Between shots

Thought it would be quite interesting to find out what you guys catch yourselves thinking about when moving between shots.

With friends, I get distracted. I'm easy to annoy, silly things like shitty unsolicited advice like "don't get frustrated" gets to me really easy. So friends seem to have a tendency to take me out of the game - mind you, I hit a lot of bad shots, which also gets to me.

When I'm alone, I think about what I just did wrong, or I catch myself counting my blessings, for even having the opportunity to play this game - Lord knows much of mankind would give everything for a fraction of the opportunities I enjoy.

As I approach my ball, I get back into thinking about how to take the next shot.

How about you guys?

Meh, depends on the day. I dont do the 'im so lucky' bit, I worked hard for what I have, and im not about to cheapen it with the whole, 'there are people starving and here I am playing golf' bit.

I think about my next shot. What I could have done different on my last shot. What do I need to do to beat whoever im playing with, etc etc. Its not something I ever take note of, what im thinking between shots.

Interested in this particularly because I am sure that, being part of the game, going through a relevant mental exercise between shots can help. But it doesn't seem relevant to think about the next shot when you can't really tell how the ball is lying(sp?) before you get close to it.

You cant tell the lie, no. But you can figure out if youy want to lay up, or go for the green. I mean, its not very often I dont know what im going to hit before I get to the ball. 165 yards is 165 yards, no matter the lie, its still a 7 iron. Im thinking about my angle to the green. Do I want to attack the pin, or go for the meat of the green, knowing its the safer play. There are so many things to think aboput. When im playing golf, my mind is on golf (same as when im not playing, really, lol)

I just think about what a beautiful day it is, what great condition the course is in and how lucky I am to be out on the golf course.  Thinking about bad shots or swing mechanics is never a good thing, nor is staying focused 100% of the time.

At some point you have to break your focus or else you will wear yourself out and not enjoy your round.

I think about golf and nothing but when I am on a golf course.  God help you if you don't.

I usually just think wow I'm horrible followed by damn its so hot.  Yeah I need to work on my mental game.

Not really sure, when i'm playing well, everything just flows.... When i'm not have such a good day all sorts of things go on in my head, I even find myself thinking about business or something over my putts.

When I have a really good round I can recall every shot, almost like the pro's do. On a bad day I can't.

Exactly!!

You cannot be "focused" for 4 continuous hours. When I reach my ball it's back to business, after it's landed I let it go mentally, relax until I get near the next shot.

Hasn't everyone read Bob Rotella's "the Golfer's Mind"?

Ditto.  Once the club goes back into the bag I'm thinking/talking about anything but the next shot or any previous shots from that round.  Once I get to my ball for the next shot, then its time to focus again.

This sort of stuff appeals to me.

honestly, after hitting a shot I normally think about what me and my friends are talking about at the time, then reply to it or continue talking after the shot..normally it's Sports, Job, Women (sshhhhh) etc related....I normally don't think about my shot until I get up on the ball, then repeat the previously mentioned.

A better question would be, what don't I think of between shots? That's when the rest of the world comes back into my brain.

I wait for my playing partners to hit and watch their ball for them. I don't really think about my next shot until I'm right next to it.

I find myself wondering when the beer girl will be coming around again.

I find myself wondering how she fits into those tight pants that look like they were painted on..

Out of curiosity, anybody have any idea what the pros go through? Do they talk about anything golf-specific with the caddy, are they thinking about what to do next...? Anybody know?

I've heard Nicklaus say he tried to think of anything but golf between shots so that he could stay mentally sharp when it was time to hit.

Of course, every pro is different, but my guess is most of them 'switch off' golf for the few minutes between shots...it would totally frazzle them to keep their minds on golf for 5 hours straight.

And now, the most likely answer: They think about whatever enters their damn minds, like the rest of us! If you think about it, the only time they need to be thinking 'only golf' is when they're preparing to hit a shot.