Too much intensity, trying too hard.

[mariner]

I am always suffering with this - I practice well and never duff a chip, then come the "real thing" and I hit half my chips fat after freezing over the shot for far too long.
I'm not so bad with putting, but with chipping I just know it's from trying too hard and being too intense about it. I've got all Bob Rotella's books, and his audio CD's are on continuously in my car, so I know what I'm supposed to do . .. . but does anybody know how to take the over-intensity out of these shots?

[GregJWillis]

Re: Too much intensity, trying too hard.

Look here
Golf Lessons - GregJWillis

[killer]

Re: Too much intensity, trying too hard.

I am always suffering with this - I practice well and never duff a chip, then come the "real thing" and I hit half my chips fat after freezing over the shot for far too long.
I'm not so bad with putting, but with chipping I just know it's from trying too hard and being too intense about it. I've got all Bob Rotella's books, and his audio CD's are on continuously in my car, so I know what I'm supposed to do . .. . but does anybody know how to take the over-intensity out of these shots?

In my opinion, the best way to move forward is, to be a little blazay. What iam saying is never ever put yourself in a position where'as your under undue pressure.

The way I play pressure shots is, assess the shot, then with full conviction execute! eradicate all inhibitions. You must practice this way too. And when your playing with your mates employ the same strategey. That way when your in a real pressure situation, say in a match you will
trust me, be able to execute the shot required. Let me know how you get on?

[BrianW]

Re: Too much intensity, trying too hard.

You must play from your body and not from your mind. Try to turn the chattering mind off and use a 'Feel' type shot where your instincts come into play.

Think of how you would throw a ball to the hole, let your natural instincts take over, imagine the weight you need and the landing point where the ball will roll out to the hole. Stand behind the ball and take a few practice throws without a ball, make a mental snapshot of the ball rolling to the hole and dropping in. Now take a few practice swings off the ball, move up and execute the shot using the snapshot and 'feel' for weight.

[mariner]

Re: Too much intensity, trying too hard.

Thanks guys, I will work on it.
Greg, the article is good - my long game doesn't suffer so much from this problem, as when I practice at the range I always give myself tight targets to go at, so that shows that it works.
Chipping with my new SW is the main problem - I always shied away from using it away from the sand but I found I got pretty good with it in practice lately and want to use it to pitch and chip with "for real" but as this is a quite recent phenomenon, I suppose I am not quite confident enough with it and just tighten up a little, freeze over the ball, and try too hard, and usually hit it fat.
I recognise the value of a good pitch, but have always advocated using a less lofted club as the margin for error is wider (hit your 8 iron chip slightly thin and it goes only 10-20% too far, but do it with a SW and you are in big trouble) I see other players using it all the time and though they may get up and down a couple of times in spectacular fashion, this is offset by the number of times they thin it off the green, or chunk it half way and take another 3 to get down.
One week till I go to Scotland for the annual golf fest, I intend to practice nothing but short game, especially this SW.