State Mid-am qualifier?

[TN94z]

Our state Mid-Am qualifier signups are in a few weeks. I had planned on playing in the qualifier just for the experience, but I am not hitting my woods well and therefore getting off the tee lately has been less than spectacular. Should I still try it or will I just embarass myself with my woods? I know to do well I would really need to be on with my driver, but I would be getting the "real tournament" experience for years to come. Also, the entry fee is 100.00. All other parts of my game are pretty descent right now. Anyway, I just thought I would throw this out there to get some opinions. I have almost got myself talked out of trying it since my woods are not where they should be.

[Leftygolfer]

Is it one or two rounds? I think you should do it. Even if you suck it up and shoot close to 90 it will be a good experience.

[TN94z]

  Leftygolfer said:

Is it one or two rounds? I think you should do it. Even if you suck it up and shoot close to 90 it will be a good experience.

Well, the qualifier is just one round.

[David in FL]

You prob don't have any realistic expectations of qualifying, do you?

You're doing it for the experience......that experience is just as valuable no matter how well you ultimately play. My .02 is to go for it and have fun.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Play. Youre thinking too little of yourself, and too much of the other players. I was the only one in my group that broke 90 in my state am qaulifer.

[David in FL]

  DavidFehertysBike said:

I was the only one in my group that broke 90 in my state am qaulifer.

You're kidding?! What kind of score actually moved on to the next round?

[TN94z]

  David in FL said:

You prob don't have any realistic expectations of qualifying, do you?

Honestly, no. I dedicated this year to working on my game and getting it to the point next year where I can be competitive in these tournaments. My plan was to play in this to get the experience so I would know what to expect the next time and maybe I wouldn't be that nervous once my game was in shape to be competitive.

  DavidFehertysBike said:

Play. Youre thinking too little of yourself, and too much of the other players. I was the only one in my group that broke 90 in my state am qaulifer.

Really? I was going to do the state am earlier this year but that was the same time I started re-working my swing and I was not ready. The scores in the tournament started at -2.

I guess I am just worried about not playing my best and looking like a hacker or something, IDK. I have exactly one week from today to sign up. The 9th is the deadline. So far there are only 11 guys signed up. I noticed that one of my friends signed up for it. He is about a 2 handicap. Maybe I will work on my woods this week and see how they come along and make my decision from there. You guys are really helping to talk me into it though. If I don't expect to qualify, then what do I have to lose right?...besides the 100.00 of course

[Nickynoodles]

Hey i have been hitting my woods pretty bad lately to. Im playing in a tournament at Jerricho valley about 45 mins away. I almost talked myself out of it because the way im driving but said screw it. I almot know im not going to win because im not as good as the other guys. Im doing it because i want that competitive experience. To know i am playing some of the best around here and see how i stack up. If i slice i slice whatever. If i play the game of my life anything can happen. Look at Heath Slocum. You never know what will happen if you dont try. Give it whirl and see what happens atleast you will get the experience, and just make sure you have fun.

[out_in_30]

you should play. dont be psyched out about your woods either. you are probably just trying to hit them too hard. all you need to do is slow your swing down with them and im willing to bet you start hitting them better.

and..why even be concerned about the idea that if you play bad people will think you are a hacker? I mean, if you play with random people on a regular round and play bad, that is the only glimpse of your game they have to go on and its the same in a tournament, there is no controlling what people think so there is no point in even thinking about that... but everyone has been there before, they know what its like to play bad in a tourney, at least thats how i think when im playing with someone in a tournament round that is playing bad. for that reason I think its the people in the regular rounds that will think you are the hacker haha, not the ones playing in a tourney with ya. definitely play in it.

ive had my share of tournament holes that are a complete disaster; they only serve to make you stronger mentally if you can get through those.

[enis750]

get at er dude
as mentioned above, its the experience u are paying for - and $100 to do so is cheap

who knows, you may shoot like a hero and contend
get ur mind right and think positive and you will play well

[kpaulhus]

I mean whats $100? Really after you play a normal round for 40-50 and sometiems $65? Just think, if you show up and your game is perfect, then that $100 turns into a good investment. If you dont qualify, then you paid $100 to see how you stack up against the competition. If I was you I would sign up and then go work on my woods. You can do it bro dont let anyone tell you otherwise!

[DavidFehertysBike]

  David in FL said:

You're kidding?! What kind of score actually moved on to the next round?

I think 76 (+5 at this course) got in. It was a two site qaulifer, if i remember. I shot 81 though..

Didnt do much better in the publinx qaulifer either, were i shot 83.

[DavidFehertysBike]

  TN94z said:

Honestly, no. I dedicated this year to working on my game and getting it to the point next year where I can be competitive in these tournaments. My plan was to play in this to get the experience so I would know what to expect the next time and maybe I wouldn't be that nervous once my game was in shape to be competitive.

I felt that way too in my first state touraments last year, and it wasnt really that bad. I found out they dont drive the ball like 330, and miss 10 footers just like i do. Just play. You wont shoot 100.

[TN94z]

Man, I went out and played a round with my cousin yesterday and was really working on my woods. I took some advice from some fellow ST members and I am hoping that I am on to something!! I slowed my swing down and made sure to keep good tempo. This allowed me to get my hands in the correct position at impact (something I can't seem to do if I swing too hard) and I was hitting my drive s so pure! They would get out about 200 yards (give or take) and slowly rise up to their peak. I hit 2 drives over 300 with the longest being 315 (these were checked with a SkyCaddie not the scorecard). My ball flight was lower and more penetrating. I got more roll than usual and that is where the distance came from. I am usually all carry. This spilled over into my 3w too. I did some hit some 5-7 yard fades (which I would actually prefer to hit) and I did hit a few that had too much draw and ran out of the fairway. But over all it was a big improvement. If I can hit my tee ball like this over the weekend, I will for sure enter the Mid-Am. I have no worries about my irons....they have been pretty strong for a long time.

[Leftygolfer]

If I were you there is no question I would play. Tournement golf is so much more fun and a good round is more rewarding.

[Cesar]

  TN94z said:

Our state Mid-Am qualifier signups are in a few weeks. I had planned on playing in the qualifier just for the experience, but I am not hitting my woods well and therefore getting off the tee lately has been less than spectacular. Should I still try it or will I just embarass myself with my woods? I know to do well I would really need to be on with my driver, but I would be getting the "real tournament" experience for years to come. Also, the entry fee is 100.00. All other parts of my game are pretty descent right now. Anyway, I just thought I would throw this out there to get some opinions. I have almost got myself talked out of trying it since my woods are not where they should be.

Go for it man....woods be damned. The experience you get playing under the gun is invaluable.

Everything is different in those tournaments. Your mind tends to want to race, your body feels a little more tense and the only way to get past that is reps. Play as many of tournaments as you can just so you can get used to playing in those conditions. As for your woods, if you're anything like me, you're probably swinging too hard. One thing I "try" to do is hit the ball with barely harder than a practice swing and with a good tempo when my Driver starts to to go south. Especially in a big tourney where my natural instinct is to try to bomb it 320 past everybody. It's a lot easier said than done, but start off swinging 90% and see if that helps. If it doesn't, go down to 85%, then 80% until you find that you can hit the ball consistently in play. Also, remember to breathe. I know it sounds funny, but it's very important. anything you can do lower your heart rate is going to help you. Good luck!

[Leftygolfer]

The funny thing about pressure, you might be feeling or trying to swing easy, but in reality your not. I always kind of laugh when people talk about all you have to do is swing easy. There is no easy swinging when the heat is on and there is something on the line. I feel like that is great for beginners, but when you are competing you have to be able to control the ball when you swing hard whether you want to or not. Watch the pros on sunday in contention. They are going after it.

I am not dissagreeing with the above posters, be as smooth as possible in your mind. Look at how far you are hitting it in tournments playing well. You will never hit it farther. The rush of competition is amazing.

[Cesar]

  Leftygolfer said:

The funny thing about pressure, you might be feeling or trying to swing easy, but in reality your not. I always kind of laugh when people talk about all you have to do is swing easy. There is no easy swinging when the heat is on and there is something on the line. I feel like that is great for beginners, but when you are competing you have to be able to control the ball when you swing hard whether you want to or not. Watch the pros on sunday in contention. They are going after it.

The difference is feel vs reality. As long as you feel like you're swinging easy, then you tend to be more in control and on balance. Much easier to get the clubface square at impact in good timing that way. It really doesn't matter that you're swinging harder than you think.