Mental side help

rwhitlock · October 9, 2023

I've really enjoyed playing in tournaments and seeing how my game stacks up. However, I can see that I play a lot better in my normal rounds.

In tourneys I see the trouble (hazards, trees, OB, etc..) on the course, and I just can't seem to move my focus to where I want to hit the ball and make a free swing. I find that I end up making a 'guiding' swing and the result isn't that good 😞. When thinking about it afterwards, I'm pretty sure the root cause is that I am fearful of the result if i hit it in the trouble spots.

During my normal rounds I still see the trouble, but am able to focus on my target and make a free swing - and not worried about the result.

Any help/advice on how to not worry about the trouble and make free swings when in a tourney?

Thanks,

Rod

me05501 · October 9, 2023

The brain/body connection in humans works extremely well in our subconscious brain. Engaging your subconscious to achieve your goal is a superpower.

The easiest way to implement this on the golf course is to commit to extreme target focus. Commit to sending the ball at a very specific target and think only of that task. Your brain will send your body the right signals to improve the changes of that goal being achieved.

If you're playing in tournaments you probably have a pretty solid game. Otherwise the idea of competing wouldn't appeal to you at all. With that in mind, trusting your ability during tournament play is the only option you have for improving your performance. Trust is the absence of doubt. Doubt is the enemy of performance.

getitdaily · October 9, 2023

Let go of control to gain control.

You cannot be worried about where the ball is going when it's time to swing.

Make sure you have a pre shot routine and follow it. Know your strengths and play to them. If you have a highly repeatable shot shape then play it and trust it. Get SUPER target focused. Acknowledge the trouble but then pick a target that manages the trouble and focus only on that target.

The tendency when there's trouble is to get fast and look up early. Don't do that.

rwhitlock · October 9, 2023

Thanks for the quick replies! I've realized that it's the trouble areas that i see that cause me the most issues. When I play tourneys on courses that are more open (less trouble spots off the tee) I play better. So, I'm convinced the issue is between my ears 🙂

I will work on getting more hyper focused when on the tighter courses. Just curious if you guys are focused on the ending spot (fairway, section of the green) or if you are focusing on shot shape (fade, straight, draw)?

Thanks again, Rod

me05501 · October 9, 2023

10 minutes ago, rwhitlock said:

Thanks for the quick replies! I've realized that it's the trouble areas that i see that cause me the most issues. When I play tourneys on courses that are more open (less trouble spots off the tee) I play better. So, I'm convinced the issue is between my ears 🙂

I will work on getting more hyper focused when on the tighter courses. Just curious if you guys are focused on the ending spot (fairway, section of the green) or if you are focusing on shot shape (fade, straight, draw)?

Thanks again, Rod

I like to choose a target in the distance. A tree, the gable of a house, etc. This takes your focus completely off the golf course and any trouble that may lurk.

getitdaily · October 9, 2023

25 minutes ago, rwhitlock said:

Thanks for the quick replies! I've realized that it's the trouble areas that i see that cause me the most issues. When I play tourneys on courses that are more open (less trouble spots off the tee) I play better. So, I'm convinced the issue is between my ears 🙂

I will work on getting more hyper focused when on the tighter courses. Just curious if you guys are focused on the ending spot (fairway, section of the green) or if you are focusing on shot shape (fade, straight, draw)?

Thanks again, Rod

Spot in the distance that is where you want the ball to land.

If you don't have a fairway finder shot then toy with that. For example, when I need to find a fairway and I need to hit driver I tee the ball low...no part of the ball above the driver. I swing a bit harder left and swing down. Low smoked slight fade that runs forever.

I'm a big fan of getting the ball on the ground quicker if the hole is tight. A bit more air under the ball if conditions are wet.

Edited October 9, 2023 by getitdaily

MelloYello · October 9, 2023

I would agree with all of what @me05501 said above. You really need to focus on positive things and let your subconscious mind empower what you're doing.

Adding to that, there are several basics everyone can do:

#1

Make a plan (or at least an outline). If you're aware of the trouble, you should be able to make a plan well in advance so that on the day of the tournament most of your "thinking" is done and you're just there to play golf. It's exceedingly hard to commit to decisions right there on the spot. Typically it requires a lot of "I've been here before, I trust this club is the right one..." kind of experience.

Professional golfers are not showing up to the 13th hole blind. They know what the hole is and you can be sure they've spent time (with their caddie) discussing the strategy they'll be implementing that week and what that means for club selection, target line, shot shape, etc.

#2

Plan to hit clubs that take trouble out of play (as much as possible). In tournaments, the first objective is to avoid blow-ups and let others take themselves out of contention one by one by making those big mistakes--and trust me, your fellow competitors will screw up, so perhaps it's even a little helpful to recognize when others falter because it can actually relax you a bit.

It's a marathon you're trying to survive, not a sprint. As you've probably heard, it's usually better to select clubs that allow for confident/aggressive swings at conservative targets.

#3

Try to play in some money games to get used to the pressure. Eventually you'll get used to a bit of pressure and the thrill (or potential thrill) will really be something you recognize as a positive that heightens your focus. Everyone "overthinks" during their initial tournament rounds. There's a certain amount of getting used to it that has to happen.

#4

This is probably a bit advanced but having a collection of clubs and even working the ball away from trouble is hugely important IMHO. I don't have just my driver with which to put it in play. I regularly use my 3w and even my 7w when it's appropriate. I play on a lot of dog-leg holes and often find myself hitting to 225 (7w) or 250 (3w) instead of just pounding it 275 (driver).

Likewise, if there's OB down the left and you're not committed to 1-2 setup keys that promote a fade, you're probably in trouble. Being able to work the ball a little bit makes golf 100x easier in situations like that. I personally think that if someone is long enough to get themselves into trouble, they need to have a reasonably good ability to bend the ball away from that trouble.

That also depends a little on the golf course but I think it's under-valued and not discussed often enough how much top players really do control, work or manipulate the ball-flight to avoid disastrous outcomes. There will simply be holes where the "stock" shot is terrible and the only way to get comfortable is to have different clubs and different shots available to you.

.

Edited October 9, 2023 by MelloYello

rwhitlock · October 9, 2023

57 minutes ago, me05501 said:

I like to choose a target in the distance. A tree, the gable of a house, etc. This takes your focus completely off the golf course and any trouble that may lurk.

Thanks for that! I'll work on that approach. I've always been 'ground level related' - start line is left edge of the bunker, or work a draw off the tree in the right rough. Getting my vision up and away from the trouble sounds like a much better approach. Thanks!!

wagolfer7 · October 9, 2023

1 hour ago, rwhitlock said:

Thanks for that! I'll work on that approach. I've always been 'ground level related' - start line is left edge of the bunker, or work a draw off the tree in the right rough. Getting my vision up and away from the trouble sounds like a much better approach. Thanks!!

I'm ground focused for sure. It's part of the pre-shout routine and the only thing I pay attention to after selecting a target.

I pick where I want the ball to land - then I picture a line back to the ball and select something a few inches in front of the ball. Different colored grass, little divot, whatever. Then from that point on, that's my new target. I just square the club to my new target, which is the different colored grass, get setup and hit it. I do glance at the real target before pulling the trigger, I'm not sure exactly why I do that.

I think some of it is mental as well. Once I pick that spot, I'm done thinking about anything in terms of trouble. I commit to the spot and just go through the rest of my routine. Never think of anything other than my pre-shot routine and process.

I do the same process for putting, pitches, chips and punches. But the difference would be, that I'm really focused on the spot I need it to land, since it's not a full swing. So after getting alignment right, I'm looking at the spot to land, so I can dial in how much back swing and force to use.

With full swings, I'm not focused on distance landing, just get the alignment right and let it rip.

Fuscinator · October 9, 2023

As it is now, it seems the only time you find yourself under pressure is during a tournament. If that's the case, then you're completely unprepared to deal with it. So, you need to practice being under pressure. Even if you play by yourself, you can have a bet with your wife, or one of your kids, friends or neighbors, that if you score higher than a certain number, they get to hit you in the face with a pie...or something like that. It needs to be enough pressure to equal that which you feel during a tournament. This will give you more opportunity to learn how to make the swings you need to make despite your worries over the outcome.