Playing Problem

[PuttPutt]

I think jitters affects me big time in golf, for example I can do such things in practice but when playing with my friends and others watching I fail miserably sometimes. Then there are times that I can handle that and shoot well. How do manage that? do you think its concentration?

[slabm7]

I have the exact same problem, I can be at the range or out on the course by myself and feel great, but the moment I play with some friends and address the ball at the first tee my stomach jumps into my throat and get uptight. I am going to start trying a consistent pre shot routine and maybe get a relaxing song in my head to see if that helps calm my nerves and slow down my mind. I don't see where it can hurt any.

[Kieran123]

Chances are people on the course are the same/worse at golf. And TBH, no one cares what happens. If you top it, so what? I am sure they topped it 5 times that same day. Best thing to do is if you DO top it, just laugh.

Biggest critic is yourself.

[nlowplacez]

just pretend your a pro and they are all watching you in amazement and with admiration. really does work.

[alomar123]

I lost all the balls I had in my bag and two guys gave me 3 balls to keep playing. I was so thankful and happy. But, on the next tee all I said was do not lose these balls, and I hit them all in a tall rough to the left. lol. It was bad, since I never hit to the left, it was all jitters.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Everybody who's playing with you wants you to play well, so feed off that. Besides, no matter how bad your shot is, we've all hit worse, so no one will judge you. Just go out and have fun. It's just recreation.

[Chief Broom]

Experience helps with this a lot. Try to play as much as you can with other people rather than playing solo. What you need to do is find your pressure situation and then put yourself into that situation as much as possible. It's the old work on your weaknesses rather than your strenghts. It's somewhat counter-intuitive, but the reason you are good at something is because you tend to work on that more than the stuff you aren't so good at.

The situation you describe is very common, possibly the most common malady average golfers face. I see it all the time. I've got a close friend and occassional playing partner and his game literally collapses whenever anyone watches. He's used to me so he doesn't feel any adverse pressure playing with me (I've seen him hit great shots and I've seen him whiff the ball), but let another group be nearby and waiting for him to hit, or even a course worker stop for him to hit, and almost every time he hits the worst shot imaginable. It's all in his head. They leave and he'll hit a good shot, but let someone walk up and it's like someone flips a switch! You also see a lot of first tee jitters. It's common on a busy morning to have a multiple groups at the first tee waiting and some people let that get into their head. Even allowing them to hit a mulligan may not help because they get so bunged up by their fear of hitting a poor shot that they can't get off the tee in respectable fashion. But like I said put yourself in this situation rather than try to avoid it. After a while you'll grow comfortable in it and begin to be able to play your usual game whether or not you've got people watching.

[Jonnydanger81]

I second getting a song stuck in your head. On the way to the course listen to a few different catchy songs and try to get it stuck in your head. For me it's the last thing I listen to before I leave the car. Then when I'm swinging I'll have the song in my head and all the thoughts of topping, slicing, whatever, leave and my swing just kind of takes over. If all you're thinking about it is "don't mess this up" chances are you're going to mess it up, it's just how it goes.

[saevel25]

Its just you, the club, the ball, and the course. thats it, There is nothing different between playing by yourself than with a group. IF you hit it out of bounds, 99% of the time they have done the exact same thing. Honestly there is nothing to worry about.

If you really need help, try to create a triger. Like before each swing on the driving range you do something. Maybe tap the club on your foot, take a deep breath, ect. Then when your on the course do the same thing, you can mentally bring in that calmness from the range to the course with a trigger.

[danieldrieberg]

That's a common malady. A professional athlete Charles Barkely has taken it to extreme. Relax and play some solo golf. And remember it a game---to be enjoyed. Everyone has shanked a shot. Instead focus on the good ones.

I watched a pro in 10 ten on championship Sunday of the Senior Open chunk a divot farther than the ball. That's a 20 yard shot leaving him 100 yards to go to pin. From a perfect lie in the middle of the fairway. BTW he recovered to par the hole.

. Also saw Johnny Miller hit a topped 3 wood 150 yards.

no worries man---only a game.