How do I NOT lose my marbles after a bad shot/hole?

[x129]

What separates the PGA pros from minitour players is that the PGA pros play better golf. There are minitour players with PGA swings and mid handicap brains but there are also minitour players with pga mental toughness and low handicap swings. On average you will find the PGA pros are just a bit better everywhere but that doesn't tell you much about the individual player.

How to retain your mental balance? It is just practice. You play enough golf you get used the good swings and bad. You take 5 seconds to react to the shot and by the time the club is back in the bag, you are back to thinking about what needs to be done.  When you get to the 19th hole you can play the regret game if you want.

Originally Posted by CBVegas

my original post is asking what do you do.. what is your train of thought..  we all know we are supposed to get over it ...  but how..  is that alone what separates the PGA pro's from the mini pro's?

[xmanhockey7]

I just realize that there's nothing you can do about the past so you need to move on and hit the next shot well.

[lostmyballs]

Original poster, have you ever read Golf is Not a Game of Perfect, by Bob Rotella? Its one of the most widely read sports psychology books out there. Its a light read, should take about a day or two to finish. One example of the advice he offers starts off by pointing out how nobody, nobody has a perfect round. You could shoot a 59 but still kick yourself for lipping out the eagle putt on the 13th. Because perfection is not attainable, you will invariably come to experience those holes or those swings or those bad breaks that could either make you curse, ruminate and bring down your level of subsequent play, or you could shrug it off and move on, endeavoring to limit the effect those bad breaks have on your score card. He gives an example of some PGA golfer, I can't remember who, who after having hit a shot into the trees, would smile and say to his caddie, "this is golf". Its a good attitude to have. This is golf! It aint a game of perfect! I find myself quite often putting this advice into practice by saying aloud after every less than perfect shot,"I'll take it". Try it on for size.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Shorty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest Jones

Only because you've been a pompous ass about grammer and spelling in the past...

Muphry's law perfectly described!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This "Muphry" character is okay with comma splices?

[Aquaguru]

I just laugh when I hit a bad shot.  Eases the pain a bit

[CBVegas]

Just got the book last night on the iPad .. your right very easy read...  I'm a little more than half way through and it's a very good read....

going to to a playing lesson with coach today...

who ever said PGA swing with mid handicapper mentality kind of hit me on the head....  I need to bring my mentality to where my ball striking ability is....

on practice rounds I can shoot great...  I can hit shots that I picture and they all work...

put me under pressure and my mind messes with me...  not that I can't do it..  but the desire to win is overcoming the natural ability I have....  I need to fight that strong... I think your all right..  time will help .. and just putting myself in those situations more than once a blue moon..  I need to play tourney gold weekly and then get a feel and experience...

thanks again guys...

shorty pffft....

Originally Posted by lostmyballs

Original poster, have you ever read Golf is Not a Game of Perfect, by Bob Rotella? Its one of the most widely read sports psychology books out there. Its a light read, should take about a day or two to finish. One example of the advice he offers starts off by pointing out how nobody, nobody has a perfect round. You could shoot a 59 but still kick yourself for lipping out the eagle putt on the 13th. Because perfection is not attainable, you will invariably come to experience those holes or those swings or those bad breaks that could either make you curse, ruminate and bring down your level of subsequent play, or you could shrug it off and move on, endeavoring to limit the effect those bad breaks have on your score card. He gives an example of some PGA golfer, I can't remember who, who after having hit a shot into the trees, would smile and say to his caddie, "this is golf". Its a good attitude to have. This is golf! It aint a game of perfect! I find myself quite often putting this advice into practice by saying aloud after every less than perfect shot,"I'll take it". Try it on for size.

[Mitcheman21]

I used to go insane after any half bad shot, still do occasionally, but in a comp you have to think of the overall goal (winning) and try and put into perspective were you are and how to achieve that. Think of the positives ie you haven't dropped a shot, level though one is no blow out. If your not feeling too great maybe make some better decisions, I'm guessing you can get it out there...lay up on the short par four, hit wedge and take your chances. Of course if your feeling great go for it!! Try to rebuild the round get a few pars going then look to attack some pins that suit your eye.

[Old1964]

I know that this is just armchair psychology...but, isn't the issue that your emotional reaction to the bad/disappointing shot is so intense because of how you perceive it's significance?  Truth is you are going to hit bad shots - even the pros do. Of course, you will hit many more poor shots than pros.

Lots of times competitors feel better about themselves when they play better and worse about themselves when they don't - as if their self-worth depends on their performance. It is so common...this feeling that our worth/success is based on our performance!

We should feel better about our round when we shoot a good one. Afterall, we practice and learn and work toward that goal. But, regardless of the score on the card, we are not better or worse people as a result. Maybe, we should answering your question by asking a different one, "What does it mean if I play a great round?"