Why is the second tee shot always better.

[johnnyvancity]

Hi to everyone, I would like to talk about the second tee shot. I am a 20 plus handicapper who can drive the ball 265-305 yards, I am always told by other players that I can hit the ball so far or some are even amazed, this happens all the time when I play, for example 3 iron of the tee 240 yards on a par 3, plus this is in Canada, where the weather is not warm and no roll is happening.

So my question or problem is my first shot. For example I will be on the 1st hole take my driver out and my ball it will fly in a hazard or out of bounds, I will have to re-tee. My second shot is right down the middle anywhere from 265-305 yards about 85% of the time sometimes it might take 3 tee shots, but not too often.

Then I have a perfect lie and angle for my next shot into the green. About 50-60% of the time I will have a nice iron shot that lands on the green, and for the other 40-50% of the time I will duff, push, pull, or slice the ball. Why does this happen, when I play two balls and don't count penalty strokes, IE out of bounds I often record a par or below par score. So how do I hit all my shot consistently. I have the talent and skill to be a scratch or plus golfer but I am not consistent.

So my last round was  a course with a slope of 145 and rating 74.6 total 7200 yards,

1 Par 4. 409yards My score *5

2 Par 5 592yards  My score *9

3 Par 4 367yards  My score *10

4 Par 4 400yards  My score BIRDIE *3 -1

5 Par 3 178 yards My score *3 PAR

6 Par 5 589yards  My score *11

7 Par 4 363yards  My score Birdie *3  -1

8 Par 3 240yards My score *3 PAR

9 PAR 4 443yards My score *5  Front 9 I scored 49 with two birdies and two pars. This is no cheating counting every stroke

Back 9

10 Par 5 614 yards My score *5 PAR

11 Par 4 382 yards My score *13

12 Par 3 218yards My scour *3 PAR

13 Par 4 368 yards My score *10

14 Par 4 439 yards My score *4 PAR

15 Par 5 497yards My score *4 BIRDIE

16 PAR 4 376Yards My score *5

17 Par 3 194yards My score *2 BIRDIE

18 Par 4 457 yards My score *8.

Back 9 Shot 54 which included 3 pars and two birdies.  Par 72 I shoot 103 with 4 birdies and 5 pars. This is what happens everytime I play a round of golf. It seems I have a good couple holes then a huge blow up.

Any advice or help guys?

[Motley01]

Nothing new here. My second player is around scratch handicap! Crazy game....

[johnnyvancity]

Originally Posted by Motley01

Nothing new here. My second player is around scratch handicap! Crazy game....

So how do I get to the stage where all my shots are good what is going wrong, why does this always happen not to just me but to everyone. Its not like I do not have the talent but sometimes it takes a few shots to get the perfect one.

[Dave2512]

There's a thought shift from "I'm gonna crush it" to "uh oh I'm hitting 3". It has tendency to calm people down.

[The Recreational Golfer]

It's because your mind relaxed, which allowed your body to perform at its fullest. If you learn to copy that state of mind at will, you can hit your second shot first any time you want to.

[Mattplusness]

So how do I get to the stage where all my shots are good

Let me know when you figure that out.

[joekelly]

Of course it's all in your mind. You have proven to yourself and others that you have the proper technique to hit the ball well. But only occasionally do you really 'hit the ball well'; so what's happening?  IMO, when you have some kind of lurking desire to control the ball flight and attempt to move the clubhead faster or 'on path' or whatever, the correct body and club motion is disrupted. An element of confidence is lacking that permits you to swing freely and without any desire to 'crush the ball', cause a fade, etc. Man, it's a huge golf problem and i'm certainly affected.  When i can say to myself 'i know exactly what to do and exactly how to do it' on the course in every situation, and then proceed to actually do what i want, i will be much improved. Any mental discomfort or insecurity is deadly. Second shots have much of the 'fear' gone and thus the freedom returns and you swing freely .