Playing under pressure - getting quick at the top?

[busterblue2]

Just played a great track in CT - Black Hall (Old Lyme) with a strong golfer (3 hcp) and a couple other buddies (I am a 12 index).  The 3 hcp kept it down the middle and long - I found myself pressing and struggled with some pulls and hooks throughout the round.

My question is how do you keep your tempo (especially at the transition) when faced with pressure situations?

[inthecup]

Originally Posted by busterblue2

Just played a great track in CT - Black Hall (Old Lyme) with a strong golfer (3 hcp) and a couple other buddies (I am a 12 index).  The 3 hcp kept it down the middle and long - I found myself pressing and struggled with some pulls and hooks throughout the round.

My question is how do you keep your tempo (especially at the transition) when faced with pressure situations?

The question of the ages.  I played in a invitational this weekend 4 rounds over 4 days and by the last day I had lost my tempo and could not get it back.  My past fix would be slow down, shorten your swing, play an extra club.  I think I may have been over served the night before also, that did not help.

I look forward to some other opinions.

[Bpurc22]

I actually experienced this the other day. I was playing at a new course with my aunt and uncle and wanted to blast a drive to show i could play. I went back, hurried my front swing/didn't fully go back and just blasted it left, no draw no pull just straight left. So basically my next couple shots i just really exaggerated the top of my swing. I probably hit some of the nicest lookimg drives I've ever hit the next couples holea haha

[busterblue2]

So one key swing thought (because that's all my brain can handle) is to make sure my back faces the target at the top before beginning the downswing

[The Recreational Golfer]

Originally Posted by busterblue2

So one key swing thought (because that's all my brain can handle) is to make sure my back faces the target at the top before beginning the downswing

Yes, but you can still rush your swing. Think, "Patience." Patient going back, patient starting down. Trust that the speed will build up and be there when you need it.

[saevel25]

I like to swing with my eyes closed, because if you get quick your going to fall over. It forces you to be more inbalance than before, because you don't have the visual depth perception. the same trick is to swing with the feet together, if you swing to fast or out of sync your going to finish off balance.

[McKee]

When playing under pressure and struggling I used to find myself going down the list of swing fixes, ending up with a round where no two drives looked alike.  Eventually I identified what was different under pressure - grip pressure, paralysis in my left side, and the right side trying to compensate.  I abandoned all swing thoughts except "soft hands", I use the practice swing to engage and wake up the left side of my body, I align myself to a specific spot and then just let it go where ever it wants to go.  Because of the adrenaline I may still get off to a rocky start but if I stick to this routine it always comes through.

Everyone has their own physical reaction to pressure but I think that tight grip pressure is the most common ailment. Along with psychological turmoil, tight hands are a result of trying to steer the ball and not trusting the swing.

[Tomboys]

Originally Posted by McKee

When playing under pressure and struggling I used to find myself going down the list of swing fixes, ending up with a round where no two drives looked alike.  Eventually I identified what was different under pressure - grip pressure, paralysis in my left side, and the right side trying to compensate.  I abandoned all swing thoughts except "soft hands", I use the practice swing to engage and wake up the left side of my body, I align myself to a specific spot and then just let it go where ever it wants to go.  Because of the adrenaline I may still get off to a rocky start but if I stick to this routine it always comes through.

Everyone has their own physical reaction to pressure but I think that tight grip pressure is the most common ailment. Along with psychological turmoil, tight hands are a result of trying to steer the ball and not trusting the swing.

Great analysis.  Well done.