Lesson learned. Too much time = bad for my golf

[MiniBlueDragon]

Lately I've started to notice a pattern with my playing whereby my ordinary shots are a bit sub-par and I play some of my best shots when I least expect to. I think I've realised why it is but I figured I'd share in case it helps anyone else out.

I find my best shots normally occur, in no particular order:

• When I've been offered to play through a group.
• When I have a group watching me, e.g. on an adjacent green, on the first tee etc.
• When a player has played onto my fairway and is waiting for me to play my shot first before they take theirs.
• When I've played quite a few holes where my golf has been poor and I'm thinking, "Blah. Can't be bothered now"
• When I'm just happy to be out in great weather and I'm enjoying the scenery and weather more than the game.

I think the reason for them could be to do with how much time I give myself for a shot.

If I have the time I tend to approach the ball, stand behind it, check my target line, imagine the shot I want to play, take a practice swing behind the ball, walk around to the ball, check my stance, check my ball position, take a waggle, re-grip a little stronger, adjust my stance if it's not great, adjust my position from the ball, take another waggle, start my backswing making sure I don't rotate the club face open too much, allowing my left knee to flex as much as it needs to, hold my breath at the top of my backswing and let rip.

If I don't have the time (or I can't be bothered!) I tend to check my target line, walk up behind the ball, take my stance and check it's nothing "too bad", waggle once, think "nice and smooth" to myself and then let my swing do it's thing.

Anyway it's taken me a while to realise it but if I can streamline my fussing over the ball and just relax I reckon my game will come along tenfold based on this light bulb moment.