Psychological issues on the course!

[lesdavies123]

First off, I am a 11-handicapper and formerly an 8. Since the start of the summer, I have struggled to break 90. The cause of this is severe inconsistency with my long shots. I have something that, I think, a lot of people have experienced over the years. I am a very good ball striker on the range but when I get on the course, I become a hacker, lose all control over my rhythm and my swing. I start hitting duck hooks, topping DRIVES and other things like this. It has gotten very frustrating, I play in the morning, play awfully, and then go practice in the evening, get back my swing and rhythm and hit perfectly. I am then filled with confidence for the next morning, but when I get back on the tee the following morning my nightmare starts again. I personally believe this problem is psychological, I have tried many things like changing my preshot routine but nothing has worked, do you guys have any tips to help me get back my game on the course? Are there any of you who have had this problem, and if so what solved it for you?

[bill reed]

Re: Psychological issues on the course!

hi
i have one that works if you play the same course a lot. the night before you play lay down in your bed and play every hole over in your head. see each shot you play. play it so you end up where you most often play the ball. don't think of playing it in par but more like your normal round. see every shot in your mind and thing of how you want to play each shot and why.
next day when you stand over the ball you are able to see that shot so much better in you mind and i find i always play nost of the round close to how i saw it the night before.
the more you do it the easer it becomd to play a round over in you mind. you will start to think more about why and where before you even come to play the next shot and on the course you play the percentage shots much more often and that takes a few shots off each round.
cheers
Bill

[long tee]

Re: Psychological issues on the course!

This is a scary post. I thought I was the only one with this problem. I am a replica of your symptoms. I call myself a range rat because that is where I am "in control" of my swing. What is detrimental to me and probably you, is that when this happens, I automatically start changing everything in my swing, along with convincing myself that I dont have the abilty anymore. I am now working on my mind rather than my swing. I try to use the same routine on the tee as I do on the range. I cant stress enough the importance of following the routine. Grip, stance, ball position, practice swing, etc. You know you can do it. What is different on the course to the range? Whats different is belief in yourself and the fear of not performing. Go out with the thought that you are at the range and double check everything in your set up. Then just do it.

[Neil18]

Re: Psychological issues on the course!

I'd add to the above post with one thing. Target.

There is a huuuuge unnoticed difference between the mindset on the range, against the mindset on the course. Why? Because on the range, despite however hard we try, or however bad or good it gets, we can simply rake another ball into place.

This metronomical striking of balls on the range is so far off from being good practice for on-course play, it really should be looked at and understood more closely, and then changed. It's too important to ignore. But yet we go right on doing it.

The range provides wide solitude. There is no trouble. Whatsoever. There is no fear. Because there is nothing to fear. No traps, no water and no trees. That's one thing. The effect of that multiplies it still further. What the absence of this leads to is an absence of a true golf hole. Because there is no threat of landing in a hazard, we are not preparing for the strategy necessary to play any golf hole. There is no threat and/or punishment for any shot.

I bet your pre-shot routine starts with all the things mentioned. Grip, stance, alignement. There's something that comes before all that. Picturing a hole, and a target, hazards, and a shot to fit into that picture.

If you don't practice from seeing a golf hole infront of you, you aren't practicing golf. You're practising hitting balls aimlessly.

And getting very good at it. That's important to notice too. You said it yourself. You're a great range player. Because you've practiced being a great range player.

So practice playing golf holes on the range. With EVERY ball. It's more difficult to do than to say. But do it ALL THE TIME AND CONVINCINGLY AND VIVIDLY, and not only do you practice for play, but you develop your imagination, concentration and confidence all at the same time.

[slater170]

Re: Psychological issues on the course!

how timely is this thread

3 weeks ago i was on the crest of a wave 5 shots off the handicap this season already and aiming for 12 by the end of the season

dont go to the range that much these days preferring to use the short game practice area at my club which has seen my cap drop

shot a nett 61 the other week then without warning ive developed a push slice which has all but destroyed my confidence

had a leeson the other night but im so tense fearing another bad shot that ive no chance of making a good strike

[BrianW]

Re: Psychological issues on the course!

I use range practice to improve/maintain good ball striking. Like all golfers (Tiger included) I have off days on the course, these off days are due to a breakdown in my swing, for me its either poor tempo on the day or a swing fault like taking the club away too far inside and under plane.

When these things happen it is hard to work through them in the game, I just have to make the best out of what I have on the day. I always have a range session after such an event and work to improve the problem once I have analysed it. I dont take much notice of how far the ball goes when doing this, in fact I tend to look away after the the ball reaches its high point, I then score the shot out of ten. When I have made some consistent 8's and over with some different clubs I stop and go home (even if I have not used all the balls)

(Ian, I would respectfully suggest your problem is one (or both) of the two I have mentioned here.)

Regarding how to play shots when on the course, I was coached to pick my target, decide the type of shot I need to play to it (shaped, high, low, etc) select the club for that shot, then pick out a secondary target that is much higher and behind the actual target, I then line up and hit the shot in hand with full conviction and commitment to the secondary target. This way I do not have my mind affected with thoughts like: "Watch the out of bounds on the right" "Make sure I get across that water" "Keep out the bunker" etc, these thoughts are guaranteed to affect your swing by making you steer the club or fail to hit right through to a balanced finish.

I hope this is of some help?

[Shamed04]

Re: Psychological issues on the course!

HA! I was a 3 handicapper Jan. of 08 and havent broke 80 in over 6 months now..lol Luckily I hurt my back and may not have to stress over this for a long time now

[SirCliveWolfe]

Re: Psychological issues on the course!

Hi Guys,

I haven't been playing long and I'm around a 27 handicapper when I'm playing normally, I've managed to drop this recently to 21, but I'm not sure if this is consistent improvement or just a purple patch. Now as you can see I'm not really on your level, but one thing I'm good at is the mental approach to the game.

I put this down to two things, one natural and one taught. Firstly I'm very, very laid back (almost horizontal according to my fiancée ) in everything that I do in golf or in life.

Secondly, and probably most usefully to you guys, is a book a picked up called Zen Golf by Dr Joseph Parent. I've found it really helpful and has a chapter called "How to get from the practice tee to the first tee" which may help you out.

The chapter actually opens up with

One of the challenges faced by all levels of golfers is expressed in this lament: 'Why can't I hit the ball on the course the way I was hitting it on the range? It feels so frustrating!'

As with all golfing books, it may not help you or it might, so I'd see if you local library has, or can get, a copy. Have a read an see what you think.