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Mental toughness, Competition thoughts?

spduffey
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Note: This thread is 4571 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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spduffey Newbie

spduffey

Posted
Posted

I have played about 10-12 rounds of golf this year, all in the low to mid 80's except for 3 recent rounds.  A 93, 102, and 91.  My main focus normally is no 3 putts and no bogeys, usually yielding a lower round in the 80's.  My 93 had to back to back 8's with one on a par 3 over the water(2 miss hits off the tee) and my 102(worst round in 8 years) came in a tournament where I compete against 8-12 handicaps.  Miss hits all day, 2 8's, 3 7's, and just struggled to get around the course.  Albeit a new course, still played irregularly inconsistent.  I am on the GolfChannel amateur tour and just started that this year.  The 102 was my second tournament, 86 on the first.  I am looking for suggestions, advice, etc... Am I approaching the tournaments wrong?(no doubles no 3 putts) What are some tips tricks I can get through a mental tough time of my game?


PirateJim Dedicated Member

PirateJim

Posted
Posted

How to handle pressure is certainly a very personal thing and what works for one person may not for others.  That said, I personally think that thinking about things like "no doubles" and "no 3 putts" is too abstract.  I'm not a very good golfer, but I used to be a pretty good trap shooter (clay targets).  In that game, you have to focus on the next shot exclusively and put everything else out of your mind.  I don't think golf is much different in this regard really.

If you are, for whatever reason, laying 3 and still 30 yards off the green on a par 4 hole, is it really productive to be talking to yourself about double bogies?  You have a pretty simple little pitch shot to make, just focus on that, not on how many strokes you may have afterward.

Play in the moment...  Rolls off the tongue real easy.

Driver: Titleist 913 D2 10.5*, Aldila RIP Phenom 50

Fairway 1: Titleist 913F, 17*, Titleist Bassara W55

Fairway 2: Titleist 913F, 21*, Titleist Bassara W55

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Wedges: SCOR 4161 48/52/56/60, Genius 9

Grips: GolfPride New Decade Red Mid-size on all of the above.

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midwestswing Member

midwestswing

Posted
Posted

I use to get pretty nervous during tournament play. The first few holes were normally the worst. I now make a game plan before each round. I download a scorecard of a new course and based off the layout and yardage, will decide what I am going to hit off of each tee before I get to the tournament. This puts me at ease that I have a plan in place. After the first day, if I need to adjust I will, but I will not change my game plan in the middle of a round. FYI - for par threes I will have three clubs to pick from based on wind.


Note: This thread is 4571 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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