How do you keep from sabotaging career rounds??

[jcard71]

My index is 6.2 right now and my last two rounds have been 73 and 72. I also shot 72 last month but it was a more even 35-37.

I had 6 birdies in a tournmament yesterday, and I shot 31 on the front nine (career best) and 41 on the back nine for an even par 72. The course slope is 132.

One of the great golf books Ive read, was "Zen golf, mastering the mental game" which talks about staying in the moment. When I came in with a 31, I tried distracting myself by talking to my playing partner about something "other" than golf...which worked for a few holes on the back, but the thoughts of shooting in the 60's kept creeping back into my head...

Anyway, just wondering what some of you do out there from a "mental" stand point when you know you have a career round going and you want to stay in the moment and not sabotage it?

[billm408]

Tough one. Hard to not know where you are in the round, but adding the score up has been the kiss of death for me in the past. I've played my best when I'm not even paying attention to the numbers. Kinda goes to your zen philosophy, but I can't really define it. If you haven't experienced it, I can't explain it and if you have, then I don't have to.

So you put up a 31 and then crept your way back up to a number that has become your comfort zone (low 70's). I think the hardest thing about going low is getting comfortable outside of your comfort zone. A lot of people flirt with a career round only to find themselves shooting their "normal" score.

If there was a pill or magic trick I could share with you on this one, I'd be rich!!
Good luck and keep at it... it'll happen. And usually when you're not expecting it. One day you'll finish your round and the number will surprise you. And the funny thing is, it probably won't feel like you did anything heroic... just played steady. Got up and down, hit fairways and greens and knocked down a couple of putts that you don't always make.

[$2 Nassau]

My career round came late last year, shot a 77. I just kind of turned the tables on the conventional thinking. I didn't get conservative and safe, I got extremely aggressive. Was hitting my driver better than ever that day so on the back 9 I just kept hitting it, as hard as I could. I hit it on tight holes where I would normally hit a 3 wood. I just tried to keep the pedal to the floor- aimed right at the flagstick, flirted with trouble, hit putts really firm, etc. It worked, for me anyway. Some days you have it, some days you don't. That day I had it going so I tried to just run with it and take advantage. Cost me a double-bogey on the last hole, but no regrets.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I think $2Nassau made a good point. You must stay aggressive and dont play to protect your score. Thats the real kiss of death, not so much adding up the numbers in your head. Being at a carrer low through 14 or 15 or whatever is irrelevant, because you still have holes to play. So play them in the same way that got your score there in the first place.

[CarlSpackler]

The best thing to do is to think about the shot and not the result. Easier said than done of course, but when things are going well for me (not often) I just take delight in the surroundings and what not. I will look for a bird or some element of nature and just observe it while I am walking to my ball. I find this relaxes my mind and reminds me that there is more going on in the world than my round of golf which relaxes my mind. I will do this when I am having a bad round as well and it helps keep me from blowing a fuse.

[laxbballgolf]

I agree with $2 Nassau. I just focus on making birdies. It's tough not to psyche yourself out, but the best way that works for me is to really focus on making a birdie and hopefully leaving at worst a tap in par. I always try to play smart, but taking it one step further and playing conservative is never good for me. My best round is still just a one under par 71, but I hope to break 70 this year. 31 for nine holes is sick! Congrats!

[DavidFehertysBike]

I know when i make birdies, i just want more. Stay greedy and your score will work out..lol.

[$2 Nassau]

I agree with $2 Nassau.

You know, I've been doing that as well lately. As a 12/13 handicapper my legit birdie chances certainly don't come every hole, but if I stand on the tee and say "I need to hit my tee shot there, so then my angle for my 2nd shot will be such and such, allowing me to take trouble out of play and hit this part of the green for a nice birdie chance." etc.

Sometimes it may go exactly as planned, and sometimes (usually) I only pull off one of the shots I planned. But say I screw up my 2nd shot and land in a greenside bunker, I just tell myself I'm going to hole the bunker shot for birdie. It helps me hit better shots and it has allowed me to make more pars.

[Prairie Golfer]

I can say with absolute certainty that I have NO idea.

My best front 9 ever is a +3 39. Tonight I was just +2 through six and finished with a 44.

[Kcas77]

Take aggresive shots with a conserative line. Meaning take a good rip at the ball but dont try to hit the ball somewhere where you shouldnt be trying to hit it.

[McGolf-Doggie]

The best thing to do is to think about the shot and not the result. Easier said than done of course, but when things are going well for me (not often) I just take delight in the surroundings and what not. I will look for a bird or some element of nature and just observe it while I am walking to my ball. I find this relaxes my mind and reminds me that there is more going on in the world than my round of golf which relaxes my mind. I will do this when I am having a bad round as well and it helps keep me from blowing a fuse.

Another very good CS post.

Having been starved for golf the last few years, I just try to appreciate to the max the chances I have to be out there period. Good round or bad round, no matter. Sometimes I barely have time to write down my score for a hole; forget about adding it up as I go along. So I'm usually blissfully unaware of the total until the end. And like to keep it that way. Oftentimes it surprises.

[Three Putt]

My index is 6.2 right now and my last two rounds have been 73 and 72. I also shot 72 last month but it was a more even 35-37.

Sounds like you are on your way ......shooting an even par on a 132 slope. I am a 6 and my best is a -2 on a 127 slope, with a couple of even pars and +1, +2's.

I don't know..my great rounds seem to happen when I have good course management and I putt well of course. A couple of chili dipppers seems to wreck my mindset. I always seem to hit plenty of great shots, somedays I am in the zone and can't miss (for me anyway)

[shades9323]

I try to remember that it isn't a "career" it is just a game. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I have plenty of rounds left in my life to score well.

I had a similar experience when I was playing highschool golf. Shot a best ever 34(2 under) on the front. Moved to the back and lost my rythem due to slow play and lack of mental toughness. Ended up with a 42 on the back for a 76. It was still my best round by 2, but could have been better.

[jcard71]

Thanks guys! A lot of great suggestions!