Does anyone else use momentum during a round?

[Second Chance]

Does anyone do this?

A good shot builds a little confidence, Momentum...

Next shot i try to carry that confidence as momentum to swing freely at a target

Now I'm looking at a birdie putt: two shots have provided a significant amount of focus, now I'm cocky to go after the putt.

If I miss, I made a good stroke--momentum carries to the teebox regardless. If I make it, I'm hyper-focused and ultra confident heading to the next tee.

RINSE-REPEAT!

Very interested in how others utilize momentum during a round...

[saevel25]

Hmm, not really. If i make a birdie putt, the next shot going to be the next shot no matter what. I try not to get to high or low in golf because i found that if i crash, its big time. So i try to take it one shot at a time. Its cliche, but it works. Usually i try to scout out the courses online, then i will create a plan. 2-4 hole stretches were i will try to post a score. Like Even through a tough stretch, or -1 through an easy stretch. From there its pretty much adapt to the shots you take. So if i hit a good drive, i can try to go for a good shot to the pin. If not, then try to make the birdie on another hole. If i don't get the goal, don't get discouraged, and move on to the next one.

But if i make a birdie putt and change the hole way i play, i can loose focus. Number 1 for me, is allways try to play with in myself. Jack Nicholaus said it right, play the percentages, take risks were you can. If its a 50/50 shot, that's not that good. Letting momentum screw with your head can really cause some bad mojo. Look at what happens to Phil. He gets momentum, or tries to force the issue. He blows up the final hole at the US open he could have won.

[MyrtleBeachGolf]

Our group usually experiences the opposite. Ever hear of PBF? Post Birdie 'eff' up. The next tee shot after a birdie is usually rough.

[Dave2512]

I'm playing to 12 and I can make a mess out of anything. Actually it's a common occurance. Here's an example. First hole is not usually a good tee shot for me. I'll get it in the fairway but not in the best position. Never my best drive of the day. I crush it and eagerly head out to see the great opportunity I've created for myself, a great thing because I probably double #1 more than any hole.

I roll up and find my ball about 5 feet from the edge of the pond that guards the left side of the green. It's really more of an obstacle for guys that play the middle tees and hit it far, about 280-290 to the water depending where the white tees are. I play from the back so usually not a problem for me. GPS says 92 yds to the center and I'm thinking a routine wedge and I'm putting for birdie. I'm usually an 8i out so I'm stoked.

Chunked it, talking a foot long, very deep divot that started about 3 inches behind the ball. Heavy enough that it sunk in the pond after soaking up the water. I had about 15 feet of water to carry and the ball didn't even make it that far, penalty. Won't bore you with more details but yeah I made a double, again.

[Second Chance]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Hmm, not really. If i make a birdie putt, the next shot going to be the next shot no matter what. I try not to get to high or low in golf because i found that if i crash, its big time. So i try to take it one shot at a time. Its cliche, but it works. Usually i try to scout out the courses online, then i will create a plan. 2-4 hole stretches were i will try to post a score. Like Even through a tough stretch, or -1 through an easy stretch. From there its pretty much adapt to the shots you take. So if i hit a good drive, i can try to go for a good shot to the pin. If not, then try to make the birdie on another hole. If i don't get the goal, don't get discouraged, and move on to the next one.

But if i make a birdie putt and change the hole way i play, i can loose focus. Number 1 for me, is allways try to play with in myself. Jack Nicholaus said it right, play the percentages, take risks were you can. If its a 50/50 shot, that's not that good. Letting momentum screw with your head can really cause some bad mojo. Look at what happens to Phil. He gets momentum, or tries to force the issue. He blows up the final hole at the US open he could have won.

Ok...so I'm not advocating thinking about any other shot than the one I'm hitting NOW. However, your best golf is played with confidence. I've found that I can put 9-12 hole runs together with this mentality. Recently I shot a 41 on the front and finished with a 34 utilizing this frame of thinking...

I can see Jack's point though--so I don't let it speed me up/get too amped. I just tell myself that I'm swinging well, which allows me to see my target clearly and swing free.

[ShawnPennington]

For me confidence is everything.....if I have a decent first tee shot, first hole..... it tends to put me on a pretty decent path for the day.....  where i struggle the most is "blow up" holes......which through a lot of hard work a blow-up hole for me is now an 8 (used to be a 10) hahah....  but i really struggle with letting it go and moving on....and it tends to destroy my rounds....  Last week i was playing a course id never played before and was +7 thru the 1st 8 holes.... that was a big deal for me..... blew up on #9...and posted a 51 on the front nine....killed my confidence and never fully recovered.  Posted a 101.

My pro tells me that my "miss" is the game in my head.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Hmm, not really. If i make a birdie putt, the next shot going to be the next shot no matter what. I try not to get to high or low in golf because i found that if i crash, its big time. So i try to take it one shot at a time. Its cliche, but it works. Usually i try to scout out the courses online, then i will create a plan. 2-4 hole stretches were i will try to post a score. Like Even through a tough stretch, or -1 through an easy stretch. From there its pretty much adapt to the shots you take. So if i hit a good drive, i can try to go for a good shot to the pin. If not, then try to make the birdie on another hole. If i don't get the goal, don't get discouraged, and move on to the next one.

But if i make a birdie putt and change the hole way i play, i can loose focus. Number 1 for me, is allways try to play with in myself. Jack Nicholaus said it right, play the percentages, take risks were you can. If its a 50/50 shot, that's not that good. Letting momentum screw with your head can really cause some bad mojo. Look at what happens to Phil. He gets momentum, or tries to force the issue. He blows up the final hole at the US open he could have won.

^^^This.

I really try to use focus much more than momentum. Focus is entirely within your control and only requires discipline to maintain. Momentum on the other hand is reliant on a lot of things that are outside of your control. I've started to really understand the importance of pre-shot routine and approaching each individual shot as THE one and only shot that exists. This also helps prevent you from making stupid shoots right after bad shots.

[saevel25]

I personally think Tiger is the best at this. Its why he doesn't loose when he has the lead. Though i think its why he doesn't usually win when he's behind on the last day. He plays the most conistant golf, but if someone gets hot they can beat him. He hardly ever forces the issue. I know i am saying this after years of seeing him hit some insane shots. But i will say this, those shots he hit, i have no doubt he could pull off 7 out 10 or 8 out of 10 times. When he was that good, he was that good. So, taking into perspective how good he was, his great shots just fit into the his arsenal. But to me it just seems like he doesn't get riled up by the momentum. he just takes everything even. The only time he gets out of sorts is when he has a bad hole, then you might see him take the driver and rip the next drive, with some anger in the swing.

I get using momentum, harnessing all that good energy and pushing it. Its like in basketball game were a team goes on a 12-0 run. You get the vibe going, and you then step on the peddle. You just have to be careful that you don't run off the road :p

Key is Balance :p

[rowlf]

Originally Posted by MyrtleBeachGolf

Our group usually experiences the opposite. Ever hear of PBF? Post Birdie 'eff' up. The next tee shot after a birdie is usually rough.

My mate says that was because of my nationality. F****** racist but it was funny.

Momentum was only good until you got stuck on the tee box waiting for 2 love birds (usually the girl not being a good golfer) to hit their 2/3/4/5/6/7....200th stroke.

[bjwestner]

To answer the OP's question, yes.  I find that many times my pars/birdies come in bunches.  As hard as I try standing on the tee after I just doubled a hole, it's just a lot better being in that situation, about to hit your next tee shot knowing that I've made 3 pars in a row versus double/bogey/double.  So yes, I definitely see momentum in my game and try to take advantage of it.  I've also had a round turn around for me on a dime, for good and bad, yet for some reason most of my bidies/pars per round are usually somehow bunched/related.

For example, this past Saturday when I shot my personal best low round of an 81.  I played the front 9 as well as I have ever played, I birdied the first hole and then had 4 pars and 4 bogeys over the next 8 holes.  Made the turn in just 3 over par, 38.  Then we had a long wait on the 10th tee and it also started to rain hard.  I lost the momentum and had to do everything I could to keep the round from falling apart.  I played the back 9 in a forgettable 43 with no momentum.....