Scoring

Dear Pro,

I now play to single figures and pretty consistantly break 80. If you had a piece of advice that will help me push me further and make me stronger in the showing off stakes, what would your advice be??.

I practice twice weekly and play comp every Sunday, I have my own putting facility at home and chipping is my strongest game.

I suspect it may be on the mental side. I do get put off quite easily, either noise or poor partners(cruel I know) I hit balls perfect at the range until someone stops to watch then I push or pull a shot.(everytime) but I don't feel nervious just eyes in back of my head!!!!!!

Please help.

Ian.

Very common problem. You are at peace with yourself, but when another person is near you or watching you, you start to think about what they are thinking..."Is he a good player?", "Look at that smooth swing...", "What a hack, I bet he can't break 90!"

Solution 1: Practice with a friend who is at or near you same level. Have mini-competitions. When someone else is watching, you are less likely to think what they are thinking about beacuse you already have the "Other" person there.

Solution 2: If no one is available, go to the end of the range away from anyone.

Solution 3: If there are no private spots available, Start up a conversation with the person next to you (if appropriate). Just to break the ice and create a little familarity with the person...stuff like, "Hi, there. This is a nice day to practice, isn't it? Name's Ian..."

As for what to practice next: Working the ball. Be able to move the ball left, right, high and low and with every club. Imagine being behind a tree and having to hook the **** out of it. See how far you can hit it with the biggest hook. Then slice it as far as you can. Try to keep a big slice low. Hit a towering hook. This will get you to the next level if you can do this on demand everytime.

Thanks Greg,
I can already do all these things with a golf ball at will. Until People stop to watch then I find it difficult to concentrate!!!!! for the last few months during winter I use the mats at the range directly where everone comes in to try and get use to strange people watching.

I always find that when I play with different people(EVERY WEEK IN CLUB COMP) it is as if they are watching my every position through the swing, also they seem to expect me to be outstanding. (I feel its always chipping and putting that lowers my scores more than booming drives) p.s I don't hit miles but I do hit very straight.

I'm ok when I am drawn with people I have played with before because I feel comfortable. Why is this??? Why do I feel under pressure after a couple of holes or as soon as someone says what a great swing you have???.

I know this sounds a bit bigheaded but I am just looking for the answer about the "zone" or being able to show someone how to hit a shot without being under pressure.


Ian.

Gord this was my origional post.

A bit different situation:

I know a guy who plays to a 2 but when in competition plays to about a 8. He puts too much pressure to make a perfect shot and forgets to think about how to make the shot. Instead of thinking of his swing (ie: smooth takeaway, head behind the ball, etc., etc.) he is thinking of consequences and the people around. For example when we play in a Texas Scramble, he is thinking 'I need to hit this ball well or I will let my team down'. When playing stroke or match he gets thinking about prior mistakes and how if he makes a mistake it will affect the current hole.

It's funny because I am completely opposite from him. Like I said, I thrive in competition. I play to a 8 or 9 socially and in competition I play to a 4 or 5.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

Yo ian how u doing

If you wana get better, tackle your problem shot. If you dont think you have one (ie a tendancy to hook/slice) then why are you droppin 5, 6, 7 shots a round. Tackle that. Get video of your swing, analysis can help. The whole short game thing bla saves u shots - yea that too. you get the idea.

I wouldnt care all that much what people think of you when you tee it up with new players. I, like you, play with randoms every weekend and if their handicaps are double mine they expect me to be tiger. Its better just to enjoy their company rather than try to impress.

90% of golfers dont care what you shoot anyway, and the other 10% wish you shot more (heard that somewhere - so true!)

__________________
B.I.G