T-21, Not Bad for a Guy Who Can't Bust a Grape....Blog by Brian Manzella
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I'm paraphrasing, but in the 1993 Ryder Cup team room Chip Beck said that determination and positive attitude could overcome a mechanical breakdown. He and John Cook then went out to thrash the team of Faldo/Montgomery when both were at the peak of their games.
Way to go, Brian!
Richie3Jack
New
That's great.
I played my first tournament in 9 years last year back in the Club Championship last fall.
I was a little nervous, but one of the things I tend to do in tournaments, and I think a lot of other people do as well...is that you try to 'hedge your bets' with shots. Instead of firing at the flag when you should, you try to aim for the middle of the green and take a 'safe swing.' In the end you wind up at best being in the middle of the green with a 30 footer or you take a crap swing and find yourself with a worse shot.
So the things I told myself were that:
1. Every shot I've hit before, countless times in my life and have been succesful hitting that shot on countless occasions.
2. Let him ride.
That's why I practice all of the time. Not to just hit safe shots, but to hit great shots when the opportunity is there.
It's like having Secretariat go half speed. Let him ride, let's see what this horse can do.
3JACK
birdie_man
New
Do you think many of these guys have knowledge?
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Until a player learns to play for only their own pleasure and sense of accomplishment can they ever reach their full potential. The reason people get nervous is because they are afraid of what other people may think if they shoot a bad score. You can not give a crap about what anyone else thinks when you play. Too many external pressures will only keep you thinking too much about results and not the proceedure of making the best swing you can one each shot you face. Tournament golf is a great way to learn about yourself.....you need to face your fears, suck it up and play to win!
birdie_man
New
Maybe feel can be taught?
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Believe it or not, I choke just as bad on Golden Tee.
Brian, this post reminds me alot of what Dr. Jensen had to say in Dallas. Coaching high school kids, I see so many of them worried about what their teammates and parents will think of their round.
What did you think of his presentation? Have you read the book he gave out yet?
Rob, have you studied Dr. Jensen before??
birdie_man
New
There are about a million different reasons you could be nervous bax...no? There could be lots I think anyway.
HOW do you deal with it?
Not what. ("win"..."face your fears"...""SUCK IT UP""...or another bottom line answer)
Then again, maybe that's all it takes for you. (I am nutty)
Why would any given person care what others think? (serious question)
Is it necessary to not care? Do some people inherently care more? If so, would you want to fight this urge?
Just questions. (honest)
birdie_man
New
For the record, I have tried "don't care" or "care less".....does nothing to my benefit as far as I can tell. (though these things can be personal)
I guess where we probably go next is "focus"...on the task at hand...
...?
Some people no doubt are more task oriented.
I guess where we probably go next is "focus"...on the task at hand...
...?
Some people no doubt are more task oriented.
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birdie_man
New
Yo bax...I should add that I agree with this:
bax said:
The point that I am trying to make is that the "mental" test of tournament golf is the challenge the player needs to defeat. Brian can zero out Trackman, I've watch him hit shots at the GTE and can tell you he can strike it as pure as anyone. It is only the fear of failure in a tournament that holds him and many other players, myself included from performing their best. The great players can self focus, the ones that don't, you can't name. ALL good players have a cockiness, extreame self confidence and an attitude of being ready to destroy Par.
Why would any given person care what others think? (serious question)
People have a deep need to be liked and have their ego not hurt. The greatest fear most people have is that of Public Speaking, why? It is not that we can not speak but the fear of what others are going to think of us IF we scew up.
HOW do you deal with it?
Some players had to Self Medicate. The great Bobby Jones needed a little nip before playing. Jones had nerves so bad he often became physically sick before a match. Not a recommended approach but some resort to this. Some people pray and feel that their strength in religion will help. Each player needs to find a way, hopefully a healthy way to deal with the self manifested pressure. That what I mean by sometimes you just need to "suck it up, get into the game and stop making excuses."
Rob, have you studied Dr. Jensen before??
No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!
Why would any given person care what others think? (serious question)
People have a deep need to be liked and have their ego not hurt. The greatest fear most people have is that of Public Speaking, why? It is not that we can not speak but the fear of what others are going to think of us IF we scew up.
HOW do you deal with it?
Some players had to Self Medicate. The great Bobby Jones needed a little nip before playing. Jones had nerves so bad he often became physically sick before a match. Not a recommended approach but some resort to this. Some people pray and feel that their strength in religion will help. Each player needs to find a way, hopefully a healthy way to deal with the self manifested pressure. That what I mean by sometimes you just need to "suck it up, get into the game and stop making excuses."
Rob, have you studied Dr. Jensen before??
No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!
birdie_man
New
As an end goal I agree. This is the greatest test in playing, of course.
I have no problem with this...! Some people look at you a little funny if you say you are having a drink to loosen up just a little. I say big deal. A little vodka/water never hurt anyone. Key word is a little.
What I meant was.....bottom-line, goal-oriented "positive intent" is great. I just wonder if there is more. Well there is but....."what" and "how".....of course.
Dunno man.
cmartingolf
New
I can't believe I missed this post!
Brian, I'm proud of you for putting the peg in the ground and posting a score. So many guys in the business make any excuse possible to avoid individual stroke play events. You'll find a lot of guys playing in partners games and other individual avoidance contests.
Believe me, I could make all the excuses too; club responsibilities, two young kids, etc... I know the day I stop sending in my stroke play applications, you can stick a fork in me.
Hearing you describe the mental warfare is mildly amusing as I go through the same stuff. I still have a bit of game, shot 75-66-76 in my section stroke play. The thing I remember about when I played a lot 15 + years ago, is that things were more wrote. I didn't think as much. The shot picked me more than me picking the shot.
I like individual play because of the battle. It is scary sometimes. In the case above, I only managed to "win" one of the rounds. The 66 was low round of the day which was rewarding. The 75 was nerves and the 76 was actually pretty solid, with a couple of missed shots and poor chipping. Bottom line, I don't play enough anymore to really score effectively.
I finished T-23, so I didn't make it back to the Club Pro Championship, which is a bummer.
Anyway, congrats to you. Keep putting the peg in the ground. I could see your talent in the few shots I watched in Vegas. Guys like me respect you for your knowledge, but you just gained a heap more respect and I assure you, your better players really appreciate the fact you can talk the same language.
Brian, I'm proud of you for putting the peg in the ground and posting a score. So many guys in the business make any excuse possible to avoid individual stroke play events. You'll find a lot of guys playing in partners games and other individual avoidance contests.
Believe me, I could make all the excuses too; club responsibilities, two young kids, etc... I know the day I stop sending in my stroke play applications, you can stick a fork in me.
Hearing you describe the mental warfare is mildly amusing as I go through the same stuff. I still have a bit of game, shot 75-66-76 in my section stroke play. The thing I remember about when I played a lot 15 + years ago, is that things were more wrote. I didn't think as much. The shot picked me more than me picking the shot.
I like individual play because of the battle. It is scary sometimes. In the case above, I only managed to "win" one of the rounds. The 66 was low round of the day which was rewarding. The 75 was nerves and the 76 was actually pretty solid, with a couple of missed shots and poor chipping. Bottom line, I don't play enough anymore to really score effectively.
I finished T-23, so I didn't make it back to the Club Pro Championship, which is a bummer.
Anyway, congrats to you. Keep putting the peg in the ground. I could see your talent in the few shots I watched in Vegas. Guys like me respect you for your knowledge, but you just gained a heap more respect and I assure you, your better players really appreciate the fact you can talk the same language.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
V.J. Trolio is a fine young player and has finished high in National events.
He plays more TOURNAMENT ROUNDS in a year, than I play rounds.
He is also not pushing 50.
BTW, you did notice my student finished 2nd?
As far as the ball-strinking goes, the driver requires the ball to be struck as well, no?
And the greens at Metairie are VERY small, VERY hard, and the wind blew like Scotland.
I did ok.
I can bust a grape, and I had to come out of retirement to prove it to a guy who hides behind a screen and screenname.
BTW, thanks Cadeus!
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