It's gotta be a mental thing

Ok, another season is comming to an end. Visions of low scores down the ****per. I practice almost every day. My practice gets better and better. I even practice at work (lunch time). Got a hundred yards out back at work and I can drop the ball within only a couple feet of my target from any distance. At the park, up to about 160 yards, I can keep it to about 15 feet either side of my target. I'm really getting good at this practice thing. My problem is I'm getting worse and worse at a round of golf. Lately I have a hard time hitting 5 greens in regulation. The better I practice, the worse I get. Has anybody else faced this problem? Did you get over it? HOW???

Practice can be a funny thing, you are relaxed, get into a good tempo, hit shot after shot, your confidence in your swing is easy to maintain. Playing is different. Knowing this helps you understand the fact that you are going to play worse then your practice. Practicing under a closer "playing" condition, is the solution.

* Put a ball down and go though your entire playing routine every time. If you use a towel on your grips before every shot...do that. If you line up behind the ball and pick your spot every time...do that.

* Evaluate the results of your shot and keep a psudo-score. 1 point for perfect shot. 2 points for a missed green, or fairway. 3 points for a duff or being well off-line. This gets you thinking about the results and applies some pressure to the practice. Try to find a partner to practice with and create matches this way...it's fun and rewarding.

* Create a minimum level of acceptance for a group of 10 shots. Your playing level will dictate this: 18 hdcp should be around 5 out of 10 acceptable shots. 5 Hdcp around 8 out of 10, and a scratch should be 10 of 10. Keep doing the 10 shot practice group over and over until you meat your minimum level. If this level is reached frequently the first time, it's time to increase the level.



All this is designed to mimic playing conditions. Practice like this and you will be a better player, guaranteed.

__________________
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

Hi

Golf is 90% mental. When I am completely relax I can hit really great shots. My golf instructor noticed when I came back from holidays. I had not played for 2 weeks and I hit for the first time my 3 wood and 8 irons. I hit 20m longer and more consistent shots than with any other clubs I used to practice with.
I have also played at handicap level when I was completely relax but unfortunately I get a bit stressed/self conscious when I am on the course and cannot play consistently to have a handicap.
I also noticed that the less I think about my shots the better they are. If you have a good technique you need to become inconscious competent. It is hard but the less you think about the technique the better you will hit. Less is more.Try to play with people who are not competitive and by having a relax chat and not thinking about golf you should hit ok and when your brain is conditioned you can go back playing matches.

Otherwise try kynesiology/ hypnotherapy/NLP or relaxation technique. There are very good advise from professionals on the web.

Hope it helps

Thanks for the suggestions.

I do think that a good part of my problem is getting relaxed on the course.

Greg, It's funny after you bring it up. Thinking on it, I would have to say that I'm the opposite. I have more of a routine when I practice than when I play. I take my time. I take a few practice swings before I hit each ball. I don't pound one ball after the next. I think I'm much more focused when I practice. When I'm out on the course, I tend to hurry. Never really find my tempo. I never really gave it much thought until now. I'm very self concious of slow play, but I could be taking it to the extreme.

Oh yeah, I like the points in practice idea. Gave it a try today. It does help make practice feel more like golf.

Ah, the "self-conscience golfer" syndrome. A pre-shot routine does need to be something within reason, (a thought, a line-up, a waggle and a whack). These guys that hit the immaginary small-bucket before every shot is not what you want to see.

Put yourself first in your own mind. Worry not about what others think of you while it's your turn. You paid the $ to play, so take your time within reason.