It's not life or death, jeez.

I agree and Ive told Dent in the past that he needs to just believe in himself. I too have noticed that lately Dent seems to have a very negative attitude towards his game. That needs to stop.

I actually play with Dent usually once a week at the meadows, he usually isn't too bad till he thinks his game has collapsed. Thought i aggree on teh website he talks very down on himself, on the course he can hold his own... except for last sunday lol there he blew up on himself.

jeez, You guys havent even see me play and you know what I'm like, I guess that shows something.

I think I'm just not used to having such big problems like this. Its really frustrating when you have just gotten over this kind of problem and it comes back. You guys are completely right. I think I'm just around this one kid a little better than me, and he constantly acts like that. It drives me up the wall, and I realize, I'm turning into him, No score is ever good enough, no shot is ever close enough. He's probably around a 7 or 6 and shooting 79 and its like the worst score in the world to him.

You guys are right, I'm going to get out there, fix this stupid problem, and shoot some of the best rounds of my life when I return. I haven't been able to golf (need membership back ) but when I do.. It's all positive from there.

CP: Thanks for bringing this up, I never really realized it until I've seen the support and the comments from the rest of you guys, I appreciate it, and I'm sure it can get to some other people when I complain alot.

Awh thats cute Dent

Hey I'm getting better, I no longer throw clubs, or anything. I actually laugh about doubles now! I do need to take it easy.

I dont think that it really annoys any of us so much, we just hate to see you cut yourself down all the time.
Its good to have the attitude of no shot is ever good enough, but you cant beat yourself up over it.
Right now I suck at golf and I know it. That doesnt stop me from having an absolute blast every time I tee it up and being proud of myself when I actually hit some good shots.

I get this all the time.

I don't know if Dent is like me, but I use self-deprecation as a way to "exorcise the demons". Sort of a self-vent that let's me move on. I'm not really that down on myself. No yelling and screaming or anything, but little comments like "dude, stop sucking."

I do that sometimes too. Especially if Im playing by myself, I will give myself a good talking to when I screw up.

I think everything has to be put into perspective.

Today I played with a friend and it started raining. The whole front nine was played in the rain. We had a friendly nassau going and we didn't care about score. We were just playing each other battling for bogeys.

There was so much casual water everywhere it was almost impossible to score.

Geez, I think I'm in the same situation right now. It's the middle of summer and I should be at the top of my game. But I'm not, and I'm so burned out from golf that I don't even wanna play anymore.

Normally when this happens, the next day I get the itch to get back out the and play, but not this time. I just don't have the will to play.

Hopefully a week off will help.

You've done well for yourself lately. We want you to take the positive attitude out there and come back with some good rounds - whether the score was good or if you just had a good time.

I think you need to get out there on a pretty day, with some of your best friends, and (if you are old enough!) drink some cold ones, have a good time ribbing each other, and DONT KEEP SCORE! You are taking the game too seriously man. Time to have fun with it again.

It's not about laughing off double bogeys, it's okay to let them bother you for a couple minutes. Just tell yourself next time you will turn that DB into bogey or par. You obviously have talent, but throwing clubs and things of that nature will just send you backwards as far as progressing with your game.

Also, stop playing golf with that kid who throws tantrums out there. That is ridiculous to expose yourself to that constantly. He's obviously a good player but he will never improve with that attitude.

When you hit a poor shot, take it as a challenge to still make par on that hole...or save bogey if it is a really poor shot. I love grinding out a "workingman's par." I can't always do it, sometimes they turn into bogeys or doubles...but good golfers grind, even the pros. Hell, look at Tiger - probably the best grinder of all time.

If you expect to hit a perfect shot every time, you are playing the wrong game my friend!!

I know I'm a good golfer, I have talent to lower my handicap a little, but It's not my whole game that is bothering me, its just my wedge. This wedge problem is completely ruining my game, I get so down about shanking my wedge around the green completely right that I lose all confidence. I'll be right by the green on par 4 in 3 sometimes, geared for a good par, when I shank 2 wedge shots to end up with triple.

I'm trying to get the "oh no, its my wedge" thought when Im about to hit it out of my head, but I just can't. So I've developed a new strategy for the course: I'll now usually hit the club that will leave me 150 yards out on the hole. Every hole I then take my 8 iron and I'm almost guaranteed a GIR: No Wedges involved.

I feel ya on the wedges, been dealing with that same issue myself as of late. Just need to dedicate a little practice to them and it will work itself out. One thing for you to remember is there a lot of people out there who spend there whole lives playing and never get to where you are at 16.