How do you fight 'negativity'?

[SubPar]

We've all been there. Missing a short putt to clean up the skins or hitting an easy approach shot into a trap, or a three putt to fall a stroke behind. Then comes the negative thoughts and doubt that lead to further mistakes. What do you do to combat this problem?

Erine is one of the great players of our time, but it is clear he suffers from the same thing all of us do when we've had a dry spell. Once you've missed a four foot putt it becomes harder to make any four foot putts till you get your confidence back. Ernie has blown two leads on Sunday recently while trying to come off a dry spell. You know doubt creeps into his mind and causes his confidence to dip.

Closing the deal in golf is more about confidence and determination than physical skill and the edge Tiger has is that he virtually never gives in to self-doubt. This goes back to his junior and amateur days where he won tournaments in the closing holes because he never gave up. I see weakness in Ernie and Phil when they make a mistake or miss a critical opportunity. You may never see that "let down" in Tiger's eyes.

Watch players body language and you'll see when their shoulders slump, their eyes glaze over, a little head shake and the energy seems to drain away a little after they make an error. Let me know when you see this in Tiger. With Tiger you may see frustration, but never that self-doubt or defeatist thinking.

Virtually all other players are subject to this negativity that creeps up on them. making it worse is that they know Tiger is like an Old Testament curse... he just keeps coming. He does not give up till the last putt drops.

SubPar

[neudi]

just never think about the shot before, then you will have no negativity, only the current shot in mind.

[geezer]

Think about the next shot and forget what just happened. I know its not really that easy, but I find that focusing on what will be required on the next shot really helps, rather than dwelling on the crummy shot that put me in a position to require the shot I'm about to face.

[golf_junkie27]

This is going to sound somewhat stupid but for me, the cure is walking. By walking, I can talk to myself, figure out what I did wrong, relax a little and get focused for the next shot.

If I use the cart, chances are my playing partner is going to remind me of the bad shot and say something that is not going to make me feel better, like unwanted advice.

Bad shots are part of the territory. No one plays perfect golf. It's how you recover that makes you a better player. Realizing that also helps.

[SubPar]

This is going to sound somewhat stupid but for me, the cure is walking. By walking, I can talk to myself, figure out what I did wrong, relax a little and get focused for the next shot.

I agree. walking the course is always better. Not only do I always have my sticks with me when I get to the ball, but it allows time to consider the conditions and clear the mind. But when you are walking you can also use that time to steam about some misfourtune and go negative. Annika thinks of things other than golf between shots.

One method I have found useful in getting past a negative vibe is to replay good shots in my mind. I play the same courses a lot so I usually have the memory of a really good shot or two on each hole where I can can replay that experience in my head. It helps replace the recent negative image with a positive one. SubPar

[Shindig]

This is going to sound somewhat stupid but for me, the cure is walking. By walking, I can talk to myself, figure out what I did wrong, relax a little and get focused for the next shot.

I have to agree with this 100%. It took me a while to figure out why I played better on my home courses than when visiting a friend. It isn't just familiarity. After a bad shot, I walk to my next shot focusing on my footsteps. Literally - I listen for them and think about how they feel on the grass. And my mind is clear for the next shot. This is harder to do for a short-game shot, but at least I can refocus for the next tee shot.

[seattlemudder]

I fight it by playing golf. No other sport resembles life the way golf does. It has ups and downs and the most important thing in golf (as in life) is attitude and outlook. When I don't play golf, my attitude in life isn't as good to be honest - golf has actually taught me to deal better with life so when my attitude starts to suck in life, I go play golf and my attitude magically improves.

[TourSpoon]

I remember a few rounds ago looking at a 15 footer for an 8 on the 3rd hole. I had started par, birdie and was trying to save triple bogey. My attitude that day was good and I was determined to make that putt. I made it, made bogey the next hole, par on the next two and then a double. I was really trying not to lose it. The next two were pars for a 41. For some reason I kept thinking about that putt I made for eight and that one shot, no matter where it is, counts as much as any other shot. Well I started with 2 birds on the front and ended the day with a 78. I attribute it all to not giving up. It doesn't always happen that way but that day was a good lesson.

I posted this two weeks ago about how a putt for a triple bogey inspired me to realize that every shot counts as much as the next and not to give up. I have figured out that my positive thinking works most of the time but my negative thinking works all the time. On my last round I hit a tee shot and my last thought was don't do what the last guy did and put it in the water only to do just that. I was bumming because I knew that I had made a mental error, and I was not going to do it again. I hit my hybrid from 220 to the front, chipped up and made the putt for bogey. The next two holes I allowed myself to hit perfect tee shots by seeing only the target in my mind. On the 18th, I lacked concentration and pulled my hybrid (I was laying back on a par five) into the water. I was hitting my hybrid because I was thinking about how I hit my driver in the water before and that the hybrid is automatic. That was the wrong thought as I didn't concentrate on the target again. This game is so mental.

I recently repurchased "Golf is not a Game of Perfect" by Rotella. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to play better. It will help you prepare your mind so that you can make your best swing.

[Dent]

I just think about the result Im going to have If i stay negative. Also when I'm playing with a really good friend of mine. I need to joke around with him and all the negativity goes away. Also, I love when my playing partner does good. That also puts me in a good mood.

[Crafty]

I don't know why, but once I go into my pre-shot routine I forget about the previous shots and how bad they were. Maybe it is because I have done thie same routine since i was 12. It really helps me zone out all negative thoughts.

Use a constant pre-shot routine and integrate positive thoughts into it.

[Ben]

Forget about the bad shot, what's done is done, you can't and shouldn't play in the past. Make sure you focus on the next shot and minimize the damage from the way-ward shot. Its fun to come back strong from a mistake.

[seattlemudder]

Forget about the bad shot, what's done is done, you can't and shouldn't play in the past. Make sure you focus on the next shot and minimize the damage from the way-ward shot. Its fun to come back strong from a mistake.

I totally agree...

[tiger_who]

the best tip is to keep thinking about the neg shot this way i got bored and think of some thing eles

your welcome

[g-funk13]

Its easy to say "think of the next shot." I find that I have to think of the next shot in detail, imagine what the tee box looks like, or what trajectory I want to create. I try to think of more than one club that I could use to land the ball on a specific target. And I try to get that target as small and specific as possible. Once I get my imagination engaged on the next shot, then I really can forget the last one.

[TourSpoon]

Yesterday was a good test. I started double (over the green ball against a tree), bogey (three putt), double (water), bogey (three putt, now six over after 4). Throughout the start I kept thinking of how I need to keep it postive and on the fifth hole I put a wedge three feet and missed the putt. I just kept telling myself that it was nice to get a par. Bogey on the next (another three putt) and then I finally made a three footer for birdie. My reward for not losing my cool. I par out the next two with an up and down for a 42 and I felt I was lucky just to be there. On the back nine I got it going and the putter was on fire and I one putted five times (two birdies, three up and downs) for 36 which left me with a 78. Now thinking back, shooting 78 like that is a lot harder then doing a 78 with say 6 bogeys and 12 pars and it is a lot more rewarding knowing that I didn't give up. I wonder how it would have been if I hadn't had that first double, but that is golf. You are going to make mistakes and I am going to work on my putting!