What do you do to refocus?

**whattaguy** · September 28, 2009

So yesterday, I was playing quite well. I was crushing my drives right down the middle. I was saving pars when I didn't hit GIR. I had three pars in a row, then got to the most difficult hole on the course. It was a 450 yd par 4. I hit my drive about 260 down the middle with about 190 left. My lie was slightly downhill. I figured that I'd swing an easy 4-iron. I cut it pretty bad into the green side bunker. The ball was about 4 inches below my feet. I skulled it right over the green and into the water. I dropped 4 and got ready to pitch it about onto the green, but I chunk it and it goes about 5 feet still in the rough. Let's just say I finished that hole with an 8.

I know that I needed to play that bunker shot better, but what do you do to regroup after a disaster shot?

I finished nine 8 over.

**MiniMoe** · September 28, 2009

The most important things are to take your time and not think about what happens if..... You have to hit each and every shot without thinking about results. After you hit in into the water and took a drop, that chip shot was just a chip shot like you have had thousands of times. If your thinking, "man I can't believe I just skulled one into the water. I need to get this one close so I don't make a huge number", you are not focused on the shot at hand. Thinking you have to get it close is not effective, because you are not thinking about how to get it close. Instead, take a deep breath, and tell yourself that it is an easy chip. Get it on the green and at worst, two putt.

**kennay92** · September 28, 2009

ive found, as hard as it is, you have to not get mad about it. Cause think about, when you hit a good shot, you feel good about it, which most likely leads to your next shot being good.. so if at all you could think of the positives that came out of the bad shot. it could help you save par or whatever you are going for.. also play the shot your attempting right then and let previous shots rid your mind.

**MMouse** · September 28, 2009

I think of the number 1, as in the next shot being my first stroke. I just try as hard as I can in every way to imagine the next shot is my first. For me, if I allow myself to start adding them up, already thinking I'm stuck with a 6,7 or 8 at best, then I'm done.

pweenie · September 28, 2009

Yes you have to concentrate on the moment and not the past.
I find it best to look forward to the next shot and think of it as fun and a challenge - no matter what went before.

**Shindig** · September 28, 2009

Rubber band. Keep a rubber band on your wrist and - literally - snap it as a physical cue that it's time to refocus.

I got the idea from Paper Tiger and it seems to work pretty well.

**whattaguy** · September 29, 2009

All great thoughts, thanks!

**TN94z** · September 29, 2009

You have to make yourself forget about the shot after it has left the clubface because there is nothing you can do about it anyway. Draw an imaginary line behind the ball and in front of the ball. While you are standing behind the line in the back of the ball, feel free to think about different shots and how you want to play the hole. Don't cross the back line until you are confident in that shot you have decided upon.

Once you cross the back line, don't second guess yourself or have any doubts. Trust your decision and let the swing go.

If the shot is bad, think about what might have happened and why you got that result. If you need to let off steam, do it now.

Once you cross the imaginary line in front of the ball, all your thoughts should be of the next shot. There are no more reasons to think about the shot you just hit.

**Fozcycle** · September 29, 2009

Since My Grandfather taught me how to play when I was 8 (50 years ago)......I usually just think of him and all the time we spent together on the course. I am then able to quickly re-focus and move forward.

kjb008 · September 29, 2009

You need to relax and think confidently about your next shot because if you think your going to mess up then you will feel yourself getting syched out and you will mess up. There are so many worse things that you could be doing when your golfing so go out and have fun because if you let one shot bother you it will kill your whole round.

**PEZGolf** · September 29, 2009

So yesterday, I was playing quite well. I was crushing my drives right down the middle. I was saving pars when I didn't hit GIR. I had three pars in a row, then got to the most difficult hole on the course. It was a 450 yd par 4. I hit my drive about 260 down the middle with about 190 left. My lie was slightly downhill. I figured that I'd swing an easy 4-iron. I cut it pretty bad into the green side bunker. The ball was about 4 inches below my feet. I skulled it right over the green and into the water. I dropped 4 and got ready to pitch it about onto the green, but I chunk it and it goes about 5 feet still in the rough. Let's just say I finished that hole with an 8.

Here is what I do, and it does work (most of the time, anyway):

1. Take my time before the next shot. If I rush to hit the next shot because I am ticked off at myself, one bad shot will lead to another. So, I take a deep breath, and walk away from the ball, and clear my head. If that bad shot is a long one, this makes my job easier. I take my time walking to the ball, and tell myself to forget what just happened and play a smart, smooth shot. I never ride in a golf cart, so this gives me the time I need to "regroup". 2. My main goal is to minimize the damages, and not let a bad hole become a double bogey or worse. The shot after the bad one is critical. If I hit that one well, I can salvage something out of the hole, and not blow the entire round.

Maker · September 30, 2009

Honestly, 9/10 times I'll drink a beer and say screw it...nothing relaxes like a buzz.

On the other hand, if I'm serious about the round I will get pissed, and on the next hole make a concious effort to slow down. Take more time lining up the shots, and maybe take a little off the swing power so I get some control back. A little self pep talk doesn't hurt either. If that doesn't work...I drink another beer.

jefftommy06 · September 30, 2009

I find it best to look forward to the next shot and think of it as fun and a challenge - no matter what went before.

That's exactly what I try to do, forget about where the last shot ended up and think of your next lie as a new challenge, or more practice. Besides, it's boring hitting it from the fairway everytime.

**Golf'nBiker** · September 30, 2009

Keep 'em come'n guys....I could have used this thread this a.m. Went to the GC w/my A$$ on my shoulders, 1st t-box all I wanted to do was demolish the ball...did so even, to rather close to the green...went on to par it but still PO'd...lost a ball on #2 thru #6 and just said...well, I wont type what I said and came back to the house. Didnt have the right frame of mind to 'relax' anyhow and probably just should have not gone in the first place. So, sorry for the thread-jack, my belly ache'n hasn't got anything to do WITH re-focusing.

Pacman · October 3, 2009

This is all about playing 'in the moment'. Forget what has gone before, it's gone, worrying about it, or getting annoyed about it won't change anything. I read an article by Gail Smirthwaite about a golfer called Tommy who had an aflicton that made him a fantastic golfer. That affliction was that he only had a 10 second memory, so every shot he played was in the moment, no bad shot ever put him off. I think the article is on her golfmindguru website in the newsletter archive. The story really made me think.

Also, when you put the ball in the water, were you trying to keep out of the water, or on the green. There's a huge difference.

**R7Player** · October 5, 2009

Id say quit beating yourself up and give yourself a pat
for courage to try. Golf is a game played between your ears.
it's decision making. You learned alot from that bunker, how not
to play it. You'll get em on the next hole.

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What do you do to refocus?

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