Earlier this year, frequent contributor Steve Smith made a very interesting comment.
"I've had a weird thing happen the last couple of days during my round. Both times I played really good rounds but seemed to throw away some strokes on easy shots almost as if I am afraid that I might really shoot a low score.
Consciously I want to shoot as low a score as I can but I'm beginning to wonder if subconsciously I don't want to go any lower. I only get that feeling when I am already under par and pretty much already have my match won. That is when I lose focus especially on easy chips and putts.
The times when I am over par or my match is still in doubt I almost never have those lapses. I also don't have the lapses when I am faced with the more challenging shots. On those it's like I want the challenge and will figure out a way to blow it another time.;-)
Anybody else ever have those feelings?"
This is an important subject, as I know that Steve's experience is not unusual. It really comes down to whether you are playing golf or whether you are just hitting a series of shots as you move through the match. The sports world is full of cliches that touch on this. "Take it one shot at a time" or "It ain't over until it's over" Or at least until The Fat Lady sings. But at the end of the day, you need to understand what makes you tick and what it is that leads to losing focus. It will be different for every player.
When you are playing well and you're in 'player mode' and not focusing on mechanics, everything will be going according to plan. You have a good feel for your swing, you make good practice swings, you see the shot well and visualize where you want it to go and then you just step up and do it.
But what happens when the wheels come off for no apparent reason?
That's a question only you can answer. Many keep stats on their shots but in this instance if you find yourself losing focus during a round, why not keep mental stats? Review in your mind everything that was going through your head at the time to try to find the key. Why is it that players make more 4'-6' putts for par than for birdies? It might be that the fear of losing a stroke far outweighs the desire to gain a stroke. Play like every shot matters, from your very first drive to your last putt on 18. If you need any convincing on this point, just look at DJ's outstanding performance on the last hole of a very long 2011 season. The Golf Channel commentators were predicting that all he had to do was par out and he would keep his card. Yet DJ focused on making that 20' birdie and thank goodness he made it because making par wouldn't have been enough as it turned out.
It also may be that you are running out of gas as your progress through your round. If this is happening, make sure you eat something to maintain your energy level and make sure you stay well hydrated too.
But at the end of the day, you need to keep grinding it out, shot after shot. Do this and you'll see a marked improvement in your scores.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.
Comments
Robert Meade:
Robert Meade:
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ I have ALWAYS believed that a 6 inch putt deserves as much attention as a 30 footer -- they BOTH count the same.ÃÂ Granted the 6 incher is MUCH easier to make -- but it should not be "taken for granted"
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ On another note:ÃÂ In competiton, specially in "head to head" or match play events -- there is a HUGE difference in a 4 foot birdie putt to win a hole and the exact same putt to halve the hole.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Amos
Hi James, I have a bad L5-S1
Hi James, I have a bad L5-S1 disc myself and thats more than enough for me combined with two mild osteo arthritic knees. ÃÂ I too need a thicker skin when I play with some of the higher h'cap larrikins who make a point of getting under your skin especially when you're in the middle of making a stroke. ÃÂ I try to do the water off a ducks back routine but sometimes I just feel like turning around and shouting at this bozo "for f's sake why don't you try shutting the f up for a change!!!" ÃÂ Being 6'3", 103 kg and full of anger with a glowing red neck I know that this would grab his attention in a big way :-()
Wongphil - you are correct. I
Wongphil - you are correct. I am over thinking scoring lately. My best games do come when I don't even look at the scorecard while playing. Then I shoot some improved scores for me and my brain kicks in..."okay you got it, let's go for even better!"...[enter army golf]. I just need to master getting out of my own head. Thanks for the input!
Richard, of all days to be
Richard, of all days to be one of the daily "need to comment on lighting and video quality persons, rather than offer something of value on the subjectÃÂ and be helpfulÃÂ people" you picked the wrong day. The first thing that I saw as I settled into seeking knowledge from Surge was the rainbow that was filtering through the trees. Look at the first minute of the video, especially toward the top of the mat and you'll see the yellow, red and greenish blue. It's subtle but beautiful. Obviously you are visual. do yourself a favor, watch it again and look for the rainbow and then close your eyes and liston to the heartfelt wisdom flowing from this man. then rejoin us with a positive and helpful comment concerning the subject. I'm sure you'll have more to offer.
I've missed 2 two footers for
I've missed 2 two footers for birdie this year. I didn't miss anything from that range last year.
I also have been very lazy this year about taking time to practice my putting at home. Whereas last year I practiced pretty much every night.
It could be a coincidence that I missed those two putts and both of them slid by the right lip but I would say more likely that I have an issue with my stroke on those very short putts.
I need to get ambitious tomorrow and get that straightened out. I'm still rolling anything longer than that very well.
SGW, absolutely true about
SGW, absolutely true about Sergio. He has reportedly been recievibg training in Sophrology which is a combination of meditation, yoga and other zen like practices. Anyhow it has helped him for sure. Thought your game day example was fun too! It is so true that some of the best golfers seem to be those guys who can just chill and talk about whatever between shots but then know how to refocus when it's time for their shots. That is at the center of golfstate of mind training. Being able to focus on the 20-30 second process of set up and shot and then being able to relax and move on in between without excess emotion and thought about your last shot, next shot and all the other excess thoughts that can cause stress and get us off our day and unable to be okay to once again get ready and refocus during the next shot. I'm learning to get that relaxed state between. Very cool stuff :)
No Doubt,I'm getting very
No Doubt,I'm getting very anxious about it too. I guess that's what I get for listening to wjox all morning while driving around today.
Steve Smith and Boogm:
Steve Smith and Boogm:
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ I find myself in the unusual position of rooting for "Bama this week.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Reason: If they lose, they'll be out for blood when we have to play them next week!ÃÂ Like feeding defensess Christinas to angry hungry lions.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ On the other hand , if The Tide wins, maybe they'll be a little overconfident == and the game might be worth watching
ÃÂ ÃÂ PMG as Enjoy it MORE
ÃÂ ÃÂ Amos
From personal experience with
From personal experience with back problems I found the broom handle long putter a big relief and gave the opportunity to practice longer on the greens.
Lynn, that is awesome. It's
Lynn, that is awesome. It's going to the top of my favorites right now. Those of you reading this comment who haven't watched Lynn's link yet. Do not defer, do it now.
Thanks Lynn, God bless you pal.
It's supposed to be a
It's supposed to be a gentlemen's game, so no need for foul language when your playing partners just won't shut up. If they keep talking after you address the ball try stepping out of the setup, turning around,and looking them in the eye while smiling. Start you preswing routine from scratch and if they don't want to wait for you to do this every time you hit a shot, they'll probably have enough sense to be quiet. If they talk during your downswing try saying ÃÂ "someone was talking during my swing". A lot of people just aren't aware that their muttering in the background can be a problem. ÃÂ Make them aware, in a gentlemanly way. Don't suffer in silence! ÃÂ Educate them!
You really shouldn't have to, block all this stuff out if it bothers you. It is simply a matter of good golf etiquette.It also helps, if you show other players the same respect, when they are making their shot.
Try holding up your hand for silence, when people in the group keep talking while someone other than yourself is making a shot.
Trevino was the best I know
Trevino was the best I know of. He could crack a joke in his set up, whack the ball and finish with the punch line.
Hey Craig,I have been
Hey Craig,
I have been pondering situations like that for a long time and still don't have a definitive answer.
On those occasions where I have a fairly long wait to hit my putt, where the other players putt out, I am standing behind my ball (if I'm not in anyone's line, or in their way) and reading my putt and getting in some kind of a zone for my putt.
This extra time sometimes allows me to get to a mental state where I "know" I am going to make the putt before I even roll it.(Even on medium range putts).
Then there are other times when I use that time to change my mind about the original read and usually end up playing too much break.
I'm pretty sure that the extra time helps me more than it hurts me but it's a fairly close call.
Almost all of my misses are on the high side of the cup. That's an area that, if I could change, I could really save some strokes.
The catch is that I would certainly rather miss on the high side than on the low side. The ones on the high side at least have a fighting chance to go in but the ones on the low side don't have a prayer.
I think a compromise that might be worth a try is to take the extra time to prepare mentally but not let myself use the extra time to talk myself into changing the read.
Pages