Mental Block

Hi, I was hoping people who have overcome their mental problems could provide information on how they did this in this thread to bring some insight for people who struggle mentally on the coarse as I do. A year ago I was a 3 handi, and I struggle to break 80 now. Ive only been playing the game for 3 years so I am not giving up yet. The thing that bothers me most is my swing looks good on video, I have great practice sessions on the range, but struggle consistently on the course. Anyone who has suggestions on how to break this mental hack please let me know. Im up for trying anything and everything to get myself in the right frame of mind. Maybe I should try swinging with my eyes closed, do they make seeing eye dogs for golfers with a blind mind?



Im sure everyone has felt this pain or is feeling it as I do right now. Please help

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There are two types of criticism. They type you agree with, and the type you wont let yourself believe.

Whether either are helpfull is up to our own stubborness

It's just knowing how to focus on the shot at hand, and how well you want to pull it off. For me, just playing, is sometimes more important than scoring low....if that makes sense. What I mean is that sometimes I just want to go out and hit the ball, find it, then hit it again. Some times I don't even keep score. I might try different shots, play a little 2 ball some times. Just horsing around, telling myself "yeah I can carry that green side bunker, and hit that green that is 230 yards away". If I worried about my score every time I went out, I would probably give up the game since I would be missing out out on those "just for fun" rounds.

When I am on the driving range, I always have a target I am aiming at. It is important that land the ball a close to that target as I can. I see too many people on the range who think they are hitting great shots simply because they are keeping the ball in the confines of the driving range itself. Then, when they get on a real fairway that safe landing area has shrunk considerably.

But when the round is important, and a low score is what I am looking for, my own "pre-shot" routine becomes a very important part of my focus, and mental attitude for that round. If you start every shot the same way, every time, you most likely will finish that shot the same way every time. Remember that a good pre-shot routine also means you are setting up to the ball, and your alignment is the same every time.

So, just go out with your own pre-shot routine, and just have some fun with out the pressure of scoring low. You may still hit some "stinkers", but you will probably hit more "golf shots" too. After a few of these "what the heck" rounds, when you want to play for a good score, you will find it easier. GJS

I am not sure exactly what your problem is. Are you striking the ball badly or are you using poor course management so that you are not playing the course correctly?

Great post GJS.

As a 3 'capper you must know that playing a round of golf concerned with how you're scoring does not end up in good scoring.

Hit it, find it, hit again. Rediscover the joy of the ball flying, or trying to hole a putt, and your score will take care of itself.

As a 3 'capper you have the requisite skills to post good scores.

Just go play.

I agree, GJS hits the nail.

For me, back when I was just starting out and in the same boat where I was very confident in my abilities that I naturally had and relied on, I wanted to improve. So changes were introduced and I slowly started to see confidence under pressure slip away. Time was the only cure. Accepting that I was going to have a technically better swing but reduced repeatability resolved my concerns if this was the right thing to do.

Eventually, I regained the confidence with the better swing. Then was ready to do it again. I have now done this about 4 more times. Each change was not as drastic as the last, but still the concept was the same...I learned to accept degradation in consistency which always turned into higher scores...but what kept me going was that the change employed resulted in being technically better. It was worth the efforts.

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I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

You managed to play to a 3 handicap after two years, that's exceptional talent, I don't know anyone personally who has achieved that.

Most of us start out striking the ball well but lack the skills for the short game. At some point we have a few bad rounds and our mind starts to analyse what is happening, we then try out different fixes and get on a downward spiral that can take a long time to recover from, some never do.

That's why I asked you if your problem was to do with ball striking or whether it was the way you play the course, the fixes for these two things are not the same.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

As far as where my game is. I think Greg nailed it, I didnt start struggling till I went to professionals for help. Not that they are not helping me, I think they just got me out of my natural swing and into a more solid swing. Only time will tell. As far as my ballstriking, I think my lack of scoring has been not being able to hit the fairway off the tee. I believe its just a mental block. For example. I shot a 47 on the front (easier side) yesterday. Then I shot a 38 on the harder side of a local course where I live. If the greens werent so slow I prob would of shot a 33. I didnt change anything from the front to the back, it just happend that way. Hopefully I can carry this newfound confidence into my next round, and next, and next.

crazy game!!

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There are two types of criticism. They type you agree with, and the type you wont let yourself believe.

Whether either are helpfull is up to our own stubborness

hi guys, im wondering if you can help me on this as well

i play off of scratch and all is well and good when i am on the practice range and the putting green, but then as soon as i get on the course and we are talking about anytime in the middle of the round i develop a mental block which wont allow me to take the club back in my stance

i have never had this before - i was wondering if anyone had any ideas. we have visited a sports psycho-analyst and they have no clue either at present

any ideas or suggestions would be great

thanks

steve

Steve,

Please can you clarify what you mean when you say "wont allow me to take the club back in my stance"

interesting to note that it happens in the middle of a round, does the phenom pass after a while?, any physical symptoms like weakness, or tremors? if so might be worth checking glucose tolerance, just an idea

Sorry, but 1:10,000 people could have a 3 handicap after two years unless the scoring is a little fuzzy math.
I just don't believe it.

The best thing to do it to play with a good friend, tell them your score at the end of the hole and then forget about it...

My best round ever, was one where I nearly punched my mate as he tried to tell me my score on the 18th tee

It's harder playing on your own, but I've never enjoyed doing that anyway. Maybe you can write your score for each hole down and then try to ignore the total?

The one mental aspect of the game that helped me was to stop getting ahead of myself on the golf course. I know it's an old saying 'take one shot at a time' but I really wonder how many golfers actually do it.

I used to be thinking if I can just par this hole, par the next and then maybe birdie the last par 5 I can break 80. But what happened was I forgot about the shots I was playing in the present. This was something I read or I think I listed to on a golf cd.

It's the best advice I could give to anyone on the mental game of golf. Stay in the present on the golf course always. Focus on each shot and forget about future holes or shots until you get there.

I hope this helps.

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hi brian,

thank you for the quick response. i think i can help here as the person in question is my brother

he stands over a ball and when he attempts to take the club away for the beginning of his swing he cant, he just freeezes. he then backs away from the shot as told to do this - returns to his stance and still cant play the shot. luckily enough this hasnt happened in any comps, but whens hes having practice rounds he has to walk in...
we were told by a family friend that it happens to dart players too where they have cant throw the dart and have to walk away from the board and then back again.. one darts player had to have a break from the game for 1yr to get over it.. it would be a shame for my little bro to have to walk away for that long as he is only 19 and a decent prospect at going pro..

cheers
dan