Maintaining concentration, how to?

[marklemcd]

Hi everyone, this is the first thread I've started.  Given where my game is right now I generally try to play bogey golf.  Or rather, I'm always on the tee box thinking of par but I'm happy with a bogey most holes and I try to manage the course to keep the blow ups out of play.

Given that, I know I'm capable of runs where I put together good golf, and they tend to happen when my concentration seems locked in.  For example, I usually miss right by pushing (not slicing) the ball when I am not concentrating, whereas I hit a slight draw when I am locked in, and the difference is usually because I swing fast when not concentrating.  So yesterday I played the first 5 holes 9 over par, then the next 5 at even par (birdie, par, par, bogey, par) and ended up shooting 91.  91 is really typical for me.

Now the request:  What are your tips for maintaining concentration when on the course?

[saevel25]

a better golf game. seriously, most people think it's mental, to some respect it is, but mostly its just how consistent your swing is. mental will probably cost you 1-3 strokes a round, your golf swing much more.

[AnAvidGolfer]

concentrating is hard for me as well, hence whenever im at the range or on the course i listen to music. This helps my relax when i play and have seen a vast improvement in my game because before i used to over think all the time and couldnt let things go if i hit bad shots and since listening to music has completely changed my game from every aspect.

Just try a round with music and its the best because it helps you relax and then this leads to a good tempo etc swinging smooth.

Give it a try.

[Maddog10]

Instead of concentrating on making par or on making a certain score, concentrate on the shot at hand. Like Saevel said, you want to focus on keeping your swing as consistent as possible throughout the round. For example, yesterday when I was on the tee box I focused on making sure I didn't over swing with my driver. This led to better drives, so then I focused on making sure I kept my swing compact and made good contact on my approach shots, and focused on proper speed with my putts... In the end, it led to me thinking about all the pars I made that round.

If you caught my drift there, by concentrating better on what you want to do each shot, it results in better overall concentration and works toward your goal. Thinking "I want to make par here" doesn't do anything for the drive you are fixing to hit. I have to be careful not to over-analyze, but I've done a good job this season of finding the line between maintaining focus and thinking too much.

[guiseppe]

Ah, yes, concentration.  I have a strong opinion on that.

Excuse me for a second, my better half is calling me. I'll be right back.............

"I'M ON THE COMPUTER, I'LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE."

As I was saying...  Um, wait a minute, what was the question?

[newtogolf]

It's not easy to maintain concentration.  I'd like to experience what' it's like to get through a round without the office or family calling with some "emergency" that could have waited until I was done.

My biggest concentration problem these days is recovering from a stupid mistake and not carrying it over to the next hole.  I'm not the type to get angry, throw clubs, cuss or yell, but I do get frustrated when I hit that one bad shot I knew I should have not gone for or backed away from the ball because of a distraction.

Usually after that bad shot, the domino effect takes place and that one bad shot turns to 2, 3, 4 and next thing I know I'm writing a snowman down on my up until then near flawless (for me) scorecard.   Rather than getting over it on the ride to the next hole I dwell on the 8 and how my chances for breaking 40 on the front 9 have disappeared.

I think that as I improve, the most frustrating part of golf for me is it takes 4+ hours to play a round, but in a matter of minutes my best round could turn into a mediocre one or worse and I have to play through to the end and then wait for my next round for another chance to beat my best score.

[Dave2512]

It's not easy to maintain concentration.  I'd like to experience what' it's like to get through a round without the office or family calling with some "emergency" that could have waited until I was done.

I swear my biz partner hacked my phone and installed a tracking app. If I leave work early he's on the phone asking me one mundane question after another.

[newtogolf]

I swear my biz partner hacked my phone and installed a tracking app. If I leave work early he's on the phone asking me one mundane question after another.

It's crazy, maybe they are tracking me too because I never get these calls when I'm working in the home office or even on the way to the course, it's always on the course.

[wils5150]

For me its not about concentration so much as playing the smart shot. I used always try to reach par 5's in two or atleast get as close as I could. this led to way more bogies or worse than birdies. now I usually hit a safe iron and make no worse than par 80% of the time. bottom line is I dont hit any shots I am uncomfortable with unless I have to.

[mchepp]

It's not easy to maintain concentration.  I'd like to experience what' it's like to get through a round without the office or family calling with some "emergency" that could have waited until I was done.

My biggest concentration problem these days is recovering from a stupid mistake and not carrying it over to the next hole.  I'm not the type to get angry, throw clubs, cuss or yell, but I do get frustrated when I hit that one bad shot I knew I should have not gone for or backed away from the ball because of a distraction.

Usually after that bad shot, the domino effect takes place and that one bad shot turns to 2, 3, 4 and next thing I know I'm writing a snowman down on my up until then near flawless (for me) scorecard.   Rather than getting over it on the ride to the next hole I dwell on the 8 and how my chances for breaking 40 on the front 9 have disappeared.

I think that as I improve, the most frustrating part of golf for me is it takes 4+ hours to play a round, but in a matter of minutes my best round could turn into a mediocre one or worse and I have to play through to the end and then wait for my next round for another chance to beat my best score.

Good post here. I would liken the carrying over to going "on tilt" in poker. I am not angry but the bad beat in my mind just plays with me.

I was watching the ladies play a course I have played a number of times and I noticed a couple of areas to work on from that. They hit their half wedges (40, 50, 60, 70 yards) MUCH better than me. They drive a little straighter, not a whole lot but a couple of fairways a round. But the biggest thing was they don't seem to lose concentration for a few holes a round as I do. I will go a stretch of 3-4 holes where I lose focus and make a number of mistakes. They don't seem to go on tilt like I do.

[marklemcd]

For me its not about concentration so much as playing the smart shot. I used always try to reach par 5's in two or atleast get as close as I could. this led to way more bogies or worse than birdies. now I usually hit a safe iron and make no worse than par 80% of the time. bottom line is I dont hit any shots I am uncomfortable with unless I have to.

The nice thing about not being a super long hitter is that it's very rare that I can go for a par 5 in two.  But that said I used to do like you and try to get as close as I could but also like you learned that is sometimes a fools errand.  Now I always try to set my 3rd shot up to be a 9 iron to the green as that's my favorite club to hit.  Lots more pars on par 5s doing that.

[marklemcd]

Instead of concentrating on making par or on making a certain score, concentrate on the shot at hand. Like Saevel said, you want to focus on keeping your swing as consistent as possible throughout the round. For example, yesterday when I was on the tee box I focused on making sure I didn't over swing with my driver. This led to better drives, so then I focused on making sure I kept my swing compact and made good contact on my approach shots, and focused on proper speed with my putts... In the end, it led to me thinking about all the pars I made that round.

If you caught my drift there, by concentrating better on what you want to do each shot, it results in better overall concentration and works toward your goal. Thinking "I want to make par here" doesn't do anything for the drive you are fixing to hit. I have to be careful not to over-analyze, but I've done a good job this season of finding the line between maintaining focus and thinking too much.

This is good advice, and something I'm going to work on implementing this weekend when I play with my usual group.  It's cliche to think one shot at a time, but in essence that's what you seem to be saying...

[David in FL]

1.  Play with at least one other buddy.

2.  Play match play.

3.  Play for something.

4.  Allow presses.

[dsc123]

I notice a significant difference in my scores when I stay focused and last week decided to make this a priority.  I think it comes down to sticking to your routine before every shot.  It shifts you into that focus mode.  I'll do all my thinking and practice swings, then standing behind the ball take a deep breath and approach the ball.  The breath helps me to focus on making a good swing.

I read somewhere--I think it was in one of those Zen books by Dr. Parent--that you should mark your score card each time you exhibit a bad habit you're trying to break.  So my plan is to mark the card every time I don't take my practice swings and deep breath before a shot.  And I'll add in the same about my putting routine--sometimes I get lazy on a putt and don't go through my read and alignment.

[wils5150]

I think if we all stayed within ourselves our scores would be better.

[Dave2512]

It's crazy, maybe they are tracking me too because I never get these calls when I'm working in the home office or even on the way to the course, it's always on the course.

I'm certain of it. He calls to ask me about things we haven't discussed in months that are of little if no importance. GPS is a powerful tracking tool. We use it to put a geo-fence around our debtors to notify us when they take the collateral out of the area. Wouldn't doubt if he listens to my calls as well.

[boogielicious]

I play better when I have a clear head without a lot of inner distractions.  I think it is an important part of playing better.  I can get to this "zone" on occasion, but I have not mastered it.  It is especially hard when I have had a tough day at work.  I try to work on visualization as well, but I am not that good at it from the tee yet.

One technique I have used I saw on Scientific American Frontiers .  It was with respect to putting, and it was called "Quiet Eye."  They taught the player to look at his/her line with one long stare,  then never look back at the hole and only concentrate on contact.  They claimed it quiets the mind and increases focus.  Your brain already knows where the hole is.

I taught this in soccer for penalty kicks.  I told the kids to look up and decide where you are going with the kick, high low, left right.  Then look down at the ball and never look up.  There body language always seemed to relax significantly.  Their aim was better too.

[newtogolf]

Good post here. I would liken the carrying over to going "on tilt" in poker. I am not angry but the bad beat in my mind just plays with me.

I was watching the ladies play a course I have played a number of times and I noticed a couple of areas to work on from that. They hit their half wedges (40, 50, 60, 70 yards) MUCH better than me. They drive a little straighter, not a whole lot but a couple of fairways a round. But the biggest thing was they don't seem to lose concentration for a few holes a round as I do. I will go a stretch of 3-4 holes where I lose focus and make a number of mistakes. They don't seem to go on tilt like I do.

Interesting analogy as I play a fair amount of Texas Holdem too.  I can usually avoid going on tilt playing poker, but then I'm a much better poker player than I am a golfer.

Your point got me thinking, part of the reason I don't go on tilt playing poker is I'm mostly a math guy, bets are based on odds unless I know someone is playing ultra aggressive or stealing blinds.  Typically I'm never going to bet heavy on 7-2 off suit no matter how upset I am about the hand before but relating it back to golf, I will do some things when I'm on "tilt" that I wouldn't typically do in an attempt to make up some strokes (desperation).

I guess ultimately it comes down to discipline, making sure you play every shot according to plan without allowing emotion to leak into the process.