Golf and Attitude

[Exactice808]

Hey gang, if you are looking for a short silly post then this wont be it, if you are looking for some debate then you have come to the right place.

 

I wanted to talk about golf mind set and your attitude on the course.

 

This all stemmed from having the pleasure of playing with 2 amazing golfers in the last couple of weeks. Long story short I was playing great golf, decided my ego was ready for a check and challenged one of the 2 above golfers, stating I could kick his you know what..... Well I went 1 over after 7 and then imploded.

 

Since, my game has declined and took a massive dump and not because of lack of skill but lack of confidence. 1 month ago I was shooting mid to low 80's nothing higher than an 87 I think. The last 3 rounds were, 96, 95, 103. All because of the blowup day and the lack of confidence

 

Now the above 2 golfers are very different in game and even skill, but both are mental beast! The first is a self rated 13hdcp but in reality he is most likely a 6 or better. He also has the ugliest swing, and ugliest putting stroke you have ever seen. He plays with a bunch of old ping eye 2's that he never cleans and shoots 70's pretty regularly.

 

Golfer 2 is a pro, he played on the mini tours, hits it a ton and is accurate.

 

Now why I say I learned something form these 2 golfers. These guys are night and day totally different in all aspects physically and skill. But their mental approach is something out of this world. When they say they are going to make a shot, or do something. As ridiculous as it seems, they either do it, or damn near close.

 

I will admit, when I am out there "chipping" as an example, I am telling myself to get close or as close as possible.....These guys are telling themselves that they "WILL" chip it in, there is no doubt in their mind. This goes the same with putts. Im looking at getting it close or getting the speed right etc.... these guys are telling themselves the ball will fall in the hole.

 

So now goes with my thoughts. When you go to your ball do you mentally take a note to tell yourself or almost "Will" yourself to hole out the shot, or are you just telling yourself to get it close lets say 15ft or father..... I mean 15ft putts and closer we all want to fall but anything other than that is pretty far.

 

I tried this the other day and my scores dropped back down, I shot an 85, because every single shot I took the time to tell myself I will hole this shot out, 200yards out or 15ft away. I mentally tried to take any doubt or question and just said, I can make this, I can make this, I can do this, I can do this.

 

Now I will say this will apply to having the applicable skill to make these shots, im talking about taking doubt out of the mind and willing the shot. So for all you guys saying yeah I will "will" a 7iron 300 yards this does not apply.....

 

So my GolfWRX friends, mentally do you take the time to will the shot or do you just look at the flag aim and fire?

 

Do you think this mental thought if "will" is another key to golf or is it pure talent/skill

 

Would love to see if other people would try this and see if it works?

[diehllane]

For something like putting, I think that expecting to make it from a reasonable distance is the thought to have. Don't play for a 2-putt. Play to make it and take the 2 putt if your putt misses.
Obviously, you have to make sure you aren't being TOO aggressive or you could end up blowing it by pretty far.

It's probably a different distance for each player, based on their own abilities, but I expect to make most putts 15 feet and in on a normal day. I do miss some and take the 2-putt, but I just add a little more info to my internal knowledgebase for the next time I play that course.
Going in with the expectation to miss would make me miss worse I think. It would lead to a slight case of the yips probably.

Chipping is a different story. Unless I've got a great lie, I will chip to get close enough for a 1-putt. If I have a good lie and reasonable hole location, I'll absolutely change my club to go for the make knowing that if I miss, I can still make the 1-putt.

I think willing shots to go your way just leads to confidence and leads you to try more shots you otherwise wouldn't try. The more shots you try, the more shots you can get better at.

[Exactice808]

[quote name='diehllane' timestamp='1400628049' post='9335035']
For something like putting, I think that expecting to make it from a reasonable distance is the thought to have. Don't play for a 2-putt. Play to make it and take the 2 putt if your putt misses.
Obviously, you have to make sure you aren't being TOO aggressive or you could end up blowing it by pretty far.

It's probably a different distance for each player, based on their own abilities, but I expect to make most putts 15 feet and in on a normal day. I do miss some and take the 2-putt, but I just add a little more info to my internal knowledgebase for the next time I play that course.
Going in with the expectation to miss would make me miss worse I think. It would lead to a slight case of the yips probably.

Chipping is a different story. Unless I've got a great lie, I will chip to get close enough for a 1-putt. If I have a good lie and reasonable hole location, I'll absolutely change my club to go for the make knowing that if I miss, I can still make the 1-putt.

I think willing shots to go your way just leads to confidence and leads you to try more shots you otherwise wouldn't try. The more shots you try, the more shots you can get better at.
[/quote]

Agreed on the putting.

This is the thing about chipping, that really got my fire going, the pro I was playing with, Unless it was one of those over the bunker with the pin tucked next to it.... He expected to hole out every chip. The day I played he holed out 1 lipped out 3 and chipped no father than a 3 ft circle I mean he was fricken close, (we played a scramble btw) But as we surveyed each shot he was like "I can make this" I was like wow what confidence.

So this is my thing.... what if every shot you just took that attitude, no matter what take all doubt out.........

[thegooddoctor]

I do the opposite, when i line up a shot from anywhere I decide what is the 1 cannot make, will not make, can't do this mistake and make sure I don't. its amazing how well you can score if you take the worst possible scenario out of play. I consider my long and short game average, but mental game is pretty good.
For example: Wide open par 5 with a bunker on the right at 260 yards. You cannot hit the bunker because that is your biggest threat to par so you either aim well away from it or take out a club that takes it out of play. So instead of trying to hit the shot that gets me home in 2 I hit the shot that keeps a birdie or par in play.

Or 140 yards left to a back pin, middle of the green is 130. I play a shot that at its longest goes 135 that way no chance I am long and looking at a short sided chip

A lot of these situations are common sense but a good number are not, and especially when dealing with tree trouble the safety of the shot choice I think is overlooked

[ronstelten]

Focused concentration is very good and from what you described that is what you are experiencing.

The danger is that you may be focusing your attention on outcome and that is not what great players do.

Great players focus their concentration on the process. I call it process goals vs. outcome goals.

Great players focus their concentration on thing like, "make my best swing", "best tempo of the day", "perfect back and through stroke".

Great players do visualize or imagine the ball flying and going to the target but that is not the focus of their concentration.

Truth be know, once the ball leaves the club face the outcome of the shot is out of the golfers control. Great golfers stick to what they can control and that is the process.

[ucfdad]

Great post. I fall into the hit and hope camp. No matter what distance from the flag, I HOPE to get it to tap in range, but in reality I have no confidence that it will happen. Putting, I have no confidence over any putt less than 30 feet. For some reason over 30 feet I relax and make a great stroke. Playing today with a woman who is a yoga fanatic made me realize how tense I am on the course. I tried to loosen up on the back nine and had the worst back nine of the year. I hope to learn to relax and follow the OP (keep the scores coming down!) and tell myself that I can make these shots. Wish me luck

[Exactice808]

[quote name='ronstelten' timestamp='1400630024' post='9335257']
Focused concentration is very good and from what you described that is what you are experiencing.

The danger is that you may be focusing your attention on outcome and that is not what great players do.

Great players focus their concentration on the process. I call it process goals vs. outcome goals.

Great players focus their concentration on thing like, "make my best swing", "best tempo of the day", "perfect back and through stroke".

Great players do visualize or imagine the ball flying and going to the target but that is not the focus of their concentration.

Truth be know, once the ball leaves the club face the outcome of the shot is out of the golfers control. Great golfers stick to what they can control and that is the process.
[/quote]

Hmm good point.... That does make sense..... I wonder how I would incorporate that type of thinking. You are right once the ball leaves the face, variables come in that can change the out come, but the swing to the ball is all controlled by us. Now you got me thinking.
I ask this questions then... for all you great players.... what is your thoughts when you step up to the ball... Lets keep it simple, Open Green, no danger, no sand etc. Pin in the middle 120 yards out perfect full PW (example) What are your thoughts, are you thinking to hole out for eagle, are you thinking about the shot, or point and shoot?



[quote name='ucfdad' timestamp='1400630189' post='9335275']
Great post. I fall into the hit and hope camp. No matter what distance from the flag, I HOPE to get it to tap in range, but in reality I have no confidence that it will happen. Putting, I have no confidence over any putt less than 30 feet. For some reason over 30 feet I relax and make a great stroke. Playing today with a woman who is a yoga fanatic made me realize how tense I am on the course. I tried to loosen up on the back nine and had the worst back nine of the year. I hope to learn to relax and follow the OP (keep the scores coming down!) and tell myself that I can make these shots. Wish me luck
[/quote]

ucfdad, I am sure many of us fall into this trap, and those motivational speakers always say.... your first doubt is your first loss. So taking out any doubt and having full confidence puts you ahead of the game. If you have the skill but no belief then where do you go.... You have to believe it what you do first before you can do anything at all right?

Well keep us posted I am interested to try this theory out..... before every swing... tell yourself you can hole it out....

[sanjaygolf]

I never think about making it but I'm definitely looking to knock it close into birdie range. But at the same time a lot of shots require caution. Not doubt, but you can't go pin hunting on every shot. Confidence will turn to hubris and then a shot that's almost perfect takes a bad hop and you'll end up screwed. Pros work really hard on knowing where to miss. So be confident with your swing but not too confident with every shot.

[ronstelten]

[quote name='Exactice808' timestamp='1400632972' post='9335585']
[quote name='ronstelten' timestamp='1400630024' post='9335257']
Focused concentration is very good and from what you described that is what you are experiencing.

The danger is that you may be focusing your attention on outcome and that is not what great players do.

Great players focus their concentration on the process. I call it process goals vs. outcome goals.

Great players focus their concentration on thing like, "make my best swing", "best tempo of the day", "perfect back and through stroke".

Great players do visualize or imagine the ball flying and going to the target but that is not the focus of their concentration.

Truth be know, once the ball leaves the club face the outcome of the shot is out of the golfers control. Great golfers stick to what they can control and that is the process.
[/quote]

Hmm good point.... That does make sense..... I wonder how I would incorporate that type of thinking. You are right once the ball leaves the face, variables come in that can change the out come, but the swing to the ball is all controlled by us. Now you got me thinking.
I ask this questions then... for all you great players.... what is your thoughts when you step up to the ball... Lets keep it simple, Open Green, no danger, no sand etc. Pin in the middle 120 yards out perfect full PW (example) What are your thoughts, are you thinking to hole out for eagle, are you thinking about the shot, or point and shoot?



[quote name='ucfdad' timestamp='1400630189' post='9335275']
Great post. I fall into the hit and hope camp. No matter what distance from the flag, I HOPE to get it to tap in range, but in reality I have no confidence that it will happen. Putting, I have no confidence over any putt less than 30 feet. For some reason over 30 feet I relax and make a great stroke. Playing today with a woman who is a yoga fanatic made me realize how tense I am on the course. I tried to loosen up on the back nine and had the worst back nine of the year. I hope to learn to relax and follow the OP (keep the scores coming down!) and tell myself that I can make these shots. Wish me luck
[/quote]

ucfdad, I am sure many of us fall into this trap, and those motivational speakers always say.... your first doubt is your first loss. So taking out any doubt and having full confidence puts you ahead of the game. If you have the skill but no belief then where do you go.... You have to believe it what you do first before you can do anything at all right?

Well keep us posted I am interested to try this theory out..... before every swing... tell yourself you can hole it out....
[/quote]

The old timers used to talk about generals and buck privates. When a golfer is behind the ball calculating the shot the golfer is the general doing all the thinking, visualizing, and imagery. Once the golfer moves to address the ball the golfer is now the buck private, no thinking just aim and fire.

The best swing a golfer can make results in the best shot a golfer can make. Focus must be on the process of making a good swing. Follow a good process and a good outcome will be the result.

From a psychological point of view, the smaller the target the higher the level of tension. The hole is a very small target on all but the shortest putts. Imagining a large target reduces tension and allows the golfer the chance for a more confident swing.

The great putters I have talked to don't see a line to the hole but a ribbon. The ribbon is 2 to 3 balls wide because the hole is wider than the ball.

[copperjeff]

I think that trying to hole out every shot or being so precise just puts way to much pressure on yourself. I think you pick your target and shot shape, and then just concentrate on making a good swing. For me, making sure my tempo is good on every swing keeps me level. If I keep my tempo, then I have accomplished my goal, if the ball takes a bad hop after that,its ok because my goal was tempo and I accomplished my goal. If my goal is to make the ball do something, and I get a bad bounce, then I get upset over an outcome I had no real control over.

[ucfdad]

Ok, played today and tried to change my mental attitude and some physical issues. First I slowed down my swing quite a bit. No loss of distance on my irons, might have lost a little with the driver but except for one horrible swing on 8, my ball was in or near the fairway. This swing at 85 to 90% might take a while for me because it just doesn't feel natural, I am used to going full speed and then a little more. But I know it is the right thing to do and I can't argue with the results for the first try.

Mentally my wife tried to remind me that I am retired and playing golf for fun. Yea right. But before every shot today I took a very relaxed practice swing from behind the ball and repeated "I am retired and I am here to have fun". I know, it sounds stupid but it is true. The result was maybe 4 swings that were bad, the rest were very acceptable for an 18 handicap.

I did this for chips and putts also. When chipping I picked a landing spot and told myself to hit the spot and it will roll near the hole. It did help with visualization but nothing will change bad technique. When putting I picked the line and while taking a practice stroke told myself that it was going in. I am sure I looked pretty strange having all these conversations with myself but whatever makes the score go down is worth it.

Score? Yesterday 95, average for the year 94.3, today 86. Putts? Average for the year 34.6, today 30. Birdies? Average for the year 1 every 2 rounds, today 2 of them including a chip in birdie on number 9.

So did I just have a good day or is there something to this telling yourself you can make every shot? I don't know but I will keep trying and see where it leads.

[Tee2Green85]

Personally i try to highlight my assets of my golf game. If i know i can't make something happen, i just wont try it. It took me a long time to get this mindset, but when i did i really started shaving strokes off my handicap. Say for instance, if i need to hit a flop shot over a bunker to a pin tucked tight against the trap and has a 2 inch landing zone, i wont even try it ill just go long, lag putt, and get out of there. Most golfers just don't take the game one shot at a time. Like someone posted above, a majority of them are trying to predict the outcome before they even get there.

[ronstelten]

[quote name='ucfdad' timestamp='1400706266' post='9341827']
Ok, played today and tried to change my mental attitude and some physical issues. First I slowed down my swing quite a bit. No loss of distance on my irons, might have lost a little with the driver but except for one horrible swing on 8, my ball was in or near the fairway. This swing at 85 to 90% might take a while for me because it just doesn't feel natural, I am used to going full speed and then a little more. But I know it is the right thing to do and I can't argue with the results for the first try.

Mentally my wife tried to remind me that I am retired and playing golf for fun. Yea right. But before every shot today I took a very relaxed practice swing from behind the ball and repeated "I am retired and I am here to have fun". I know, it sounds stupid but it is true. The result was maybe 4 swings that were bad, the rest were very acceptable for an 18 handicap.

I did this for chips and putts also. When chipping I picked a landing spot and told myself to hit the spot and it will roll near the hole. It did help with visualization but nothing will change bad technique. When putting I picked the line and while taking a practice stroke told myself that it was going in. I am sure I looked pretty strange having all these conversations with myself but whatever makes the score go down is worth it.

Score? Yesterday 95, average for the year 94.3, today 86. Putts? Average for the year 34.6, today 30. Birdies? Average for the year 1 every 2 rounds, today 2 of them including a chip in birdie on number 9.

So did I just have a good day or is there something to this telling yourself you can make every shot? I don't know but I will keep trying and see where it leads.
[/quote]

The greatest joy in golf is peak preforming. To shoot eight better than you average may or should qualify as a peak performance.

Think of it like this, when a tour pro with a stroke average of 71 shoots 63 he did just what you did, peak preformed and bettered his average by 8 strokes.

For me golf is riding the wave of good golf while it lasts and weathering the golfing storms when they happen. No golfer can expect to do it any other way.

Hoping you continue to ride the wave of golfing success!

Ron Stelten

[Exactice808]

Awesome news ucfDad, Keep it up, you had a good round no doubt, but lets see if the attitude change keeps up consistency.

Ronstelten, I agree that golf comes in waves, and averages are the norm, but to better averages you need to shoot better scores over a course of time. ucfDad has a better chance to changes those averages as a 18hdcp no doubt compared to a scratch player. But again. the question that I pose is, is it the attitude to the shots.

As a Scratch player, I am sure that their mentality to each shot is very very different than an 18hdcp.

I am going to play tomorrow and I will continue this little experiment. Again this is not something that will be like magic, but I really think that it plays a huge part in our game. My confidence has been down and so when I approach a shot, I have doubts. If I go to each shot without doubt Im sure my outcome will be 10times greater than it would be if I was questionable.

Thanks everyone for the input. Again if anyone wants to try this and report back would be a cool little experiment.

[Exactice808]

[quote name='copperjeff' timestamp='1400688457' post='9339897']
I think that trying to hole out every shot or being so precise just puts way to much pressure on yourself. I think you pick your target and shot shape, and then just concentrate on making a good swing. For me, making sure my tempo is good on every swing keeps me level. If I keep my tempo, then I have accomplished my goal, if the ball takes a bad hop after that,its ok because my goal was tempo and I accomplished my goal. If my goal is to make the ball do something, and I get a bad bounce, then I get upset over an outcome I had no real control over.
[/quote]

Hey copper if you dont mind me using your post as an example for a moment to clarify my thoughts.

You are right as putting on more pressure on you can be more of a detriment than help let me try to explain this thought I have.

You have a 3ft putt that is completely straight, 99% of the people on this board would "expect" to make it 100% of the time right? When we walk up to this put mentally we are saying we are going to make this there is no doubt fear, or I doubt there is extra stress or anything as under normal circumstances we would all make it (example)

Now my example is you know this mental feeling, Somehow we applied it to many of our shots regardless how much more difficult it is.

So as an example, we are 20ft on the fringe to a straight in flag position, relatively easy chip, now I would say 50% of the people would say I can hole this out, 25% say I can get this really really close and the last 25% are scared or doubtful of a yip, or a skull or chunk etc. What if we told that last 25% to drop all doubt and just tell themselves they can hole this shot, do you think their outcomes would be different?

Again I am applying these thoughts to shots that are relative to the persons skill and legitimate shot situations, not some random almost impossible for anyone to hit shots, Im talking about those 15ft putts or those 20ft straight chips or even 100 yards open flag stick shots

Ask yourself, is the first thing you do when you step up to that 20ft chip do you say "Im going to hole this" or "I need to get this close for that 1 putt" I know that I am saying i need to get this close, when I should be saying I can hole this out?

[ronstelten]

[quote name='Exactice808' timestamp='1400714197' post='9342615']
Awesome news ucfDad, Keep it up, you had a good round no doubt, but lets see if the attitude change keeps up consistency.

Ronstelten, I agree that golf comes in waves, and averages are the norm, but to better averages you need to shoot better scores over a course of time. ucfDad has a better chance to changes those averages as a 18hdcp no doubt compared to a scratch player. But again. the question that I pose is, is it the attitude to the shots.

As a Scratch player, I am sure that their mentality to each shot is very very different than an 18hdcp.

I am going to play tomorrow and I will continue this little experiment. Again this is not something that will be like magic, but I really think that it plays a huge part in our game. My confidence has been down and so when I approach a shot, I have doubts. If I go to each shot without doubt Im sure my outcome will be 10times greater than it would be if I was questionable.

Thanks everyone for the input. Again if anyone wants to try this and report back would be a cool little experiment.
[/quote]

Good point Exactice808 and good luck tomorrow.

Remember, confidence is a choice. You can choose to be as confident as you like. Also remember this, confidence is fragile, like riding a roller coaster confidence can go up and down. It is up to you to stay confident no matter what the golfing gods and goblins throw at you.

[Exactice808]

[quote name='ronstelten' timestamp='1400715026' post='9342727']
[quote name='Exactice808' timestamp='1400714197' post='9342615']
Awesome news ucfDad, Keep it up, you had a good round no doubt, but lets see if the attitude change keeps up consistency.

Ronstelten, I agree that golf comes in waves, and averages are the norm, but to better averages you need to shoot better scores over a course of time. ucfDad has a better chance to changes those averages as a 18hdcp no doubt compared to a scratch player. But again. the question that I pose is, is it the attitude to the shots.

As a Scratch player, I am sure that their mentality to each shot is very very different than an 18hdcp.

I am going to play tomorrow and I will continue this little experiment. Again this is not something that will be like magic, but I really think that it plays a huge part in our game. My confidence has been down and so when I approach a shot, I have doubts. If I go to each shot without doubt Im sure my outcome will be 10times greater than it would be if I was questionable.

Thanks everyone for the input. Again if anyone wants to try this and report back would be a cool little experiment.
[/quote]

Good point Exactice808 and good luck tomorrow.

Remember, confidence is a choice. You can choose to be as confident as you like. [b] Also remember this, confidence is fragile, like riding a roller coaster confidence can go up and down. It is up to you to stay confident no matter what the golfing gods and goblins throw at you.[/b]
[/quote]

This is exactly that! I like this.

This was what caused "MY" implosion, it was a simple modified par 3, 97 yards trouble to the right, so I take trouble out and hit a "perfect" cut, ball is tracking to hole, looks like it could be close, then a huge gust of wind grabs the ball and kills it right into the hazard. Then like an idiot try to play out of the hazard and go on to make a 10. Instead of knowing things happen this kills my confidence and the rest of the day, I go on to shoot a horrible round. When I was still shooting great prior to something I couldn't predict or control. It was my choice to lose confidence and my game suffered. If only I believed in myself that that was a random hole I probably would have still shot good on the back.

Well again lets see what happens

[mikpga]

One of my colleagues played on the PGA Tour in the late 70's and early 80's...

At 71, he still has the mindset of holing approach shots. Always believes he can ace the Par 3's. Won't go to The Masters as a spectator because he waiting to get an invite as a competitor.

Strong...

[pmcuk]

[quote name='Exactice808' timestamp='1400626972' post='9334929']
Long story short I was playing great golf, decided my ego was ready for a check and challenged one of the 2 above golfers, stating I could kick his you know what..... Well I went 1 over after 7 and then imploded.

Now why I say I learned something form these 2 golfers. These guys are night and day totally different in all aspects physically and skill. But their mental approach is something out of this world.
[/quote]

Have you really learned something from these 2 golfers? Your goal was to beat them, not learn from them.

If you want to really learn from them, play more rounds with them, but with a different attitude. You're the disciple here, so act like it!

Invite them to play a round with you - even pay for their round. Ask them if they'll talk to you during the round and help you with your mental game.

You be the student, and let them teach. Then you'll learn. See if they're up for that.

[Exactice808]

[quote name='pmcuk' timestamp='1400754972' post='9345425']
[quote name='Exactice808' timestamp='1400626972' post='9334929']
Long story short I was playing great golf, decided my ego was ready for a check and challenged one of the 2 above golfers, stating I could kick his you know what..... Well I went 1 over after 7 and then imploded.

Now why I say I learned something form these 2 golfers. These guys are night and day totally different in all aspects physically and skill. But their mental approach is something out of this world.
[/quote]

Have you really learned something from these 2 golfers? Your goal was to beat them, not learn from them.

If you want to really learn from them, play more rounds with them, but with a different attitude. You're the disciple here, so act like it!

Invite them to play a round with you - even pay for their round. Ask them if they'll talk to you during the round and help you with your mental game.

You be the student, and let them teach. Then you'll learn. See if they're up for that.
[/quote]

Oh Yes I learned from them from getting a beating.... you learn a lot from your losses and defeats.

I play with one of the guys often and he is a huge trash talker but in a good way, he does help to build your mental game. He has offered many of times to take me on the course and "coach" me. We will be playing as partners in the up coming rounds rather than against one another.

The second guy thats the pro, has offered to play a couple of rounds with me, again I only got to play with him once so we are now developing a "friendship" to golf more often. You are right, I now have a great opportunity to learn from them, but again my previous discussion was more out of observation rather than an actual lesson.

[GLF4EVR]

This is why I love WRX. There are posts like this that really "cut" to the whole essence of the game. Thanks to everyone for the posts.

For me it is what Nicklaus talked about. Focusing on where you want the ball to go whether it is 2 feet or 300 yrds. It is having that mental picture in your mind of this. My game has finally gotten to where I consider myself a decent golfer. When struggling I try to keep all thoughts out when getting ready to hit & just see the picture of where the ball is to go. It works & I can eventually pull myself out of it. When playing well & have the blow-up hole is usually due to loosing that picture. I am close to 56 so that can happen often. This is why I am glad I have a name tag at work. With chips, long putts, even approach shots I try to have the attitude of making it. I know the odds might be like a lottery ticket, but the focus improves my play.

[Exactice808]

Ok so is there truth?....

I played yesterday on my nemesis course. The last 2 times I played here I shot a 96 and a 97 granted that was almost a year and half ago. I have improved since then, but I did try my theory.

Well I shot a sold 83 yesterday and I finally beat the guy I have been trying to beat for 1 year. Granted he didnt shoot the greatest but he did put pressure on the back 9 shooting a 40, but I shot a 39 muahahah

Any ways I really focused on making the shots, every single chip, every single putt I said "I can make this, I can make this". I truly felt I could make the shots, just by repeatedly saying it. It was amazing. So Stats wise.

44 Front 39 Back

30 putts , 7, 1 putts and 1,3 putt, this is impressive as they just finished 2 major tournaments at this course so to putt this well was amazing.

Fairways - 8/14 Not bad here
GIR - 4/18 Terrible but my chipping and putting was great

Scrambling 38%

Well I really think there is some truth with your attitude to each shot, I challenge everyone to give it a shot and see what happens. Cant hurt to be a little confident!

[Teejay68]

I think seeing the ball go in the hole on every chip, putt and approach, and confidently making each stroke is very important. The problem is how you react to the shot that doesn't go as planned or the putt doesn't drop. I try to stay level headed and not get too up on good shots or too down on bad ones. As soon as you start to think about missing the next putt, or changing something based on the last missed putt, I generally start to suck! Lol. As long as I made a good stroke, the outcome is out of my hands. That's hard to do on every shot, but it definitely helps keep things in my head even. Never too up or too down.

Tom

[EJ Mac]

I played with a few low cappers Wednesday and paid attention to how they handled themselves and approached certain scenarios. Alot of which ties right in here. I can normally get off to a good start or fast start most day, but have a tendency to get down on myself if I get a string of bogey or worse going. Yesterday I just took it all in stride, along with focusing on the shots more and loosing any swing thought when addressing the ball. After a week of mid 90's and low 100's I fired off an 86 yesterday which still was a bit ho hum with the birdie looks I left myself. Still my best round to date and included a triple and several doubles. I think the positive approach is the only way to go after all if we don't believe in ourselves who will?

[ucfdad]

[quote name='Exactice808' timestamp='1400880476' post='9356303']
Ok so is there truth?....

I played yesterday on my nemesis course. The last 2 times I played here I shot a 96 and a 97 granted that was almost a year and half ago. I have improved since then, but I did try my theory.

Well I shot a sold 83 yesterday and I finally beat the guy I have been trying to beat for 1 year. Granted he didnt shoot the greatest but he did put pressure on the back 9 shooting a 40, but I shot a 39 muahahah

Any ways I really focused on making the shots, every single chip, every single putt I said "I can make this, I can make this". I truly felt I could make the shots, just by repeatedly saying it. It was amazing. So Stats wise.

44 Front 39 Back

30 putts , 7, 1 putts and 1,3 putt, this is impressive as they just finished 2 major tournaments at this course so to putt this well was amazing.

Fairways - 8/14 Not bad here
GIR - 4/18 Terrible but my chipping and putting was great

Scrambling 38%

Well I really think there is some truth with your attitude to each shot, I challenge everyone to give it a shot and see what happens. Cant hurt to be a little confident!
[/quote]
Congrats.

Based on mine and your "experiment", you may be on to the secret of golf. My second round of the experiment was an 89, yearly average 94.5. I had 4 bad swings which equaled 4 penalties, so should have been 85 at least. Let's keep these updates coming. It can't be this easy, can it?

[ucfdad]

[quote name='EJ Mac' timestamp='1400919752' post='9358907']
I played with a few low cappers Wednesday and paid attention to how they handled themselves and approached certain scenarios. Alot of which ties right in here. I can normally get off to a good start or fast start most day, but have a tendency to get down on myself if I get a string of bogey or worse going. Yesterday I just took it all in stride, along with focusing on the shots more and loosing any swing thought when addressing the ball. After a week of mid 90's and low 100's I fired off an 86 yesterday which still was a bit ho hum with the birdie looks I left myself. Still my best round to date and included a triple and several doubles. I think the positive approach is the only way to go after all if we don't believe in ourselves who will?
[/quote]

Congrats!

[pmcuk]

Well done! Great!

[Rapture25]

I agree with the mental aspect being vital to successful golf. As others said, expecting every shot to go in the cup is just way too much added stress for my game.

However, this winter I read Bob Rotella's book, "The Unstoppable Golfer." Almost immediately my game transformed. The philosophy behind the book is having the utmost confidence in your short game, knowing if you get yourself in trouble, your short game will bail you out regardless the situation. Yesterday, a tough par five, I blasted my first ball OB. My provisional was 225 out in the first cut. My three iron, fourth shot landed, on the second tier of the green and rolled off the back. I knew my wedge game has been hot, as I have chipped in at least once almost every round. So at the very least, I'd chip it close and tap in for bogey. Or, I could hole out for par (or eagle sans the OB). Standing over the chip I knew the line and without haste pulled the trigger....and whammy, in the hole.

As the saying goes, "Three bad shots and and one great shot still makes par." This winter I've putted and chipped countless hours in my basement and the results have been noted by my golf partners. They knew me as the guy with the huge tee ball but now I somehow found my short game. It's been a recipe for success thus far.

[DavePelz4]

After our round today, one of the guys in our group asked me what I've been doing differently. My handicap is now single digits, barely, after starting 2013 as a 14. This week I shot an 82 and 72.

Very simply, I stopped caring about the score or a bad shot or hole. One shot has no bearing on the next. I feel confident knowing on any hole it's use whatever club comfortably gets the ball in the fairway. The middle of the green is almost always the target as it has the biggest margin of error. My putting practice is on 6 footers and 25 footers and I know I will 2 putt any hole at the worst.

It's amazing how different thoughts can make the game a bit easier and more fun.

[Guardian5]

You may think all you wish, but if you are not a good player due to your technique or co-ordination, you shall remain a not-good player.
If you are a poor scorer due to choices and attitude this could help.
Cheers