What Ability do you Play too...

[idrive]

General Golf Talk

I have my handicap at a 5 right now.

But what I am noticing is that is seems that I play to the ability of my foursome.

If the guys I'm playing with are good, I play really well. I can shoot scratch golf easily.

If I'm playing with a bunch of hacks, I don't play nearly as well. I know I'm supposed to play the Golf Course but unless it's Tournament play it just doesn't work out that way.

Anyone else notice this in their game??

[Giantbear]

For me, i am a 16 index, but what greatly effects my play is the stakes, whether its money, a tourny or for bragging rights with a friend, i need something to keep my interest. I find without a little something on the line, my concentration wanes and i play worse.

[LJ_GOLF1]

I see what you are saying idrive and I experience something similar. When playing with or against another great player I notice that I will step up my game or throw it in "high gear". When I am not in competition mode or trying to go low I find myself more relaxed and less aggressive with a slightly higher, if any, score. And when I am tooling around with some buddies the same can occur.

[madmaclive]

Yes, I call it golf A.D.D.

 

I've been working on keeping clear goals on every shot.

 

 

I'm working on the same thing. I have golf A.D.D. and its possibly the worst affliction out there.

 

I think its hard sometimes to play with a group, or with anyone for that matter, that isn't near your level or isn't playing in a somewhat serious matter if you are.

Perfect example of playing the same ability as the guys you play with: at a tournament in the fall I shot 65 and as we were signing scorecards in our group after the round and we all realized that all 3 of us shot 65. We all started laughing because we knew that as much as we were playing the course we were also playing each other, and fed off the shots and birdies each one of us would make.

 

I find it hard to play to my own level every single round instead of letting myself get caught up in the energy and flow of whats going on with the other players in my group and how they're playing.

If I'm playing well in a tournament and my coach tells the other players on my team that I am, they try harder and start playing better. If I'm playing bad or my team is playing bad and my coach tells me, then its 50/50 if I play good or bad the rest of the round or the tournament.

 

Its another one of those mental things to overcome that golf is full of. And to be blunt, it sucks.

[cornbred19]

same here...best round of golf i ever played was in a tournament...

 

when playing w/my buddies, who i'm about 10 strokes better than according to index, we figure a way to make it even and let the trash talking commence...keeps me motivated...

 

when playing people i don't know, i just set my score goals and go from there...

[scores]

My farther use to say if you can hear any of them ... I do not care what happens you are not concentrating hard enough however he was terrible under the gun on the course. It is very hard but I remind myself that its a no contact sport no matter what they do should not effect my game... Its even tougher when your swing like a 10 and you need to get in at a five..

 

 

Try and look back at the good shots you made under the tough circumstances. Then you know it can be done.

 

Good Luck

[slicefixer]

I have my handicap at a 5 right now.

 

But what I am noticing is that is seems that I play to the ability of my foursome.

 

If the guys I'm playing with are good, I play really well. I can shoot scratch golf easily.

 

If I'm playing with a bunch of hacks, I don't play nearly as well. I know I'm supposed to play the Golf Course but unless it's Tournament play it just doesn't work out that way.

 

Anyone else notice this in their game??

 

 

Sure, I see it ALL the time.......golfers that have themselves "pigeon holed" to a particular handicap.........they "see" themselves as a 18, or 10, or 5 and play to it no matter that their techniques have improved so much that they ought to be SCORING a lot better.........

 

For example, a guy learns to play with his usual foursome and the best player is an 8........he thinks that guy is great when in reality, while pretty good, it's far from great.........so whenever he/she gains the ability to play with the best in their regular foursome they "settle right in and think of themselves as an 8 handicap"......same guy/girl goes and gets themselves some real help and improves their ballstriking or short game (preferably both) and is now CAPABLE of playing/scoring to much better than an 8.......but they don't do it.........they get it 2 under through 6 and then, when waiting on 7 tee for the fwy to clear they think, "my Lord, IF I par in that's 34 and that's 1/2 of 68 and the best I've ever shot is 76"........booooom......ANXIETY.......NASA can't calculate their heart rate, respiration, ANXIETY level.......and they play holes 7- 9 in 5 over to get back into their "comfort level"........LOL.........

 

SCREW a "comfort level"..........LEARN to TRULY play golf ONE AT A TIME and ADD em' up at the end.......which is EXACTLY what good players/professionals do within' their games.........THEY get it to 2 under and could care less as they are simply playing ONE SHOT AT A TIME.........and to be honest, your not going to play well all the time........just tha' way it is.......but you learn to ELIMINATE as much ANXIETY as you can by realizing most of this earth's 6.6 billion people could care less how your playing.......and that a poor round will NOT result in death by firing squad at dawn.......and do NOT pigeon hole yourself as a certain handicap........and LEARN to "hit it, find it, hit it again and add em' up at the end" while continuing to improve your techniques (physical and mental).......in the end you'll be a FAR happier golfer and a MUCH better player over the long haul........IMOP.........:)

[katet_04]

great perspective.

i've gotten out of the habit of adding my scores- but still recently was working on a better than average [index] round and lost focus with 4 holes to go...shot myself right over index- failed to keep 'bringing my range game to the golf course'....maybe next time...

[jeremyblre21]

Try to have a pre shot routine and stick to it so no matter who your partners. You will address the ball with the same mindset every time.

 

Good luck!