Confidence Building

Hi All,

What are your views on the importance of confidence in oneself, and how do you apply this confidence to your swing and golf game. My own feeling is that confidence is probably 90% of a good game, but consistence confidence is so hard to retain. What is the secret?

I agree w/you completely. For me, I maintain my confidence by not only thinking about the good things I have done playing golf but also I think about those times in my life when I had to overcome difficult obstacles to achieve a goal. In other words, I focus on my successes in different endeavors, and I focus on how I have minimized weaknesses so that they do not hinder me adversely. More importantly, I think of the steps I followed to reach those goals/minimize those weaknesses.

No doubt that confidence plays a big part in one's golf game. You build confidence from the trials and errors while learning the game. After a while, you have seen just about everything good, and bad, which instills more confidence in your game, and life in general. The more we play, the more we learn. Education breeds confidence.

My confidence is such that I know If I take the time to do everything in sequence correctly, I am most likely going to put up a good score. Pre-round warm up in sequence from putting to wedges, irons, woods, and finishing up with my driver. Once I get on the course my pre-shot routine is another part of my confidence building blocks.

As for consistant confidence, I am confident that consistancy is not always going to be there. Confidence goes hand in hand with concentration (focus), and some days I just don't want/can't concentrate. I just want hit the darn ball around the course, and see what trouble I can get into, and out of. When I know that I don't have my "A" game that day, I don't lose confidence in my game, and I know it (hopefully) will improve during a poor round, or at least a day or two later.

However, I am always confident that I will be having fun while golfing, regardless of my play. GJS

the more you practice all aspects of your game, the better your average score. If I am missing greens I believe my chipping will save some pars, I believe I will make some 10 foot putts, etc. The more well rounded you are the eaiser it will be to rely upon a different aspect of your game that day and it will carry you through

i wish i knew!
im currently going through rounds playing 1 good shot and 1 bad shot even though im setting up consistently.
its hard to focus on your good shots when you are feeling negative about your game.
maybe this will change with time, more practise and experience

For me confidence comes from knowing I have prepared properly. I also try to go through my process to achieve consistent confidence. Remeber play without fear and always worry about your process not the outcome.