Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

[Steve B]

Hi there.

What are the best set-up / pre-shot swing thoughts people carry with them out on the course. I'm a high handicapper (24) and (as a pure example) I start a game full of confidence, can have flashes of brilliance for the first 5 holes, make a mistake or two and then it's all over. I then go into mental and pyhsical breakdown compounded by my playing partners continuing to hit the usual brilliant shots (hcap's avg 15), being last to tee off, and possibly a group behind looking on from the tee or fairway, with the result that I'll address the ball and start swinging with just my arms and hands - getting a slice / shank and anything else to ruin my game. I'd be interested to hear both current high handicapper views as well as those that have progressed on from this level and now playing with lower handicaps, in particular around:
1 : Pre-Shot Swing Thoughts
2 : Retaining mental confidence
3 : Getting out of a physical rut of knowingly swinging just with my hands and arms (loss of 1-piece)
4 : Any other relevant guidance.

Anyone else actually experience this or am I unique!

Steve.

[SIRCHOPALOT]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

You made a couple of statements that tell me your mind is wandering. You mentioned your playing partners abilitys and the worry that the people in the group behind you are watching your futility. You can't worry about what other people think. Try to identify 2 or 3 of your bad swing keys and concentrate on correcting those when your swing goes bad.

[dannyra]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

You can't do anything about things that have already happened. That last shot is done, nothing you can do about it now. Just think about your next shot.
A round is a compilation of you playing every shot. So don't think about the round, think about each shot. The round will take care of itself.

Tempo is usually the only thought I try to bring out on the course. Unfortunately that's not the only one that creaps into my mind. Try to limit your keys you bring out on the course with you. The absolute max swing keys you can try in a round is 2. If you try to do more than 2, your thinking out there to much and not playing and having fun.

EVERYBODY hits bad shots occasionally. Laugh it off the best you can. Make a joke about it with your playing partner. Next time you duff one off the tee with another group there. Put a buck on the tee box and say, here's a dollar if any of you can duplicate that shot.

This is a phrase I came up with to I try to live by:
Why do I care what you think?
Sometimes there is a reason, such as they are paying me. Or they are somebody I interact with everyday. Other times there isn't a very valid reason, so I don't care what they think.

[Wayne Tait]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

Hey Steve,
I guess if you are unique than so am I.
Sounds like you could be my long lost twin as I have struggled with all of that as well. Could I pass on some advice that I received from some older and wiser golfers than myself -
-Don't worry about the others, that why golf has handicaps so we can compete on an even playing field.
-The most important shot in golf is the next one.
-Play the game one hole at a time, set short term goals
-Get into a pre swing routine and stick to it
I play competition on Saturdays then have a liesurely stroll on a Sunday with my son who is 10 yo and already hits the ball really sweet after only 6 months of playing and I hear myself telling him the same things so he will continue to enjoy the challenge of this great game. Hopefully I will end up carrying his bag in the future.
So relax, enjoy, think happy thoughts (Do what I say not what I do ;-p.
Cheers, Wayne

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

Great Thread,

I think ever golfer goes through this stage in there golfing life, including me and for that matter every pro on tour.

The answer is a simple one: You start ok full of confidence and then it's like a boiling kettle, you are simply waiting for the bad shot to come, and in every round for every player across the world it will come, it how we look at it that seperates us.

You must learn that a round of golf is a score over 18 holes, so how can you possibly predict the outcome of your game or score when you have a bad hole on number 5 or whichever hole.

The art of scoring is to get out of trouble the easy way (take your medicine).

We have a tough hole at my course index 1, par 4 a really tight drive and a 200yd second shot through a narrow tree lined fairway if you hit a perfect drive.
I play it this way 4 iron off the tee to the begining of the woods, 8 iron up to the bunkers and a 52 degree punch to the green, I have 1 put for par, but I will take 5 anytime. Make a birdie somewhere else.

It all about playing a sensible game, accept what you get and look at the game as an art of escape and survive.

Hope this helps


Ian.

[Martin Levac]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

Greetings Steve,

I used to let myself be affected by the result of each shot which would bring my state of mind up and down several times on each hole. Whatever the result of my shot, it would affect me on the next shot. If the shot was bad, I'd play badly on the next shot, the reverse was also true if the shot was good.

I quit that nonsense. I also began practicing extensively a few weeks ago.

I used to get very frustrated on the course, now I only get frustrated when I practice. As I practice more and more, I get a better idea of what to expect of myself. I also get better with practice so I raise my expectations each time I practice according to the results I produce in practice. I can still produce bad shots so I don't get mad when I do make those bad shots, I simply take it as a fact of my ability.

I maintain confidence in myself by repeating that I can do it when I feel doubt creeping in. Que sera sera is what I think before the shot also knowing that I can do that shot.

As I write this, I realise something else about how I changed my outlook of the game.

I used to want to look at the ball flight. I used to focus on the swing and technique. I used to think I wanted to look good as I swung the club and hit the ball. Now I realise that it's all bull**** if I can't hit the ball properly.

So that's what I focus on. I disregard everything else but proper contact with the ball. I have enough technique to produce the result I want, I don't need any more. I know I can produce the result I want since I did produce it in practice time and time again. I also know that I need more practice because I hit it badly once in a while.

I aim at a target no matter what club I have in my hands. I try to look at the ball being hit by the club as I hit it. I shortened my swing to maintain maximum control. I quieted my body to maintain maximum control, especially the head so I can maintain focus on the ball througout. I eliminated all technique that hindered me and kept only what helped me achieve proper contact even if I look like a monkey. What counts is the result and the result is where the ball lands and stops.

As I shifted my focus to proper contact, I became more confident in my ability because if I strike the ball purely, I don't need to watch it fly, I know where it's going. My stance was correct, I was aligned properly, I struck it perfectly: It's going where I aimed. I watch the ball flight as a matter of fact.

As I practice more and more and gain confidence more and more, I waste less time on the course on pre-shot routines. In fact, I don't bother with artificial pre-shot routines anymore. I just aim at a target, address the ball, strike it. I take no practice swings unless I have an awkward lie. I quickly choose the right club since I use fewer clubs to begin with, I frequently arrive at my ball with the right club already out of the bag and in my hands. The quality of the shot has become less important because it's become more common that I hit it well. I quit focusing on technique so I don't waste any time thinking about how to swing the damned club.

Some things have helped me from the beginning. A little technique, the basics and fundamentals. I play blades and small headed woods. I quit smoking and got in shape lately.

You could think playing blades as a means of teaching doesn't make sense, you'd be wrong. With blades, the choice is simple: I learn or quit. With "game improvement" equipment, I could still be messing around with lessons or whatnots and would probably continue to do so for a long time to come. I'm happy that I chose to emulate the pros from the start, it helped me learn more quickly than I would have otherwise. Not that I've become so good that there's nothing to learn anymore, I still have a long way to go but I plan on going there quickly.

Here's an analogy. A race car is very nimble and because of that, it's also a very rough ride. By comparison, a sedan is not so nimble because its goal is to shield the occupants from the elements such as the bumps in the road. As the occupants are more shielded, they get less feedback from the road. "Game improvement" clubs shield the user from the sometime painful feedback of a badly struck ball. Blades don't shield the user at all, he feels all the pain of a badly struck ball. He also knows exactly how badly he struck it. He either learns how to strike it well or quits. It's that simple.

Most important, have fun.


Martin Levac

[msklar92]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

1) Absolutely essential is to develop a consistent preshot routine that includes aligning the ball correctly - alignment is a big key to consistency. Would rec: aligning the club head first and then your feet.
2) Aim for as small a target as possible on drives through putting
3) "Hit the shot you know you can hit, not the one you think you should be able to hit" - Rotelli
4) If you play the same course, develop a realistic plan for each hole - basically as Ian mentioned above. The best way to develop a plan for a hole is to think backwards from the 3-5 foot putt you need to make for par to the approach shot to the drive.
5) Try not to think too much about the score - think about one shot at a time. A cliche but true.
6) If you go off, alwary first look to grip, alignment and setup.
7) If you need a swing thought, find one and stick to it for the round. My personal one lately, has been to set up with the ball towards the outside of my left ear (I'm righty) - it helps me to stay behind to ball and then I feel I can freely rotate my hips towards the target without pulling.
Hope any of these help, Mike.

[frosty1s]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

The books "Extraodinary Golf" and "The Inner Game of Golf" were most helpful to me in terms of a mental approach to golf.

[Lefty-9]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

Steve, you are not unique, nor is your problem. That is why I joined this forum. I laid off two years, and am at wit's end as to how to get back to where I was. I am in hopes of someone saying something or suggesting something that will help me. My buddies can still hit it a ton; I can't. I don't have a game, but like Martin said, I am just practicing more and more. One day I will again. I get mad practicing, but not playing. Neither do I like teeing off last every hole. I will change that with practice and I have my first lesson lined up next Tuesday.

My pre-shot routine, set-up, posture, grip are adequate (I won't say good). There is something wrong with my swing. All I hit is thin and on the toe. I remember when I started it was like that. I worked it out. I can't work it out this time, so I'm going to get help. I love the game that much.

Hang in there, Lefty

[Steve B]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

Everyone.

The responses received have well over exceeded my expectations, I really thank all who have made the efforts to-date. I've got a long weekend of golf in the algarve next weekend and I'm going to ensure I turn up and play with a strong positive mind – each round, every hole and every next shot. Any other comments from anyone please contribute.

Regards,

Steve.

[cb44]

Re: Your Views - Swing Thoughts / Mental Confidence

Greetings Steve,

I used to let myself be affected by the result of each shot which would bring my state of mind up and down several times on each hole. Whatever the result of my shot, it would affect me on the next shot. If the shot was bad, I'd play badly on the next shot, the reverse was also true if the shot was good.

I quit that nonsense. I also began practicing extensively a few weeks ago.

I used to get very frustrated on the course, now I only get frustrated when I practice. As I practice more and more, I get a better idea of what to expect of myself. I also get better with practice so I raise my expectations each time I practice according to the results I produce in practice. I can still produce bad shots so I don't get mad when I do make those bad shots, I simply take it as a fact of my ability.

I maintain confidence in myself by repeating that I can do it when I feel doubt creeping in. Que sera sera is what I think before the shot also knowing that I can do that shot.

As I write this, I realise something else about how I changed my outlook of the game.

I used to want to look at the ball flight. I used to focus on the swing and technique. I used to think I wanted to look good as I swung the club and hit the ball. Now I realise that it's all bull**** if I can't hit the ball properly.

So that's what I focus on. I disregard everything else but proper contact with the ball. I have enough technique to produce the result I want, I don't need any more. I know I can produce the result I want since I did produce it in practice time and time again. I also know that I need more practice because I hit it badly once in a while.

I aim at a target no matter what club I have in my hands. I try to look at the ball being hit by the club as I hit it. I shortened my swing to maintain maximum control. I quieted my body to maintain maximum control, especially the head so I can maintain focus on the ball througout. I eliminated all technique that hindered me and kept only what helped me achieve proper contact even if I look like a monkey. What counts is the result and the result is where the ball lands and stops.

As I shifted my focus to proper contact, I became more confident in my ability because if I strike the ball purely, I don't need to watch it fly, I know where it's going. My stance was correct, I was aligned properly, I struck it perfectly: It's going where I aimed. I watch the ball flight as a matter of fact.

As I practice more and more and gain confidence more and more, I waste less time on the course on pre-shot routines. In fact, I don't bother with artificial pre-shot routines anymore. I just aim at a target, address the ball, strike it. I take no practice swings unless I have an awkward lie. I quickly choose the right club since I use fewer clubs to begin with, I frequently arrive at my ball with the right club already out of the bag and in my hands. The quality of the shot has become less important because it's become more common that I hit it well. I quit focusing on technique so I don't waste any time thinking about how to swing the damned club.

Some things have helped me from the beginning. A little technique, the basics and fundamentals. I play blades and small headed woods. I quit smoking and got in shape lately.

You could think playing blades as a means of teaching doesn't make sense, you'd be wrong. With blades, the choice is simple: I learn or quit. With "game improvement" equipment, I could still be messing around with lessons or whatnots and would probably continue to do so for a long time to come. I'm happy that I chose to emulate the pros from the start, it helped me learn more quickly than I would have otherwise. Not that I've become so good that there's nothing to learn anymore, I still have a long way to go but I plan on going there quickly.

Here's an analogy. A race car is very nimble and because of that, it's also a very rough ride. By comparison, a sedan is not so nimble because its goal is to shield the occupants from the elements such as the bumps in the road. As the occupants are more shielded, they get less feedback from the road. "Game improvement" clubs shield the user from the sometime painful feedback of a badly struck ball. Blades don't shield the user at all, he feels all the pain of a badly struck ball. He also knows exactly how badly he struck it. He either learns how to strike it well or quits. It's that simple.

Most important, have fun.


Martin Levac

Great post.