PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE!

BHS Golf Kid · April 24, 2009

Ok i am having a huge problem. At my home course during qualifying to make the team I can go out and shoot 76, 78 around their on a average day. Then I go to a varsity meet and suck and shoot a 88 and a 91. Somebody tell me what my problem is and if you have any good tips for me on how to get my head in the game right away that would be great.

Thanks

Kaleb

LionontheProwl · April 24, 2009

You probally play your home course almost every day. I do and the same thing happened to me. I can go out and shoot under par at my home course, but in tournaments i have problems breaking 80. It is because you have a comfort level with your home course and only some of it comes to other courses.

Carl Spackler2 · April 25, 2009

yeah I agree. Got to change up the scenery and such... Go play a different course each week. Only way to be a great golfer is if your game travels with ya.

pinhigh27 · April 25, 2009

Ok i am having a huge problem. At my home course during qualifying to make the team I can go out and shoot 76, 78 around their on a average day. Then I go to a varsity meet and suck and shoot a 88 and a 91. Somebody tell me what my problem is and if you have any good tips for me on how to get my head in the game right away that would be great.
Thanks
Kaleb

Hmm, well since mind reading hasn't been perfected yet, we can't really help you until we know more.

And to the person that said you have a comfort level at your own course, for me it's the opposite, I usually shoot better at other courses then I do at my home course.

HackerD · April 25, 2009

Ok i am having a huge problem. At my home course during qualifying to make the team I can go out and shoot 76, 78 around their on a average day. Then I go to a varsity meet and suck and shoot a 88 and a 91. Somebody tell me what my problem is and if you have any good tips for me on how to get my head in the game right away that would be great.
Thanks
Kaleb

Hmm, well since mind reading hasn't been perfected yet, we can't really help you until we know more.
And to the person that said you have a comfort level at your own course, for me it's the opposite, I usually shoot better at other courses then I do at my home course.

+1

Where are you losing the strokes? Putting? Pressure of the match causing 3-putts? Or blow-up holes? Trying to pull off heroic shots to get your round back on track always makes things worse.

Coach Argonaut · April 27, 2009

Probably a couple of things are happening.. I've seen similar situations with some of my players over the yrs. Tournament/Match scoring will generally be higher. Pressure, playing against unfamiliar players, etc. Not knowing your swing or personality I'd advise that you focus on the process of each shot and not on results or scores. Break up your practice routine and get creative with shots.. Drop balls in various trouble spots from 150, 100, 50, and other ydgs. and test your ability to score from bad situations.. These things will help you adapt to a tournament environment.. Good luck and play in as many tournaments as you can...

Jetlv25 · April 27, 2009

Some good advice has already been posted. One thing I would add is to find ways to put pressure on yourself during practice rounds. Whether it is competing against others or even some type of wagering(doesn't have to be money). I've always found the best way to deal with pressure situations is to put yourself in them as many times as possible, which is a big reason Tiger wins as much as he does.

SV Golfer · April 29, 2009

Some good advice has already been posted. One thing I would add is to find ways to put pressure on yourself during practice rounds. Whether it is competing against others or even some type of wagering(doesn't have to be money). I've always found the best way to deal with pressure situations is to put yourself in them as many times as possible, which is a big reason Tiger wins as much as he does.

+1 on wagering. A five footer becomes a lot more interesting when there's a few bucks on the line.

Also, how do you practice? If you just slop it around your home course everyday, you're probably not going to improve much because you're just learning to play your course and not learning home to adapt to different situations. Try varying your practice methods, maybe hitting the range and working on short game exclusively every other day for example, and you might find that your actual skills will increase.

Good luck, and try to play in as many tournaments as you can. Nothing makes you better at playing under pressure than playing under pressure.