Conference 7.286::golf

I suffer from a similar condition that you do.  I find that the best ways to
deal with blocking out your score are to:

- concentrate only on the next shot, don't worry about the hole score
- try to force yourself to not care about your overall score.  One technique
  is don't write down your score after every hole, but do it in bunches.
- when you start with a couple bad holes focus only on making good swings.
  Before you know it you will generally have some good holes & the overall
  score will improve.  Don't start to gamble & play differently than you
  normally would.

If you play enough you will have spurts of great golf that follow a series
of poorer holes.  Try to build your confidence that if you hit the ball well
that you score will improve.

Larry

    I, too am suffering from a mental lapse. The last couple of years
    I have only had the opportunity of playing 4-5 times during the
    year. I still managed to score around the 100 mark. This year I
    am working 2nd shift and joined a country club. I thought that I
    would play some good golf, and probably would work my way down to
    a bogey golfer. 
    
    	Note that in the summer of 1978 I played 4-5 times a week and
    was scoring in the low 80's consistantly. 
    
    	Well not so. I started out the year with an ackward swing. I
    had noticed a loss of distance in all my shots. I hit a 9 iron from
    150 yds on a level approach. Early in the year I needed a 7 iron
    to cover that distance. I took a lesson and corrected my fundamental
    problems, and the distance has come back. However, the consistency
    hasn,t. I can't seem to put together a good round. My current score
    to beat is still at 110 from the beginning of the year. 
    
    	I carry a 26 handicap, but I have only broken 108 twice all
    year. I am getting out an average of twice a week for 18 holes each
    time. I am falling into a deep slump. I have now lost all confidence
    in my game. In the last two week I have been on vacation and have
    played 5 times. My wife d*() near beat me on her 4th round of golf
    every, on one day. During this time I have had a grand total of
    "4" pars. Oh! many par putts. And a whole lot more par opportunities.
    I just can't seem to put it all together now for even one hole.
    
    	I don't know if this is a plea for help or just a place to air
    out my feelings. I to get very emotional on the course. Who wouldn't
    in my last round I drove to within 30 yds, of a 365 yds par 4, and
    took a 10. No joke No excuses. 4 trap shots, 3 chips and 2 putts.
    9 shots to get up and down from 30 yds. It's been that kind of year.
    
    Thanks for the forum
    
    I hope it helps.
    
    Roland
    

    ROLAND,
      I have suffered through what you are going through right now and
    for me it was because I was trying to pay attention to everything!!
    When addressing the ball, I would be worried about my grip, did
    I have the right club, was I going to hit it fat, etc. etc. all
    of these thoughts would be running around in my brain while I was
    trying to hit. Now I just try and get comfortable over the ball
    and hit it!!! UNFORTUNATLEY, I always think my score should be lower
    every time I play (don't we all) and start to get frustrated if
    it is just going to be an average scoring day. I know that even
    the pros scores vary considerably from day to day sometimes but
    it can sure make you crazy!!! Just wish I could break 90 more often.
    Of course then I would want to break 80, and then...
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    Hi Mad Hacker,
    
    	Adrenelin is unavoidable, to try and calm down when you are
    approaching a career round isn't possible. Reading Jack Nicklaus'
    thoughts on a hole he played went something like;
    
    	Jack-    I'm 150 yards away     9 iron
    		 into the wind          8 iron
    		 I feel pumped up       9 iron
    
    	I have been adding a club when I felt the adrenalin kicking
    in and it has payed off.
    
    	Also, you cannot play well with worry. Try thinking "fairway"
    instead of ANYthing else. It may help to set-up and swing more
    quickly to avoid too much null time before the shot, eventually
    a negative "shot destroying" thought will come foreword.
    
    	Good example  I think it was Ken Venturi commenting on Scott
    Hoch's 2 foot miss at the Masters... Ken said - Don't change anything
    you've been doing when it's pressure time... maintain the same tempo
    and procedures that got you there. Ken felt Scott OVER analyzed
    the putt and took too long to knock it in. The very next tourny
    Scott Hoch won  he was heard talking to his caddy- the were in
    overtime " Scott said - Lets not think ourselves out of the shot.
    
    	Good luck!
    
    	Walt

    
     I have been taking lessons on a regular basis this year in an attempt
    to get to a 10 handicap  (lot of expense to win a $10 bet).  But
    the most significant lesson was on course management.  Play a hole
    at a time, using your strengths.  Mine is, I'm very accurate with
    the 7 and 8 irons.  I play to have one of them as a second shot.
    If I mess up a hole, I plan the strategy for the next hole, and
    forget the last one.  I have taken four stokes off my handicap and
    expect two more whent he next handicap sheet comes out.  Strategy
    hasn't helped my putting much, although three putt greens have all
    but disappeared.

    
    re .2
    
    Instead of going out on the course so much, spend a few nights
    on the putting green, just practicing chips and putts, I bet
    thats where you're losing too many strokes.  Once you've got
    your short game back into shape, you should at least be able
    to get down below 100.  
    
    Or go to a pro and take some lessons on chipping and putting,
    when I first started the game, the pro I was taking lessons from
    wouldn't even let me touch anything over a 7 iron, until my
    wedge and putter were doing well.  I hated this approach at the
    time, I wanted to pull out the big guns, but now I thank him.
    Too many people spend all their time at the driving range, and
    not enough time on the putting green where the real strokes start
    to add up.
    
    -John-
    

    Golf is a very Zen game, in that one MUST stay as completely in
    the NOW as possible. The shot you are playing NOW has to be the
    one and only thing you are doing. You can't be kicking youself over
    the drive you missed on #14, or be thinking ahead to the putt on
    the next hole, or worrying about paying your taxes, or if the kid
    has chickenpox. There is only you, the grass, the club, and the ball
    in the entire universe. Picture the shot, the ball arching through
    the pure blue sky, landing softly, bouncing once and settling down
    exactly where you want it. Then do it just like you rehearsed it.
                            
    If you can do this not only will you play better golf, but a round
    becomes a very cleansing and refreshing experience instesd of an
    exercise in frustration nomatter how you do. 

      I will second -.1 and also...
    
      The mind must be CONTROLLED. You can't just let it flame off in all
    directions. This means being EVEN TEMPERED. Watch the pros. Whether
    they make birdie or double-bogey their disposition pretty much doesn't
    change. They watch the ups and downs happen but don't get emotionally
    involved in them. Reason for this? Simply you can play better with
    a calm mind. How better to do this? As Mr Conway suggests, learn to
    meditate.
    
    -S.

       I relate to .0's problem because I suffer from being over emotional
    during a round. What I do (or try to do) and seem to be having some
    success is to stick to a pre-shot routine. 
     For me this process helps to clear my mind of the results of the last
    shot and score. Added to this is are my swing keys of slow backswing
    and slow/smooth downswing starting out, then accelerate the swing into
    the ball. I have found that the importance of the pre-shot routine done
    exactly the same way and at the same pace cannot be over emphasized.
     It helped me overcome a bogey, triple bogey, double bogey start last
    week and finished with a 46.
    
     I have also finally discovered a pre-shot routine for putting that for
    nine holes seemed to be working. Only time will tell.
    
     As far as keeping track of your scores in your mind while playing, I
    don't have an answer. I cannot seemed to block it out either. But it
    seems to bother me more when playing poorly than when I am playing
    well.
    
     Try the pre-shot routine, it might help.
    
    
    
                       Ken

    I refuse to keep the card with the scores. I always carry a card
    to reference distances but never the score card. I find taking an
    easy going attitude helps keep bad holes from becoming bad rounds.
    Once a shot is hit it makes little sense thinking about it. I also
    don't practice during a round. IE, no one playing to a hole so take
    a few extra putts. I figure that this will only make me think more
    about mechanics rather than the shot at hand.  I've found I can
    hit a bad shot and walk up and hit the next pretty much where I
    need it. Don't hit a bad shot and then within the preperation for
    the next shot start think of the consequences of then next shot
    if missed. Just decide what you want to do and then concentrate
    on doing it. Don't think... gee I really blew that last shot.. if
    I blow this chip I'm looking at double boggy.
    
    
    
    Tom

    My girfriend went with me last night when I went out for some late
    play and I had my best 9-holes ever !!! We just kind of strolled
    along, she wasn't playing, I hit shots and explained what I was
    trying to do sometimes and basically ignored my score. Totalled
    up every thing in my mind at the car and realized that I had shot
    40 (4 over) with 1 bird, 5 pars, 1 bogey, 2 doubles. If I could
    putt I might have broken par as 6 putts were for birds (5 makeable)
    and the double bogeys were because of missed short putts (18 total).
    By being relaxed and not worrying about my score I ended up with
    a great personal score, I appreciate all the tips and hope that
    I can continue to improve over the remainder of the season.
    
    THE MAD HACKER
    

    The problem is that as soon as you think about trying not to
    think about it you're already thinking the wrong thing.  When
    the "zone" frame of mind happens, it happens by itself.  

    
    
    One thing I try to keep in mind is that, in golf, you can't *make*
    yourself play better.  By that I mean that you can't force it.
    You can practice, play more, take lessons, etc. and improve yourself
    that way, but once on the course the 'golf God' sort of dictates what 
    is going to happen.
    
    All you have to do is hang around  and let the good holes happen 
    by themselves.  I know this doesn't make a whole lot of sense to
    most people, but by not trying to do anything about my game while I'm
    playing seems to produce better rounds of golf.  Be dumb, be relaxed,
    have a good time, and see what happens.
    
    Dave Hurley

    
    On this subject of mind golf......what do you do to block out
    negative feelings on one or two  paticular holes that always give
    you problems?
    
    I shoot in the low-mid 50's for nine holes, but it's always
    the same  one or two holes that keep me from breaking into the 40's.
    So even if I'm playing well when I get to the holes I have problems
    with, (I call them the holes from hell), everything goes in the
    toilet and I'm, "Back in the 50's again".
    
    Shane_who_did_manage_a_49_once_this_year.
                                        

    
    I've found that "it only takes one good shot" to get back into a
    hole. Provided that the bad shot is still somewhat in play then
    the next shot need only be a good shot and your back into the hole.
    So play each hole optimizing your positive alternatives. If your
    in real trouble play the highest percentage shot you can even if
    it means going backwards. use one shot to get yourself pack into
    play on a hole rather than taking the risk of getting further
    behind. A bogey is better than a double.
    
    
    Tom

 re. 14
    I have experienced the same problem on a couple of holes that 
    I play regularly. It seems as if my score is always triple
    bogey or worse no matter what I try. Both holes are very narrow
    and tree lined and require three accurate shots to get to the
    greens (par 5's). I finally realized that I could hit my 6-iron
    down the middle 3 times on either hole and most likely be on or
    near the green. Since adopting this new "conservative" approach
    I have parred both holes several times and even birdied with a
    chip-in once. Now that I have more confidence on these holes I
    may try a more conventional way of playing them but the "hit-
    it-down-the-middle-a-little" has helped me get over some negative
    feelings on some bothersome holes.
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    	Well I don't know if was the sound advice I received from this
    file, but what ever it was, it worked.
    
    	I had to work some OT last week and didn't even make it out
    on the couse once. It had been nine days since I played last. I
    went out and finally broke the 100 mark, and had the best round
    of the year. I shot a 96 and I should have been closer to 90. I
    blew some really good chances early in the round, but I held my
    composer and didn't get carried away. It felt real good. I will
    probably play again on Wed and Thur. This will be the real test
    of my come back. The confidence is building. 
    
    
    Roland
    

    MAD HACKER,
    
     best tip, and I can't do it all the time UNLESS you go
    into that "ZONE" and you hear music from THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
    
     tip: think swing, there is no ball there, the ball only
    slightly gets in the way of a good swing. Don't be
    "ball bound". Think swing. I agree with the person who
    stated you get into this ZONE. When it happens, the CLUB
    FACE is merely the final "spoon" as to  delivering the ball
    to the spot you want.
    
    But I still pray to ZEUS, which explains this wild tip.