mental game

[ZGriswold83]

any help??

So I figured out this week that the biggest flaw in my golf game is my mental game. Not thinking out strategy, but letting bad shots go. I played on Sunday and had a great starting 4 holes, I was one yipped put away from being 2 under through 4. I hit great drives and great iron shots, hit every green in regulation and every fairway.

Then it happened...I snap hooked a drive on 5, and that was it...for 3 holes (5,6,7) I was done, went 2 over.

So on the 8th tee after I had a great chip that got me close for a par saver on 7 I was feeling pretty good, at which point I teed up the ball close to the tee marker and kind of kicked the tee marker out of the ground and out of my way, not in an angry way.

So the right before I hit my shot my buddy says some smart a** coment to me about moving the marker and again I snap hook my ball into unplayable...on a drivable par 4.

Now I know I should have backed off when he said that, but are there any books or dvds that focus on the mental game of golf?? I've always been self taught, which I think may be limiting my golf game, but I need serious mental help!!! Roy McAvoy style..... any suggestions????

[Logan Joseph]

Focus on all of the positives and talk some course management to yourself.

 

Remember, all of the bad shots are out of your hands now. There's nothing you can do about it except to get over it and think about how you should play your next shot to get your appropriate score.

 

The more you play course management and focus only on the positives, the more you'll have fun and start shooting lower scores.

[veloxolev]

Assuming you are a scratch golfer, you should be well aware in every aspect of your swing and why you are hitting the shot a certain way. When ever i hit a bad drive (10 yard fade high right) i immediately identify why i hit that. then by the time im at the next shot, i have forgotten about it because i know what i did wrong and know what not to do next time.

 

as far as what logan said, yes course management. drivable par 4 perhaps, but id rather lay up with a 5 wood and have 75 in.

 

dawn on the good shots you have made, dont even think about the shot you messed up on. the only thing that can happen now is a bit of a higher score on that hole. if you keep thinking about it, you will shot 4 over in 3 holes like you did.

 

keep your cool, you are playing golf, it should be fun.

[SadTrombone]

So on the 8th tee after I had a great chip that got me close for a par saver on 7 I was feeling pretty good, at which point I teed up the ball close to the tee marker and kind of kicked the tee marker out of the ground and out of my way, not in an angry way.

 

So the right before I hit my shot my buddy says some smart a** coment to me about moving the marker and again I snap hook my ball into unplayable...on a drivable par 4.

Smart A** as in reminding you to add the penalty to your score?

 

-mini

[Headgames]

As someone working in the feild, I'd suggest a book called "heads up baseball" bu Ken Ravizza. It's not directly related to golf, but there is a TON of info in that book that applies to the mental aspects of sport.

 

Ultimately, it sounds as though you need to work some mental aspects into your preshot routine (assuming you have one).

[ClarkGrswld4]

get on youtube and watch the series of 10 videos by Dr. Patrick Cohn....he is very good

[SNIPERBBB]

In sports, it pays to have a short memory. Golf is one of them. Try to forget what scores you've had on previous holes, good or bad and just focus on the shot at hand. After you hit a bad shot, it sometimes help to hit a "Ghost Mulligan"(swing only, no ball involved), make a good swing to replace the bad one you just used.

[ZGriswold83]

good stuff guys...I'm no scratch golfer, I usually shoot in the upper 70's I've got par or better in me, my best round is 2 over (72) and if I can just get those bad swings outa my head I think I'll be better off

[ckern1]

buy all of bob rotella's stuff it is fantastic.

[frozen_rope]

Much of the self talk stuff which sports psychologists promote can actually be counter productive.

What works best on the golf course is doing whatever you can to stay loose and relaxed. Deep breaths helps just about anybody feel loose and relaxed.

 

So I figured out this week that the biggest flaw in my golf game is my mental game. Not thinking out strategy, but letting bad shots go. I played on Sunday and had a great starting 4 holes, I was one yipped put away from being 2 under through 4. I hit great drives and great iron shots, hit every green in regulation and every fairway.

 

Then it happened...I snap hooked a drive on 5, and that was it...for 3 holes (5,6,7) I was done, went 2 over.

 

So on the 8th tee after I had a great chip that got me close for a par saver on 7 I was feeling pretty good, at which point I teed up the ball close to the tee marker and kind of kicked the tee marker out of the ground and out of my way, not in an angry way.

 

So the right before I hit my shot my buddy says some smart a** coment to me about moving the marker and again I snap hook my ball into unplayable...on a drivable par 4.

 

Now I know I should have backed off when he said that, but are there any books or dvds that focus on the mental game of golf?? I've always been self taught, which I think may be limiting my golf game, but I need serious mental help!!! Roy McAvoy style..... any suggestions????

[veloxolev]

for me to start playing better golf, i just went back to the thoughts of an easy tempo, relaxed arms and hands. its hard to be even remotely angry or tense about things if your hands cant even kill a mosquito

[iWackGolfBalls]

There's a book on quantum golf..

i forgot what it's called

[jsteinmann]

Considering every movement the body makes is a result of the brain, i'd say golf is 100% mental (as well as any other physical endeavor). However, in todays need for gurus and books about "being the ball", it's taken on a whole new meaning. As human beings, everything we do is connected with physical and mental attitudes, but a good attitude doesn't hit the ball well. You can pay a guy to blow sunshine up your rear all day, and whistle and breath to your hearts content, but if you have no idea how to swing a golf club, I'll bet you a a hundreds bucks you slice it in the woods... you can owe me.