How to deal with the mental game?

[tanktwo2]

I can normally hit the ball great, whether at the range or in my back yard.  Hit everything flush, just feels like I couldn't hit a bad shot if I tried.

When i'm on the course or if someone is watching, I have a horrible time trying to focus and hit a good shot.  It's so damn embarrassing because I know I can play well.

I'll be on the course by myself, shoot mid 70's, and hit great shot after great shot.

Then I go play a round with a guy who won't shut up and hit high 80's --low 90's

It's extremely disheartening because I practice so much and try so hard..lol

anyone have any tips?

[newtogolf]

I just started reading James Bartlett's new book, " Think like a Caddie, Play like a Pro .".  There are some good tips on how to approach the game mentally before and during play here.  I've been playing less than a year so it might not be as helpful for you but worth a look.

[tanktwo2]

Thanks...i'll definitely look into it.

[awmgolfer]

I had much of the same issue last year though it was between casual rounds and playing a little more competitively. I also had issues with my driver. I would go on the range and hit my driver around 240-250 and then go on the course and slice it barely 200 yards. I would also shoot upper 70's and low 80's all season long and as soon as I got into our presidents cup or club championship I shot in the mid 90's. Extremely frustrating.

I would high suggest two books, Golf is not a game of perfect by Bob Rotella and Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf by Harvey Penick and Bud Shrake

These two books I was given for Christmas and it has completely changed my thinking. As a teacher I can go into our school gym and do some hitting and my confidence level has just gone through the roof. Neither of these books are too expensive and I read each book in a day or two, quick and easy reads.

[Clambake]

We're all screwed up in the head in our own unique different ways, so there is no knowing what might work for you.    But here are a couple simple things that I've found help:

First, establish a repeatable preshot routine and stick to it, even when hitting on the range.    One universal advice from all the pros and instructors is the importance of this routine in getting you into the right mental set when you have to hit the shot.   Some pros even refer to it as going into autopilot - they've done their routine so many thousands of times that when they first start their routine their mind just sort of shuts out the distractions and they can focus much more effectively.

The second is a tip from Nicklaus who said he approaches every shot on the range with a purpose, and then plays it as if he is on the course.     Just hitting away on the range gets one into a certain rhythm and makes it easy to repeat shot after shot, but you don't get to do that when you're on the course.     It can be effective to just swing away if you're trying to groove a certain swing thought, but range time is more effective if you're using it to "play" shots just like you'd do on the course.       On the range with each shot, pick what you need to do (for example "hit a 7 iron to a left pin with water guarding on the left"), visualize the shot to execute, go through a preshot routine, and then executed just like you're playing on the course.

I've found doing both of these to have a big positive effect on my range practice, with the side benefit that it makes range practice a lot more enjoyable than just banging away at a bucket!

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by tanktwo2

I can normally hit the ball great, whether at the range or in my back yard.  Hit everything flush, just feels like I couldn't hit a bad shot if I tried.

When i'm on the course or if someone is watching, I have a horrible time trying to focus and hit a good shot.  It's so damn embarrassing because I know I can play well.

I'll be on the course by myself, shoot mid 70's, and hit great shot after great shot.

Then I go play a round with a guy who won't shut up and hit high 80's --low 90's

It's extremely disheartening because I practice so much and try so hard..lol

anyone have any tips?

Its a matter of confidence.  Over time, when you get more used to playing golf around strangers and with people watching you it wont both you as much.

I used to always get really nervous when people watched me, but now Im to the point where I dont even notice anymore and couldnt care less whether or not people are watching.

[tanktwo2]

Thanks for the replies guys...I just went out and bought Zen Golf, by Dr. Joseph Parent.

I'm going to get serious about doing the same preshot routine every time, seems to be exactly what I need.

I'll look into the others ones

[Brant17]

I am going to approach this question a little differently. Keep in mind first and for most that this is not coming from me. I am not a golf instructor nor do I claim to be. However, I take lessons from some of the top golf instructors in the country and have learned alot about the game in a short period of time.

On my very first golf lesson I asked my golf instructor the exact same question you are asking this forum. I said..." Why do I hit the ball so good on the range and why do I consistantley shoot in the low 70s when I am playing by myself or with a buddy but I am a mid 80s shooter under pressure? Is it mental? He said and I quote..." No it is your swing mechanics. Your mechanics are not good enough to withstand pressure. When the heat is turned up your mechanics fail. It has nothing to do with your mental game. It has to do with your swing. So lets get it right so when the heat is turned up you dont fall apart"

Boy was he right....my mechanics are now 100 percent better and I can now shoot those low scores in tournaments. Think about it....If your mechanics were great, you would know without a shadow of a doubt that you can go out on the course and no matter what situation you are in your mechanics are not going to let you down.

[tanktwo2]

you are right.  so damn right

even the pressure I put on myself to perform on the course is too much for my mechanics

I went out today by myself, started great went par-par-bogey...hit some really great shots... then it all fell apart...was slicing and topping balls like crazy.  It almost makes me want to quit golf.  I couldn't hit a decent iron shot to save my life (driver was still good though)

I was so upset after my round today. After my round I went out to my backyard 2 hours after playing and pured every single club in my bag, swing felt great, no problems what so ever.

What is wrong with me

[walk18]

It might sound deceptively simple, but when you're on the course, try to imagine you're at the range. Imagine the yardage markers, the tractor, everything. imagine your just hitting another range ball nice and smooth to a target. It takes a little effort at first, but the more you can visualize being relaxed like at the range, you will improve. It worked for me.

[Puttsalott]

Quote:

What is wrong with me

Trying too hard and putting too much pressure on your performance.  The Zen Golf book is good.  The later chapters were most helpful to me.  That and seeing a 2 handicapper I was playing with biff it into the ladies tee box about 20' ahead of us.  A light went on for me, if even a 2 hcp can dork the ball like that, I can just relax and work on my tempo.  I actually shot my best rounds of the year last season during the club championship.  Shot 92 and 93 and won low net for my flight.

I do find I play better when I'm with friends I can relax with, playing alone or with strangers I tense up more and try too hard.

[tanktwo2]

Ugh it is such a fine line though.  If I try to hard I play like shit, if I try to little and try to stay relaxed I play like crap.

[CA53Y]

Originally Posted by tanktwo2

Ugh it is such a fine line though.  If I try to hard I play like shit, if I try to little and try to stay relaxed I play like crap.

I guess (i dont know for sure) but if you keep playing you will find that happy medium, but what do i know im stuck in your same position haha

[golf4fun12]

people who talk during someone's golf shot should not be on a golf course. this is just simple golf etiquette. I can block it out though. sounds don't really bother me, but when someone critiques my shot after EVERYYYYYYYY SHOT, that bugs the shit out of me. I have played with this guy a couple times before just cause I am a single and he is a single and we get paired up randomly and I hate it, but what am I supposed to do. golf god is not looking out for me. anyway, he is the meanest golfer I have ever played with. MEAN!!! every time I putt, right when I strike the ball, he will say something like, "nope" "not hard enough" "gotta go" "to much" "geez, way to hard" these are the few I can remember. but seriously, right when I touch the ball with my putter. not when the ball is half way to the hole, right when I hit the ball. sometimes, on my back swing!!! this was the first round I played with him. the second time I played with him, I played with him, his buddy, and some random single. the single had a hear impairment so he couldnt hear very well. I noticed right away since he would lean in to what I was saying, well, of course the mean guy took at as offensive and just bantered him throughout the round. and he still was calling my putts and my approach shots. my favorite parts were when I made a putt that he said not hard enough too and he would say, "oh" hahahaahahaha. seriously, nothing like "I was wrong" or "nice putt" just a "oh" and then walk away. he also thought he was the shit when he shot his 78. this was possible by not counting above a 5 on any hole while moving the ball for a better lie on every shot. he even boasted about shooting a 78 afterward to us. so F___ing stupid. sorry for getting off topic. but yeah, mental game. good stuff when playing with someone like this guy.

[DeanS]

Well I feel a bit stupid posting this but it did help me:

I suffer from performance anxiety and anger when it comes to my golf game. All it takes is one bad shot. One catastrophe, one mishap, can ruin a perfect day of golf. I tend to feel incompetent when I play poorly as well as get angry and it leads to feeling embarrassed. “Albert Ellis referred to the following perspectives as interfering with capacity to perform in sports to full potential:

1. The belief that you must always have love and approval from all the people you find significant
2. The belief that you must always prove to be thoroughly competent, adequate, and achieving
3. The belief that emotional misery comes from external pressures and that you have little ability to control or change your own feelings
4. The belief that if something seems fearsome or threatening, you must preoccupy yourself with it and make yourself anxious about it
5. The belief that your past remains all-important and that because something once strongly influenced your life, it has to keep determining your feelings and behavior today. (Orlick, 71)”

These five perspectives outline performance anxiety.

Read more: http://sportales.com/golf/golf-lessons-anger-management-at-a-personal-level/#ixzz1Fxs5odRV