From best 9 to worst 9

[ChristopherMcDonald]

So a couple weeks back I was playing with my Dad at one of our local tracks; a pretty tough one both from a length and green complex standpoint. Had the back 9 of my life, shot a 40 with back to back birdies (also a first for me). Just felt like I could do no wrong, hitting shots exactly as I saw in my minds eye, putts falling left and right, etc. Brilliant day. 

Flash forward to this past Saturday, playing a notably easier and shorter course. I shot SO badly. I don't think I hit a single good shot all day. I had boulders for hands and couldn't seem to get comfortable over any shot for the life of me. Completely demoralizing. Ended up carding a 104 (52 on the back, 52 on the front). Needless to say the wind is completely out of my sails and I'm totally frustrated. I'm legit not looking forward to getting back out there.

 

Questions for you guys:
1. How do you guys deal with this from a mental standpoint? How do you guys bounce back?
2. How do you keep a positive internal monologue when things start to go off the rails mid-round? I was really beating myself up on the inside during the round which I know didn't help my cause

Looking forward to the discussion

[HoosierHacker89]

1. For me its just a game, and what I shoot has literally no impact on my life. Staying detached and having fun is where I like to be. You've just got to keep playing and you'll forget all about it. You're going to have much better and much worse rounds in your life. I'd venture to guess probably this season. 

2. I suck at this one but a negative mindset isn't going to help anything. You're on the course to have fun and escape from life. Enjoy the scenery, the comradery, and try to hit good shots. NEVER should a round of golf be work IMO. Focus on the things you can control. Breathing, making good swings etc. 

 

And if all else fails chalk it up to a dumpster round and try to pull off stupid shots. That's what i do anyways. 

[jvincent]

Golf is hard. Brian Harman went 34-47 at Augusta and he plays golf for a living.

 

1. Bad rounds happen. Nobody died (assumption on my part) and you'll probably do better next time.

 

2. See above. Bad shots happen. Just keep tryin got hit good shots.

 

 

[Maine Golfer]

15 minutes ago, jvincent said:

Golf is hard. Brian Harman went 34-47 at Augusta and he plays golf for a living.

 

1. Bad rounds happen. Nobody died (assumption on my part) and you'll probably do better next time.

 

2. See above. Bad shots happen. Just keep tryin got hit good shots.

 

 

To add to this. If something awful happens like triple , followed by 8 or 9 sure that isn't great. I'm not gonna piss away my chance for a par the next hole. ive played rough rounds and im like, im happy what I did say on the last two holes.

 

I still want to give it a effort. I'm not gonna declare "fun is over" cause the card is underwater. I don't play golf for a living and I dont care for gambling

 

 

[jda]

You have to enjoy the ride and it cannot always be about the result.  Enjoy the good stuff and shake off the bad.  Pros miss cuts and have bad stretches too - watch some Thursday golf and you can see the duffs, 3 putts and bad shots of the best in the world.  Sometimes you just don't have it.

 

You are never as good as your best round, but also never as bad as your worst.

 

I shot a 30/42 a few years ago.  No big deal.  More happy for 2 eagles and 2 birds than upset about the 42.  Mostly happy that some good friends got to see the 30.

[PJE]

Echoing the themes in the other posts,  bad shots and bad rounds happen but rest confident in knowing you are capable of doing better; in fact, you already have done so.  The bad swing, bad hole, bad round have already occurred and those things do not determine your future success. 
Keep your optimism up and move forward. Every shot is an opportunity to do something great. 
When things go awry during a round, the same ideas can help you prevail but also focusing on the process, I.e., the shot at hand and hole, instead of the score or how you have been playing, can get you out of a funk.

The efficacy of focusing on incremental tasks, e.g., a swing, versus results, e.g., score, varies by individual but this approach (process vs outcome) works well for many people- especially when everything has fallen apart. 

Edited April 15, 2024 by PJE

[ChristopherMcDonald]

Lots of good thoughts in here so far. Really appreciating the responses. Thanks!

[jda]

In general, if your leisure activity is going to make you stressed, then find a different one.  Enjoy the time outside, enjoy the company if you play with family or friends and realize that being good at this is not important.  Better to be a good friend, partner, parent or whatever you are where it really matters.

 

Even if you want to be really good at this, getting upset about it won't help.  All of the training and work in the world can be undermined by your mind, attitude and bad expectations.  Gotta get right in the head before you can expect a GCQuad with a bay in your basement, club membership and hours and hours of practice to help.

 

It is OK to be upset about a bad shot, but it needs to be forgotten in about about 5 seconds.  Beyond remembering that you need to work on X or Y, forget about it.  For example, I shot 76 yesterday, but took bogey from 80 yards three times - horrible things to do... so I just remember that I need to work on getting that range of shot figured out to be closer (I was closer with every iron from 150 to 200 yards).

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

1 hour ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

So a couple weeks back I was playing with my Dad at one of our local tracks; a pretty tough one both from a length and green complex standpoint. Had the back 9 of my life, shot a 40 with back to back birdies (also a first for me). Just felt like I could do no wrong, hitting shots exactly as I saw in my minds eye, putts falling left and right, etc. Brilliant day. 

Flash forward to this past Saturday, playing a notably easier and shorter course. I shot SO badly. I don't think I hit a single good shot all day. I had boulders for hands and couldn't seem to get comfortable over any shot for the life of me. Completely demoralizing. Ended up carding a 104 (52 on the back, 52 on the front). Needless to say the wind is completely out of my sails and I'm totally frustrated. I'm legit not looking forward to getting back out there.

 

Questions for you guys:
1. How do you guys deal with this from a mental standpoint? How do you guys bounce back?
2. How do you keep a positive internal monologue when things start to go off the rails mid-round? I was really beating myself up on the inside during the round which I know didn't help my cause

Looking forward to the discussion

It's rough when both 9s are in the same round, lol.

 

1.  Keep grinding.  Cultivate "grit", as Jon Sherman put it.  Keep doing the same things in your process. If you've sufficient feedback to realize what's going wrong, like consistently hitting it off the the toe, then altering your setup to try and feel like you're trying to hit it off the hosel may help.  Adam Young's strike variation drills are great for this.

 

2. A great help is to not define yourself by your performance, but rather by your effort.  Also, taking in the surroundings, telling yourself that it's great that you have the time and disposable $$$ to be out on a day like this, playing golf.  Plus, having faith that your practice and your work at golf will eventually right the ship. Even if it doesn't happen today or tomorrow.

 

It's very satisfying when it does, though.  Had one of those breakthroughs yesterday in another hobby, where I finally realized, "Oh, that's what they meant!"  I still am not very good, but I felt I climbed up to another ledge.  And the view was great.

[caeye0710]

4 hours ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

So a couple weeks back I was playing with my Dad at one of our local tracks; a pretty tough one both from a length and green complex standpoint. Had the back 9 of my life, shot a 40 with back to back birdies (also a first for me). Just felt like I could do no wrong, hitting shots exactly as I saw in my minds eye, putts falling left and right, etc. Brilliant day. 

Flash forward to this past Saturday, playing a notably easier and shorter course. I shot SO badly. I don't think I hit a single good shot all day. I had boulders for hands and couldn't seem to get comfortable over any shot for the life of me. Completely demoralizing. Ended up carding a 104 (52 on the back, 52 on the front). Needless to say the wind is completely out of my sails and I'm totally frustrated. I'm legit not looking forward to getting back out there.

 

Questions for you guys:
1. How do you guys deal with this from a mental standpoint? How do you guys bounce back?
2. How do you keep a positive internal monologue when things start to go off the rails mid-round? I was really beating myself up on the inside during the round which I know didn't help my cause

Looking forward to the discussion

I think it all depends on your frequency, meaning how much are you playing/practicing? If you're a weekend warrior, go out and have some fun. Frustration is normal in this game. I've shot 68-81 in the same weekend. I've shot 52-34 in the same round. Once you get to impact, everything is out of your control. Learn to let go. Learn to accept failure, whether it's a drive or a 3-foot putt. 

 

Also learn to play to your strengths. Does 3w or hybrid give you a better chance to hit the fairway and have an extra club or two into the green? Last I checked: hitting an 8i from the fairway is a lot easier than hitting a gap wedge from the trees.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

2 hours ago, caeye0710 said:

I think it all depends on your frequency, meaning how much are you playing/practicing? If you're a weekend warrior, go out and have some fun. Frustration is normal in this game. I've shot 68-81 in the same weekend. I've shot 52-34 in the same round. Once you get to impact, everything is out of your control. Learn to let go. Learn to accept failure, whether it's a drive or a 3-foot putt. 

 

Also learn to play to your strengths. Does 3w or hybrid give you a better chance to hit the fairway and have an extra club or two into the green? Last I checked: hitting an 8i from the fairway is a lot easier than hitting a gap wedge from the trees.

Yeah not playing or practicing nearly enough compared to how hard I'm being on myself. I get out a couple of times a month if I'm lucky. I want to start taking the game more seriously so maybe I'm putting the horse in front of the cart a little by being so hard on myself over a bad round. I'll focus on a good attitude and some range sessions before my next round out

[caeye0710]

1 minute ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

Yeah not playing or practicing nearly enough compared to how hard I'm being on myself. I get out a couple of times a month if I'm lucky. I want to start taking the game more seriously so maybe I'm putting the horse in front of the cart a little by being so hard on myself over a bad round. I'll focus on a good attitude and some range sessions before my next round out

Most of us are in the same boat. Best thing to do for range sessions is figure out where you lose the most strokes and focus on that. 

[monkeyboy]

I shot 35 over 9 holes last week.  4 birdies and 3 bogeys (2 of them could have easily been pars) - it was very ho hum...I had been playing well lately so it wasn't a huge surprise.

 

The next day, same 9 - I end up shooting a 52!  I could not hit a quality shot - I got zero breaks.  After hole 3, I was like WTF - it's going to be that kind of day!  I played with a guy who was super slow - but can't really blame him (but the worse I played - the more he annoyed me).

 

Went out a day later and got paired with a womens college golfer who was a superb player.  I played more normal for a 41.  Maybe playing with a really good player gets me more focused?

 

It happens, the poor score stuck with me a bit but you have to forget the bad days.

[alittleoverpar]

It's a cliche, but it really is one shot at a time.  The most important shot of your round in the shot you are currently hitting.  You can't do anything about the shots you've already hit and you can't do anything about future shots coming up in the round.  All you can control is the shot you are currently hitting.  Focus, hit your best shot, and move on.  It's just a game.  

[caniac6]

I’m certainly not a pro, so bad shots and bad rounds are all part of playing. Once had a guy tell me that if you don’t want to play bad, don’t play. Don’t worry about it. I shot a 33/46 in the same round. Talk about your head spinning!

Edited June 27, 2024 by caniac6

[RichieHunt]

I tend to do the opposite, start off poorly and then get things clicking.

Biggest was I shot 44-31 at Windermere GC outside of Atlanta.  Although that back nine was very 'get-able.'  Shot 43-33 at Alaqua Lakes in a tournament to miss the qualifier by a stroke.  And 2 weeks ago I shot 41-33 at my home course (although again...the back nine is very get-able).

The two instances when I went the other way is I shot 31-40 at Hamilton Mill GC outside of Atlanta.  Me and a buddy were playing and we were cruising around and I was playing so well and then a single skips out ahead of us on #10.  My buddy isn't happy but I tell him don't worry about it because it's just a single.  But sure enough...the single is taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r.  I'm not kidding you that the single, all by himself, was about to play the back nine with nobody in front of him in about 2-1/2 hours.  My buddy Drew is irate, but more because the single was disrupting the groove I was in.

Another time happened at Metrowest.  Practically the same situation.  Me and a buddy are playing on a weekday in the morning.  Course is in beautiful condition and I shoot 32 on the front.  Then they let a couple of foursomes and a twosome jump on the back nine (for whatever reason) and we went from playing the front nine in an 1:15 to playing the back nine in 2:40.  I think I shot 39 on the back and my round was ruined.

 

 

 

RH

[jezgolfs]

^^ same for me but mostly because I don't warm up so front 9 is a mess then it starts clicking around the 6th hole. I usually just think "on to the next hole" if i play a bad hole. Once I beat my self up due to a duff shot then golf just isn't so fun anymore.

[TheDeanAbides]

The biggest mental difference between good and bad players is the expectation after a bad shot. Bad players hit a loose one and it shakes their confidence, so they expect the next shot to be terrible too. Good players know that bad shots happen, so they focus on the next shot knowing it'll likely be decent. 

 

Don't compound your errors. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

On 4/15/2024 at 3:26 PM, ChristopherMcDonald said:

Yeah not playing or practicing nearly enough compared to how hard I'm being on myself. I get out a couple of times a month if I'm lucky. I want to start taking the game more seriously so maybe I'm putting the horse in front of the cart a little by being so hard on myself over a bad round. I'll focus on a good attitude and some range sessions before my next round out

 

IMHO this is huge. I'm one of those players who IMHO has great scoring potential, but doesn't practice or play often enough to avoid the "WTF?!?!" moments that ruin a round. So my score isn't defined by how good my good holes are. It's defined by how bad my bad holes are--and how many of them there are. 

 

I think my most egregious "good nine / bad nine" was on my most commonly played course, which is a 3670-yard, par 60 course. With a >20 index, I shot even par on the front with one birdie and one bogey. I then proceeded to shoot +14 on the back nine lol.  My career best round on that course I shot +9 on holes 1-3 and 16-18, and even par on holes 4-15 (three birdies, three bogeys). 

 

I'm trying to commit to more range time, and more time spent at a little 9-hole pitch & putt course near me that I can get around in 90 minutes (or sometimes less) in the morning before work. Because IMHO golf is something that requires reps. 

 

From a mental perspective? 

 

[ANimz]

On 4/15/2024 at 11:57 AM, ChristopherMcDonald said:

So a couple weeks back I was playing with my Dad at one of our local tracks; a pretty tough one both from a length and green complex standpoint. Had the back 9 of my life, shot a 40 with back to back birdies (also a first for me). Just felt like I could do no wrong, hitting shots exactly as I saw in my minds eye, putts falling left and right, etc. Brilliant day. 

Flash forward to this past Saturday, playing a notably easier and shorter course. I shot SO badly. I don't think I hit a single good shot all day. I had boulders for hands and couldn't seem to get comfortable over any shot for the life of me. Completely demoralizing. Ended up carding a 104 (52 on the back, 52 on the front). Needless to say the wind is completely out of my sails and I'm totally frustrated. I'm legit not looking forward to getting back out there.

 

Questions for you guys:
1. How do you guys deal with this from a mental standpoint? How do you guys bounce back?
2. How do you keep a positive internal monologue when things start to go off the rails mid-round? I was really beating myself up on the inside during the round which I know didn't help my cause

Looking forward to the discussion

I just take it hole by hole.  Can't do anything about the bad shots/scores, so forget about it and move on.  I played a horribly tight front 9 a couple weeks ago.  Front 9 I shot 47, but I shot +1 over the last 10 holes.  Focus on the task at hand and forget about anything else.  

[Warrick]

Shot 46-34 a few weeks ago, had a random case of the shanks on front 9, got a cocktail at the turn and calmed down.

[Ferguson]

Try this. 

 

[caniac6]

24 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

Try this. 

 

I hope he takes a cart.

[Kai Slater]

On 4/15/2024 at 11:57 AM, ChristopherMcDonald said:

..........................Questions for you guys:
1. How do you guys deal with this from a mental standpoint? How do you guys bounce back?
2. How do you keep a positive internal monologue when things start to go off the rails mid-round? I was really beating myself up on the inside during the round which I know didn't help my cause

Looking forward to the discussion

Just keep swinging is the best advice I can offer.

 

My worst was years ago, back when I played a lot more frequently.  I shot a 76 on a tight, tuff little track in North Carolina, then two days later on an "easier" more wide open course, I had a 97, spraying the ball all over the place.

 

Even last month, I shot a 38 front 9 on a local course here, then three days later......on the same course, same front 9, shot a 50.

 

It happens to most all of us, just let it go, don't go searching too hard for answers, and just keep swinging the club. Try not to be hyper-focused on a mi-nute target, but focus more on an "area" to hit your next shot. Get back out there, focus on the shot you're about to hit, don't lament the bad shots from the last round, just go with what you have in the moment and keep on swinging and you'll get back on track.

 

Also, try letting go of your anticipated outcome; swing the club as if you don't care where the ball ends up.  Just free and loose

Edited July 17, 2024 by Kai Slater

[knappabn]

Went 48-32 last year once. Front was just an absolute mess, I resigned myself to keeping from shooting 100, pounded 2 beers at the turn then it went nuts. It's a dumb game. 😆

[alittleoverpar]

On 7/16/2024 at 12:17 PM, Warrick said:

Shot 46-34 a few weeks ago, had a random case of the shanks on front 9, got a cocktail at the turn and calmed down.

 

That's called birdie juice!  🤣

[Sp4zRX]

 

1. How do you guys deal with this from a mental standpoint? How do you guys bounce back?

 

Just expect that it will always happen. When I have my worst rounds I like to think back to my worst rounds a year or two ago to remind myself that my worst rounds now are much better than my worst from previous years. I find the worst rounds to be a great gauge for evaluating improvement. 
 

As for bouncing back, the worst rounds usually motivate me to put in more effecient work to improve and through experience I have learned that my biggest slumps are often followed by my biggest gains in improvement. 

 

2. How do you keep a positive internal monologue when things start to go off the rails mid-round? I was really beating myself up on the inside during the round which I know didn't help my cause

 

You have to learn how to manage two opposing mindsets. A realistic mindset and a delusional mindset.
 

The realistic mindset should be an honest and realistic expectation of your actual skill level and abilities that factors in your very best shots and more importantly, your very worst shots and everything in between. When choosing what shot to play you need to be in that realistic mindset and factor in your actual ability to execute that shot. 
 

When you are standing over the ball about to hit any given shot you should slip into the delusional, over confident mindset. There can be no doubt. You need to truly believe that you can pull off that shot at a 100% success rate. You already factored in your misses and you know all misses will be good results so this swing is of no consequence. As soon as you hit the shot then it’s time to turn off the delusional mindset and come back to the realistic mindset. 
 

Most of the people I see get mad at themselves and start to self destruct often have unrealistic expectations of their own skill level and the rate at which they will hit errant shots.