Mental game..argh!!!

[anthony]

I need help with my mental game on the course. Other than today, I've played 9 holes 4 times. Those 4 times, I struck the ball better than I ever have. Off the tee, irons, wedges, chipping, putting, all around great. I was playing by myself though. I've been to the range twice and hit good shots also.

Well, I played with 3 other guys today. One guy I knew and the other 2 I just met. I stepped over the ball on the first tee and it seemed like I forgot everything I knew about golf. I pulled it left, skulled my next shot and barely made a double bogey by sinking a long put. The 2nd hole, which is a par 3 that I've landed the green or had a short chip to land on my previous 4 times playing it, I hit a ridiculous top line drive. Man, I was frustrated.

By about the 5th hole I started to turn it around and get my bearings back. But, I was unsure the rest of the day of my shots and made a couple stupid swings. I knew they were gonna be bad before I swung the club. The last 4 or 5 holes I felt great and hit some great shots. I landed a par 5 in 2 that I usually land 75 yds short of. So, I felt a little better about the round.

I know it was all mental. 100%. I've been playing better than ever by myself and at the range. It's ridiculous how I played today. The worst part is, the two I never met weren't even that good. If I was playing how I did when I shot by myself I would have been at least 10 strokes better than them and they both beat me.

Do I just need to play with people more or does anyone mental game tips?

[Dave H]

This has happened to me a number of times. I think the biggest thing is learning to relax in front of others. The first time I played with some buddies last year I wanted to impress them just by keeping up as they are all better than me. I didn't get off to that great of a start and the round got worse over time. Near the end I realized how tense I was. I don't think it's possible to hit a good shot when you're tense. I was so worked up in my own mind that while my brain was saying "relax" my body was as stiff as a board. Apparently everything I knew about hitting a golf ball got locked away during that time. That's frustrating.

What I've learned to do is just slow down for a minute and take a couple of easy swings while thinking about things that help me hit a good golf shot. I do this before I set up at the ball. If I think about too many things while addressing the ball, it's sure to lead to a topper at least 50% of the time! I don't know what will work for you, but I think relaxation (both physical and mental) is a big key to playing your best with others.

[The Road Dog]

I think it is born of insecurity. And you need to know I have the same problem. I am fighting it by doing a number of things:

One, I get to the range the day before a round and hit 8 to 12 balls with every club in my bag, I will aim at a specific target for irons/wedges and aim between 2 distant objects with woods, and I am swinging 100% while at the range.

Two, arrive at the course early and do a full warm up routine.

Three, tell myself before I step on to the first tee that I will play MY game and the other players will have to match me.

And the number Four is play the high percentage shot, this is both mental and course management, for me at this stage of my golf comeback I can't reliably hit woods or irons where I aim if I swing at 100% of my swing speed. What I do is back off the speed and use one club down. Hit an easy 5i instead of an all out 6i. Yes the other guys will say they are hitting a 6i and look at me funny but I meant the part about playing my game. I have played 23 rounds since coming back last year but I am getting better.

These steps are working for me. Good Luck finding what works for you.

[ks8829]

Routines are important to keep you comfortable over the ball, do you have a pre-shot routine?

[Golf Hypnotist]

I certainly agree with ks8829 about the importance of shot routines for consistent golf. However, if you are feeling tense and nervous about your game it' can be difficult to remember to use your routines.

For me, the key is to be able to relax on the golf course and enjoy yourself out there. One way to achieve that is through the use of relaxation techniques like self-hypnosis. I've written on my blog about one really weird technique called "finger-breathing" that seems to work for me and the people I play with and coach. You can read about it at http://ow.ly/1uCsE

[saevel25]

The mentality i like to do is try to stripe a bomb down the middle. Make sure there all watching, especially those who don't know me. I hit the ball a ton, and its fun to see the schock factor after you know they wont even come with in 60 yards of your drive. If you can't do that, just don't care. really its just you and the golf ball, those guys can't do anything to bother you with being a complete jerk.

[anthony]

I don't have a consistent pre shot routine. I always line up my shot first, lay the club down facing the target and then setup. As far as the number of times I take practice swings or stand over the ball prior to hitting (which I noticed was an issue) that varies. I plan on making a repeatable pre shot routine a goal this year. Thanks for all the tips.

[shortstop20]

Talk to the guys you're playing with, joke around with them, that will naturally loosen you up without you even realizing it.

[anthony]

I went to the range today with the intent of working on a pre shot routine. Obviously it's not like the course, but I picked out a target on nearly every swing to try and replicate the feel of being at the course (I know I should be picking out targets anyways). As I said before, I setup to the ball the same everytime, so that's half the battle. It's when I'm finally setup and ready to swing that I went mental. Or should I say tensed up. Or maybe a combo of the two.

So, I tried a couple different things over the ball like waggling twice than swinging or tapping the club, looking at the target and then swinging, etc. A few different things. To be honest, that wasn't working. I felt like I was forcing myself to swing on a certain cue and it almost made me more tense. I've tried a pre shot routine like this in the past and today reminded me of why I didn't like it.

I did have a breakthrough of sorts though in relieving tension before I started my swing. I don't know how to explain it exactly, but I did a few real subtle waggles and thought about making my body loose. Not sloppy loose, but void of any tension. I was able to repeat it on all my swings after I tried it too. I guess it's a roundabout pre shot routine. Once I felt loose over the ball, I waited a second and let it rip. Obviously, I haven't took it too the course yet, but being able to "loosen up" after settling over the ball repeatedly is encouraging. I was making great contact with the ball too.