Can't seem to put it all together until late in the round...

[Uthinkso]

Curious if anyone else has this issue. I consistently, almost always, play better on the second nine than the first. I'd say the back, but thats not always how it goes.

Last week for example, I hit 51 on the shorter front and then hit 44 on the much longer back. It feels like I use the first nine holes as practice and warm-up. Anyone experience this before, and how did you get past it?

I'm playing a course this weekend that is surrounded by water, and straight shots are of the utmost importance. I'm hoping I don't contribute too many balls to the drink. Wish me luck.

[chingali]

A quick question, how much time do you spend warming up before you play? By warming up I mean do you hit balls for maybe 30 minutes and then hit chip shots for 15 minutes and then go and putt for a half hour or do you just grab your bats out of the car and pile on to the first tee and bang away?

[Jimbo83]

I had exactly the same problem until i started to warm up before hand.

If i know im playing at 11am i will get there about 45 mins before and hit some balls. Also if its a course i have never played before i will go on the putting green.

[mellojoe]

Another thing (something I suffer from) is possibly being more "nervous" on the first few holes. You know, standing on those first tee boxes with the other guys just staring at your swing. For me, this usually gets my nerves a little up, being a beginner playing with guys much better than myself.

Then, after a few holes, I figure out I'm much better off relaxing and having a good time instead of worrying about the score.

If that's the case, then give yourself a routine for the first couple of holes to ensure that you relax. Take a couple practice swings and then close your eyes for a second. Force yourself to smile. Visualize the shot. Then open your eyes, approach the ball, and calmly whack away.

Good luck.

[Uthinkso]

With my league play its only nine holes and I can't get there early enough for any more than a putting warm-up.

Typically thats all I employ, so perhaps thats the problem.

[pjsnyc]

Unfortunately, my home course (Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course) doesn't have ANYTHING! No range, no chipping/putting green, NOTHING! So yeah, I have your same problem, but only because I have no choice...if I could warm up, I would (I do stretch a bit beforehand of course).

Sometimes, if I feel really stiff, I'll tee off from the fronts or mids (and hit hybrid or iron instead of driver) on the first 2 or 3 holes. Seems to help I guess

[tm22721]

My tempo and flexibility both vary during a round. Usually tempo gets worse and flexibility gets better.

[MMouse]

I am the same way. Now I make sure I have time before to either hit some balls at the range first or to do some swing drills to get warmed up. It makes a huge difference.

[chingali]

Another thing (something I suffer from) is possibly being more "nervous" on the first few holes. You know, standing on those first tee boxes with the other guys just staring at your swing. For me, this usually gets my nerves a little up, being a beginner playing with guys much better than myself.

The more you play the less the nerves will be an issue for you, it's all a matter of conditioning.

When I first started playing I'd have the same problem, teeing off in front of people I didn't know, after a while the issue disappeared. Then I began playing in club competition and I'd get nervous for the first few holes, after a while that too went away. Next up was playing interclub events where you'd have a few people following you around and that initially made me nervous but yep eventually it was something I got used to. To cut an already long story short I ended up being able to play in front of hundreds of people and not even notice they were there. Mind you, I don't know if I'd have ever got used to TV cameras, luckily? a lack of ability and laziness with practice meant I never had to find out