Between shots

[bwdial]

After most shots?  Suicide generally.

[BWChuck]

This reminds me of the "Are you a player or a practicer?" thread I saw recently (which I don't think I commented on, don't know why).  I am surely a practicer and am constantly engrossed in thought in between shots, whether it's what I did well or what I did terribly.  I actually think I am a quieter and have a less engaging personality on the course because of it, and it bugs me.  I think I'll actually have more fun if I can learn to keep my shot analysis minimized on the course, and maximized at home and on the range.

[Valleygolfer]

I usually sound clinically insane playing by my self. I analyze my poor shots and talk about my next plan of action if I am alone. Playing with acquaintances I talk some game stuff like on the forum. Good friends could be about any thing. Work to home life. I shoot the same. The only thing that screws my game up is soreness and alcohol. This is a post from my not as smart as it thinks it is phone.

[BuckeyeNut]

When I'm playing well, I think about how I'm going to hit a great next shot.....between shots.

I may tee off and the ball ends up wherever it is...rough or whatever.....and I'm thinking about how I'm going to hit a good one to give myself a look at birdie.  I may be helping a partner look for his ball in the knee high grass, but I'm thinking positive thoughts about how I'm going to stick my next golf shot on the green close to the pin.   Positive mojo breeds great results......and it cannot be faked.  it's momentum!  When it's going bad, I try to think the same positive thoughts,  but if the good mojo isn't there, the results don't follow.

[Kapanda]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

When I'm playing well, I think about how I'm going to hit a great next shot.....between shots.

I may tee off and the ball ends up wherever it is...rough or whatever.....and I'm thinking about how I'm going to hit a good one to give myself a look at birdie.  I may be helping a partner look for his ball in the knee high grass, but I'm thinking positive thoughts about how I'm going to stick my next golf shot on the green close to the pin.   Positive mojo breeds great results......and it cannot be faked.  it's momentum!  When it's going bad, I try to think the same positive thoughts,  but if the good mojo isn't there, the results don't follow.

Think it's something that can essentially be "practiced"? Keeping the positive mindset momentum? I ask that particularly because you put the caveat there that it can't be faked.

[iPutt]

I think about whatever pops into my head in between shot, whether it's golf related or not. However, for whatever reason my weirdest thoughts occur as I'm standing over a putt. Just totally random things like "You know who would be good on Feherty's show, Ian Poulter," "I wonder what I'm going to do for dinner tonight," or even "I really should text that girl back..." I don't know if these are good thoughts to have or not because my mind is generally clear and I can focus on the putt, but maybe I should be focusing even more.

[NM Golf]

I don't really think about anything in particular between shots. I like to talk to the people I am playing with. I know I don't worry about bad shots or things like that because its always the next shot that counts.

Once I get to my ball and its clear to hit I then begin my routine and start concentrating on the shot. Like others have said you cannot concentrate continually for 4 1/2 hours, or at least I can't. I guess I am more Lee Trevino and less Ben Hogan.

[Jimbo Slice]

I'm thinking how far my next drive is gonna go, and how awesome it gonna be when I text my friend 339 yards sucka!

[Double Bogey]

Funny that this topic is here.  I had this discussion yesterday with one the Asst Pros at my club.  What I told him was that I seem to play 10 times better when I walk (with or without another player), or when I am playing alone (walking or cart).  He laughed and said this happens all the time.  Normally it is due to the fact that you are able to focus more while walking because you are not "chopping up the hole" by hitting, get in the cart, get out of cart, walk to your ball, hit it, back to cart. Rinse and repeat.  Or that you are free to think about all the "crap" cluttering the mind between holes, and can be ready to focus when over the ball.

I really think there is something to this.  I know that I do not focus on golf 100% of the time no matter who I am playing with, friend or random pairing.  But maybe if I figure out how to focus on golf only in the 10 or so seconds over the ball, I can produce the better rounds I am used to playing when either walking or playing alone.

[Stargaze]

Originally Posted by bwdial

After most shots?  Suicide generally.

LOL!!  Post of the day.

[dak4n6]

Originally Posted by Double Bogey

Funny that this topic is here.  I had this discussion yesterday with one the Asst Pros at my club.  What I told him was that I seem to play 10 times better when I walk (with or without another player), or when I am playing alone (walking or cart).  He laughed and said this happens all the time.  Normally it is due to the fact that you are able to focus more while walking because you are not "chopping up the hole" by hitting, get in the cart, get out of cart, walk to your ball, hit it, back to cart. Rinse and repeat.  Or that you are free to think about all the "crap" cluttering the mind between holes, and can be ready to focus when over the ball.

I really think there is something to this.  I know that I do not focus on golf 100% of the time no matter who I am playing with, friend or random pairing.  But maybe if I figure out how to focus on golf only in the 10 or so seconds over the ball, I can produce the better rounds I am used to playing when either walking or playing alone.

This is not really a revelation. Most of the walkers I know, including myself, know this^^. There is something that doesn't jibe with the natural rythm of the game when you tee off, and 5 seconds later you are standing next to your ball waiting, waiting, waiting.

[lumpuckeroo]

I think about what most guys think about, cats!

[newtogolf]

If I hit a good shot I don't think about the next one until I'm up on it and calculating the club I need for the next shot.  If I hit a bad one, I try to determine where it landed and what kind of lie I'll have.  If it's not good, I try to remind myself to play the safe, low risk shot not the desperate, high risk one.

[NuclearMike]

I either play alone or in a threesome.  Either way I usually have a cart to myself since my usual partners are brothers and usually ride together.  That gives me time to think about golf instead of the non-golf related talk that goes on.  Since I practice more than I play I'll concentrate on one or two swing thoughts on the range and, if they work the way I expect them to, try to put those into practice on the course.  I'm about 15 shots better than I was a year ago due to improved driving and wedge/ short iron play and my concentrating on golf.