For you better players... What's the toughest shot when under pressure in a tourney?

[bobilishious2]

Hardest thing under pressure in my opinion is making the right decisions, under pressure I tend to start overthinking out of fear of making a mental error (the irony I know).

 

It’s not so much the shots but the shot choice & then the commitment to that choice in my opinion.

 

I actually find I feel pretty much the same over the shot regardless of pressure once I’ve committed to the shot but indecision and the subsequent fear of failure under pressure is an absolute killer & I think that just comes with a bit of experience.

[Barfolomew]

> @GSDriver said:

> Tournament golf to me isn't any different than 'normal' golf, I just play my game and it ends up being what it is that day.

>

> To be transparent, I don't do tournaments anymore (except Charity events) because I cannot stand playing 18 holes in 5-6 hours, I just lose interest and any sense of rhythm, so if you can deal with that sloth pace of play, you're better than I am already.

 

I feel you buddy! I didnt even think about that but the slow pace of play is one of my biggest issues for me and adds to the pressure cause takes me out of how I wanna play so I gotta get better!!!! I play so damn fast in normal play that it hurts me in tourneys!

 

The problem is it would kill me to practice playin slow hahaha

[RichieHunt]

To me, there isn’t really a reason for nerves in a tournament unless you’re getting into contention. Tourneys are simply a test and a bad shot or a bad event doesn’t define me as a golfer. A bad round or a bad shot just means your weaknesses were exposed a bit more that day and you need to work on those weaknesses.

 

That’s the most difficult thing to overcome, the ability to not put so much pressure on yourself and allow yourself to play freely. Once you do that, then they only trouble shots are the ones you just happen to struggle with because of your mechanics.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

 

[Mcgeeno]

 

[GSDriver]

> @Barfolomew said:

> > @GSDriver said:

> > Tournament golf to me isn't any different than 'normal' golf, I just play my game and it ends up being what it is that day.

> >

> > To be transparent, I don't do tournaments anymore (except Charity events) because I cannot stand playing 18 holes in 5-6 hours, I just lose interest and any sense of rhythm, so if you can deal with that sloth pace of play, you're better than I am already.

>

> I feel you buddy! I didnt even think about that but the slow pace of play is one of my biggest issues for me and adds to the pressure cause takes me out of how I wanna play so I gotta get better!!!! I play so **** fast in normal play that it hurts me in tourneys!

>

> The problem is it would kill me to practice playin slow hahaha

 

We have third tee time every Sunday, our course has 3 9s so we usually play 27. First 18 is about 3 hour, maybe 3:15, third nine (which is the one those playing just 9 holes that day) is anywhere from 1:45 to 2:15 for 9 holes, that seems like an eternity, so we generally make that the beer 9.

 

Last club championship I played in, that I w/d from, took 6 hours and 10 minutes in the A flight (5 hdcp and under). One of the easier holes is a downhill tee shot, 380 yards....group in front of us took 26 minutes to play that hole, that's when I just said enough of this....

 

If you can maintain your patience and focus good for you, I'd rather play 27 in less time with my buddies and have fun.

[Hack Daddy]

3. Wood. Off. The. Deck.

 

Lawd have mercy.

[juststeve]

Fast left to right putt.

 

Steve

[Spongerob]

Putting for me. I'm not a great putter at the best of times though. For whatever reason my ball striking always gets better in competition so I end up shooting the same scores in very different ways.

[Barfolomew]

> @RichieHunt said:

> To me, there isn’t really a reason for nerves in a tournament unless you’re getting into contention. Tourneys are simply a test and a bad shot or a bad event doesn’t define me as a golfer. A bad round or a bad shot just means your weaknesses were exposed a bit more that day and you need to work on those weaknesses.

>

> That’s the most difficult thing to overcome, the ability to not put so much pressure on yourself and allow yourself to play freely. Once you do that, then they only trouble shots are the ones you just happen to struggle with because of your mechanics.

>

>

>

>

>

> RH

>

 

Well Richie you hit the nail on the head.... allowing ourselves to play freely and not blaming weaknesses.... cause who doesn't have weaknesses or areas needing improvement. Its the nerves that make the weaknesses stand out or even makes strengths of our game waiver.

 

So if we want to practice weaknesses and nerves is one of the worst many have.... how do we create nerves in practice when most of us cant play enough tourneys in row to work on it?

[Obee]

Very situation-dependent. For a full-show, it would be a long, uphill par-3 shot for me. 190+ and uphill. Really hurts my back to try to elevate the ball now. Tend to miss them high, weak, and right, or hit low pulls.

 

For a less-than-full shot: pitch shot from a downhill, tight lie that you have to stop quickly.

[musclefront]

> @knockdstiff said:

> Mid range bunker shot like 30-50 yards...can't blast it, can't bash it...have to pick it nice and clean with a half swing. For me that's always been really tricky

 

Monte taught me this. Open up a 9 iron about 30 degrees and just hit a regular sand shot. I’ve used it twice in competition with no practice and had 2 birdies. Crazy how easy it is

 

[gripandrip]

For me.. long bunker shots 50-60 yards, and that long carry over hazard (200+). Just a little mishit on the long iron can send you for a swim.

 

But I have to agree with Richie. The usual issue is not nerves, but rather a weakness in your game. I try to find my weaknesses and work on them.

[300_yard_drives]

Two come to mind. Slick Lag putts outside 60’ and 50-80y fairway bunker shots

[smashdn]

Chip or short pitch to an elevated green, ball on the upslope, hitting into the grain of the grass on typically soggy surrounds. I either lay sod over it or thin it.

[larrybud]

> @knockdstiff said:

> Mid range bunker shot like 30-50 yards...can't blast it, can't bash it...have to pick it nice and clean with a half swing. For me that's always been really tricky

 

Yeah, but how often do you have those? I have like 2 a year.

[TerpFangolfer]

I know it should be putting - because they are so important. But somehow I can relax - because a bad bad costs you just 1 shot - not 2-3

For me, it's always, a tee-ball on a difficult driving hole...where driving it crooked can almost guarantee a double or worse.

My "choke" swings are almost always tee-shots - and it doesn't matter if I club down.

Couple years ago, had a good round going in a tourney at Kiawah (Turtle not Ocean)...9th tee - short par 4...so I clubbed down to hybrid - and still hit it OB and made triple :'(

[farmer]

I never felt any particular pressure, but I was always pumped for a few holes. For me, it was the first putt, and the tee shot on the first par 3. Weirdly, I would get about as pumped playing for a Coke as playing in a real tournament.

[baudi]

Teeshot or approach against the low sun.

[br61]

> @"Dan Drake" said:

> There will never be a shot for me that is a tough as a wet, into the grain, tight lie pitch shot to a short sided pin. Give me all the downhill sliders you want, I don't mind 'em. But that pitch shot, ooh. It's the one that makes the pros look foolish, and makes me look like a downright buffoon.

 

Yep! Agreed with this, especially pitching into the grain.

 

 

[Obee]

> @br61 said:

> > @"Dan Drake" said:

> > There will never be a shot for me that is a tough as a wet, into the grain, tight lie pitch shot to a short sided pin. Give me all the downhill sliders you want, I don't mind 'em. But that pitch shot, ooh. It's the one that makes the pros look foolish, and makes me look like a downright buffoon.

>

> Yep! Agreed with this, especially pitching into the grain.

>

>

 

I now putt these 75% of the time, at least -- assuming the terrain is negotiable along the ground, of course.

[Divot License]

> @"Dan Drake" said:

> There will never be a shot for me that is a tough as a wet, into the grain, tight lie pitch shot to a short sided pin. Give me all the downhill sliders you want, I don't mind 'em. But that pitch shot, ooh. It's the one that makes the pros look foolish, and makes me look like a downright buffoon.

 

Completely agree, and since I'm in England and were heading into winter I'll find myself playing a lot of wet pitches into flags at the front of greens. :s

[Dan Drake]

> @Obee said:

> > @br61 said:

> > > @"Dan Drake" said:

> > > There will never be a shot for me that is a tough as a wet, into the grain, tight lie pitch shot to a short sided pin. Give me all the downhill sliders you want, I don't mind 'em. But that pitch shot, ooh. It's the one that makes the pros look foolish, and makes me look like a downright buffoon.

> >

> > Yep! Agreed with this, especially pitching into the grain.

> >

> >

>

> I now putt these 75% of the time, at least -- assuming the terrain is negotiable along the ground, of course.

 

> @Jedaigeki said:

> > @"Dan Drake" said:

> > There will never be a shot for me that is a tough as a wet, into the grain, tight lie pitch shot to a short sided pin. Give me all the downhill sliders you want, I don't mind 'em. But that pitch shot, ooh. It's the one that makes the pros look foolish, and makes me look like a downright buffoon.

>

> Completely agree, and since I'm in England and were heading into winter I'll find myself playing a lot of wet pitches into flags at the front of greens. :s

 

I swear, if you can putt it, you have to putt it. And if there's a spot where you can't putt it from, you have to make certain that your approach shot just doesn't end up there, because this is just one of those shots that can take 4 to get down from if (like me), your technique and nerve a just a hair off. Then (like me as well), you will struggle for the next few holes as you obsess over your misfortune on that one shot and that can easily ruin an otherwise good round.

 

There is just something flat out evil that happens when this already tough shot gets some dampness added to the mix. Instead of the leading edge digging and the bounce/sole gliding, the bounce/sole decelerate quite a bit more on contact with the ground. Maybe the bounce doesn't "dig" here, but that deceleration, combined with the fact that we play most of our delicate (front pin/short sided) shots with a little decel anyway, and you have WAY less energy getting to the ball even if you do catch it correctly. Close the face or lean the handle to give the ball more forward and less up and you risk that leading edge digging to the other side of the Earth.

 

Putt it, if you at all can. If not, play to the safest part of the green where you give yourself a putt at it, take your two-putt, and move on. In all honesty, if my life depended on me making 3 to win from a spot like this (and I was somehow able to completely disregard my immense respect for greenskeepers around the world), I would play the SuperChunk (intentional bunker shot, but not from a bunker) at the center of the green and just move on.

[PreppySlapCut]

> @"Dan Drake" said:

> There will never be a shot for me that is a tough as a wet, into the grain, tight lie pitch shot to a short sided pin. Give me all the downhill sliders you want, I don't mind 'em. But that pitch shot, ooh. It's the one that makes the pros look foolish, and makes me look like a downright buffoon.

 

Take a less lofted club, like a 52/54, higher handle, open face, no shaft lean.

[Obee]

> @PreppySlapCut said:

> > @"Dan Drake" said:

> > There will never be a shot for me that is a tough as a wet, into the grain, tight lie pitch shot to a short sided pin. Give me all the downhill sliders you want, I don't mind 'em. But that pitch shot, ooh. It's the one that makes the pros look foolish, and makes me look like a downright buffoon.

>

> Take a less lofted club, like a 52/54, higher handle, open face, no shaft lean.

 

Correct. That's exactly what Pernice taught us.

[gentles]

Interesting to see a lot of comments stating shots which are flat out hard, regardless of the context or situation. I don't want a 50 yard bunker shot at any time, let alone on the last hole of an important round.

 

I'm curious if there examples of shots out there that are a piece of cake in practice, but bring out some demons in you if faced in competition?

[Cpm881]

Agree with everyone saying 30-50 yard pitch. Hate it in tournaments, don’t mind it in casual play.

 

Dont agree w everyone saying long bunker shot, and I’m a poor bunker player. For me it’s just normal bunker shot with a 8/9/W - assuming no major lip issues and no need to stop ball quickly.

 

Also any driver or 3w tee shot w OB. Always steering those right into the hazard...

[Divot License]

> @gentles said:

> Interesting to see a lot of comments stating shots which are flat out hard, regardless of the context or situation. I don't want a 50 yard bunker shot at any time, let alone on the last hole of an important round.

>

> I'm curious if there examples of shots out there that are a piece of cake in practice, but bring out some demons in you if faced in competition?

 

My home courses 18th is a large green with a big bailout area to the left and a large pond surrounding the right half of the green. When on a good score or in contention balls just seem to be drawn to that lake. The bailout area seems to become invisible and all I see is water. My usual miss is a pull yet that pond puts the fear of the golf gods in me.

[dmecca2]

> @Cpm881 said:

> Agree with everyone saying 30-50 yard pitch. Hate it in tournaments, don’t mind it in casual play.

>

 

I would add anytime its a front pin with a carry over a bunker or water. Pretty much playing for 10 feet past the hole at best.

 

 

[Barfolomew]

> @gentles said:

> Interesting to see a lot of comments stating shots which are flat out hard, regardless of the context or situation. I don't want a 50 yard bunker shot at any time, let alone on the last hole of an important round.

>

> **I'm curious if there examples of shots out there that are a piece of cake in practice, but bring out some demons in you if faced in competition?**

 

Exactly competition in golf seems to be different then other sports for most.... in most typical sports that extra pump of adrenaline is awesome for many.

 

Thread also asked not only what were the tougher shots under pressure **BUT do better players recognize that and get after it in practice so the nerves have less effect...**

 

 

[MtlJeff]

Tee balls using driver. Ironically one of my biggest strengths in normal rounds, i think i still get a bit too tense in tournament rounds and tend to struggle off the tee

 

The "toughest" shots, like breaking putts, difficult wedge shots etc....for whatever reason i tend to hit better in competition. I concentrate better at what i'm bad at, and overdo it on what i'm good at

 

I got up and down a couple of times in a tourney this year where the guy made a comment. And i was like "normally i suck at this dude....and normally i don't miss fairways. You're getting Bizarro Jeff"