Comfort zone break out

[curtisj76]

Ok, I have a comfort zone and I need to break free from it. This comfort zone is my garage (net and mat). I can crush balls before AND after a round of golf but cannot on the course. I'm sure a lot of this is mental but I'm sure that's not all. For starters, my garage is obviously flat and my course seems like there's not an even lie anywhere. On the mental side there's no consequence in my garage. If the shot is bad, "oh well". One thing that could maybe help me on the mental side would be a pre-shot routine. I've NEVER really had one.

Anyone else struggle like this? Can't bring your "range game" to the course? No pre-shot routine? Etc... Any ideas?

 

[puttmad]

Discipline....

 

[dashfan87]

I think adding a pre-shot routine would be a great start. Pick a couple of things that you need to work on, and put a little pre-shot package together that you use all day. Take things from the videos, the info you get here, and the results from your garage sessions, and pick out 2 or 3 of the most important things you need to focus on in your swing. When you get that together (pre your round) dont change it. Use that routine the whole day, not changing anything.
If you have managed to fix the demons then move on, and form a pre-shot routine that focuses on the next area you need to improve.... and so on.

 

[2mongoose]

Can't bring your "range game" to the course?

I am a range animal, can't miss! Course, however, is a different story.

Whoever said pre-shot routine was a good answer. Think of it like the movie "Hoosiers." It's still golf no matter where you're at. The imperatives are blind to the track!

Whatever you're doing in your garage you need to re-create, esp mentally on the golf course. I know easier said than done....

I find that when I'm playing w/ friends "goofing" around I end up playing well. Try a completely different mindset out there, and then another, and then another. Change it up until it "feels" good.

 

[dashfan87]

Yeah.... so your options are, Try a preshot routine... or dont... or do, and see if you like it... or dont.... or just go goof around on the course...

I stand by my statement, a good solid routine before you step up to hit a shot, is good for your mental game. I dont care what your doing before that, goofing off with buddies, whatever, but when you step up to hit that shot, you better be in shot mode... and a good way to get you there, is the pre-shot routine.

 

[otto6457]

Play more, or at least work on the range more.

Hitting balls ain't golf. You need to feel comfortable on the course hitting shots and scoring. You get comfortable by being on the course and by "playing" golf. Golf should be about hitting targets and keeping the ball in play. Golf is about scoring, it's not about swing or crushing balls. I've lost plenty of cash to guys with swings that look like an octopus falling out of a tree. But those guys golf their ball and they are very comfortable on the course.

Hitting balls into a net has almost nothing to do with golf. You might "crush" a shot into your net that in reality is 60 yards off line. There is no penalty for crap shots in your net. Your mat gives you a "Cinderella" lie every time. Even center of the fairway tee shots don't always give you a perfect lie. Working on the range you can give yourself tougher lies and try and hit shots at targets. You can work on hitting a specific ball flight at a specific target, which is golf.

I have a mat and net myself so I'm not trying to disparage your home practice. But my home set-up is where I shoot my video and where I work on specific swing issues. I don't hit balls into my net for any other reason because the net lies to me.

I am a firm believer in my signature. Ball flight is king and the net fools you into thinking you are hitting royal shots.

 

[birdie_man]

Do you spend lots of time hitting into a net? Off of a "toothbrush bristle-type" mat?

Cause into a net all you really 100% know is if you are hitting it solid. (can't monitor ballflight)

Is there a ballflight pattern to your bad shots?

 

[self-mastery]

I play better on the course than on the range... I can't hit off of mats to save my life.

 

[Jared Willerson]

Former range rat here too. I have quit going to the range other than to warm up and then all I hit are about 30 balls.....25 wedges from half to full and 5 drivers.

I get a lot more out of playing a few holes and dropping balls in different spots and hitting them into the green. It is a lot funner way to practice and you are forced to do different things.

For practice I just do mirror work at home....Easier to monitor. The only time I hit balls into a net are to video my swing.

 

[cmartingolf]

CurtisJ

I have a mat and net too. I don't use it for anything other than stretching out a little and feeling the sweet spot.

Mat and Net Golf is not golf at all. I'm not sure what your skill level is, but I'd bet a large sum that you are not a low handicap player. You can be.

Mats make a lot of misses feel okay as you can hit it fat and get away with it. Real turf does not allow that sort of miss. Chances are, you have some kind of flip going on and turf brings rears it's ugly head.

Use Brian's towel plane board and be sure the low point of your swing is target side of the ball.

 

[jimmyt]

I was in exactly the same boat as all of you posters and I will tell you what was the breakthrough for me. Find the book "The Mental Game of Golf" by Michael Anthony. After you have read this book and listened to the DVD you will have beaten this flaw and you will want to enter the new comfort zone on the golf course. See when you are in your comfort zone you are not thinking about mechanics or results you are just playing instictively. Google this author to find his website. I am not the author just a student of his book and teachings it has moved me to almost being a scratch golfer. But thats my goal for golf read the book and let me know what you think it was only about $20.

 

[Bill Miracle]

I was in exactly the same boat as all of you posters and I will tell you what was the breakthrough for me. Find the book "The Mental Game of Golf" by Michael Anthony. After you have read this book and listened to the DVD you will have beaten this flaw and you will want to enter the new comfort zone on the golf course. See when you are in your comfort zone you are not thinking about mechanics or results you are just playing instictively. Google this author to find his website. I am not the author just a student of his book and teachings it has moved me to almost being a scratch golfer. But thats my goal for golf read the book and let me know what you think it was only about $20.

Yawn...
just learn how to hit the freakin ball at a target and the distance of your clubs. All the self-conscious BS magically disappears. I listened to the Zen of Golf (or whatever it's called) for over a week on my MP3. At the end of the day, I still had issues with my swing that I knew were still there and didn't gain a damn bit of confidence in hitting a better shot. The more I work with Brian and his peripherals (his articles, videos and the wealth of info from this site...including his other academy instructors and valued board contributors), the better I EXECUTE golf-like shots..... which builds the confidence to just let go and make a decent shot towards the target.

I'd rather spend the $20 on a new Manzella Matrix video and a couple of mugs of beer after a good round.

I bet Jimmy couldn't SCRATCH the jocks of some members of this site. (sorry Jimmy but you've been here long enough to know not to pimp another instructors stuff here...especially some zen, psycho-babble non-sense, snake-oil for $20...Brian's best stuff doesn't cost that much)

Ciao

 

[curtisj76]

Bill, not sure if you are having a bad day or what? That was a little harsh don't you think? I don't think a book on the mental game is really going to effect Brian's business at all or credibility. Unless of course Brian was in the business of selling books on the mental side of golf. Last time I checked he wasn't.

Thanks Jimmy for your input.

 

[welshdentist]

I have to say i'm with the no mat brigade.

After my neck injury this year i'm not allowed to hit full shots at the range. I've felt much happier with my swing, main practice is off turf and limited to mainly pitches and short game.

Other practice is just slow motion stuff with lasers and practising pivot.

Although i've even stopped all that and will just be working on my web lesson stuff.

Result of all that.......

Never hit the ball straighter

I'm sure if people practiced mainly 3 woods and drivers at the range (and not too many of them) using your preshot routine and shaping it like you would at the course, noting whether you would hit a fairway or not would be much more help.

Other than that, I would say never hit the same shot or club twice in a row at the range or into a net.

On the course you don't get 6 tries to nail it

 

[Bill Miracle]

Bill, not sure if you are having a bad day or what? That was a little harsh don't you think? I don't think a book on the mental game is really going to effect Brian's business at all or credibility. Unless of course Brian was in the business of selling books on the mental side of golf. Last time I checked he wasn't.

Thanks Jimmy for your input.

Maybe so, I don't know...I took to his message as one of these spamish, "I have the secret of golf" type messages and it only costs $20. They really make me sick.

This site is about great golf instruction....pouring out the kool-aid. To me, the message dripped of the stuff....and worse.

Addition ....after looking at the site mentioned, I still stand by my crusty attitude towards this stuff.

 

[jimmyt]

Maybe so, I don't know...I took to his message as one of these spamish, "I have the secret of golf" type messages and it only costs $20. They really make me sick.

This site is about great golf instruction....pouring out the kool-aid. To me, the message dripped of the stuff....and worse.

Addition ....after looking at the site mentioned, I still stand by my crusty attitude towards this stuff.

Well you were way off on all counts. Thought the thread was on comfort zone not mechanics, so I thought the input was justified. Spamish I was telling you my experience, and besides if I was barking some snake oil, the thread would have been edited. Read the thread again said I was just a supporter, and shove that jock comment up your A--. That was un called for....And if you think its all about the mechanics only.....well you keep working on that.

The author of the book is NOT an instructor either do your research before you decide to spar.

 

[dashfan87]

silly gooses.....