Your bogey shot...

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birly-shirly

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What thoughts on dealing with a pure mental block?

There's one tee shot on my home course that just gives me the fits. It looks more challenging than it really is, and I know that - but it still messes with me.

I really don't think the problem is technical - as more often than not I hit my worst shot of the round there. Today I hit my 3 worst shots of my round off that same tee!

Anyone conquered something like this, and how did you do it?
 
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conkanen

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Pretend you are laying up on yer favorite Par 5. Free, easy, and SMOKED.

or

I pretend I am chipping back onto the fairway...those always go 100yds further than I want! :)
 
magicmarker

magicmarker

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a tip from Rotella's latest book has helped me immensely. Instead of thinking 'I need to hit this pure' before a shot, instead say to yourself...

"OK, I've seen it before and I know where it's going, and no matter where it goes I'm going to accept it, go get it, and score with it, now that I know this, let's just do the routine."

It takes the pressure from your mind (where it doesn't belong) and leaves it under your feet where you can use it. ;)
 
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Jim Kobylinski

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birly-shirly said:
What thoughts on dealing with a pure mental block?

There's one tee shot on my home course that just gives me the fits. It looks more challenging than it really is, and I know that - but it still messes with me.

I really don't think the problem is technical - as more often than not I hit my worst shot of the round there. Today I hit my 3 worst shots of my round off that same tee!

Anyone conquered something like this, and how did you do it?
Click to expand...

I have the exact same problem with a hole, i haven't conquered it. Sorry, i'm sure that wasn't what you wanted to hear.
 
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finncox

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I wish I could offer you some advice, but I haven't figured out how to conquer this myself. There is a par 5 that gives me fits. The worst part is, no matter what tees I'm playing, I've got a shot at reaching it in two, sometimes with as little as a short iron.

More frustrating, I have a mental block when I can see my shadow over the ball. I can't seem to keep from noticing how strange its movements seem as compared to what I actually feel that I'm doing, instead of just hitting the damn ball. Almost always slice it when I can see my shadow in front of me, directly over the ball.

I think I'm just nuts!
 
dschultz6072

dschultz6072

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I would try to play when I have free reign over the hole and just go bombs away, driving range style, until I got it. This assumes you have a lot of golf balls in your bag.

Every chance you get, rinse and repeat until the shot isn't all that hard (mentally) any more. It's OK to admit a shot is a physically hard shot to pull off, but from practice it won't be so mentally draining.
 
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magicmarker

magicmarker

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finncox said:
More frustrating, I have a mental block when I can see my shadow over the ball. I can't seem to keep from noticing how strange its movements seem as compared to what I actually feel that I'm doing, instead of just hitting the damn ball. Almost always slice it when I can see my shadow in front of me, directly over the ball.

I think I'm just nuts!
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I've dealt with shadow issues (with irons) for the same reasons you mentioned. Tough part is finding a way to practice it when it requires a certain time of day and particular angles. The more clearly I can see my shadow the more tempted I am to look at it. What can I say, I'm a bit of a narcissist :eek:. Find a way to lock in and see nothing but the ball, or alter your setup enough to move the shadow and then play for a big fade or draw.
 
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birly-shirly

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dschultz6072 said:
I would try to play when I have free reign over the hole and just go bombs away, driving range style, until I got it. This assumes you have a lot of golf balls in your bag.

Every chance you get, rinse and repeat until the shot isn't all that hard (mentally) any more. It's OK to admit a shot is a physically hard shot to pull off, but from practice it won't be so mentally draining.
Click to expand...

Well, if you'd seen me today, you'd have assumed that was what I was doing.:mad:

You might just be right that getting in a ton of reps in that specific situation, and knowing that I've hit 20 or 30 balls (even if that takes 60 reps) down the middle - is what it'll take.

It's maddening because deep down I know the shot's not that hard. I could have taken any other tee shot I hit today, and it wouldn't have threatened trouble on this hole.
 
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birly-shirly

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magicmarker said:
a tip from Rotella's latest book has helped me immensely. Instead of thinking 'I need to hit this pure' before a shot, instead say to yourself...

"OK, I've seen it before and I know where it's going, and no matter where it goes I'm going to accept it, go get it, and score with it, now that I know this, let's just do the routine."

It takes the pressure from your mind (where it doesn't belong) and leaves it under your feet where you can use it. ;)
Click to expand...

I like Inner Game stuff, and this seems similar - learning to accept whatever outcome of your shot seems a big key. My only issue is with "go get it, and score with it". That attitude works if you're facing fairway bunkers or rough - but it's much harder to put into practice if you're finding a way to penalise yourself stroke and distance.
 
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fronesis

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Kevin Shields said:
I didn't read what others said but I'd try to hit a different club or different shot than usual
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This was going to be my answer. Change the way that you play the hole; if need be, change it so radically that it's as if you are playing a different hole. Give yourself such a different shot of the tee (draw a 2 iron rather than cutting a driver, etc.), picking a different landing area and ball flight, so that the hole you have been playing isn't even there any longer.
 
ZAP

ZAP

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There is a short par three at the city course that I seemed to have a mental block about hitting the green. Finally I told myself that I was going to hit one more club each time I played it until I hit the green. Sadly I made it all the way to 5 iron I think before I hit the green. The hole plays all of 140 from the back tee and averages about 120. So yeah it was a baby 5 iron.:mad: Usually it is a wedge or gap wedge.

So my advice is to find a way to play the hole in a totally different way. Hit wedge off the tee or play it with only your 6 iron. Whatever it takes. If you are going to make a bad score you might as well have some fun.
 
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birly-shirly

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Out of curiosity, how many of you who have a bogey shot or hole also have an on-course temper, or otherwise find golf quite an emotional experience?
 
ZAP

ZAP

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birly-shirly said:
Out of curiosity, how many of you who have a bogey shot or hole also have an on-course temper, or otherwise find golf quite an emotional experience?
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I would certainly say that I am not a robot on the course for sure. But to qualify golf as an emotional experience might be a bit of a reach as well.
 
dschultz6072

dschultz6072

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Never had a hole I didn't think I could birdie. I mean, I have nemesis holes that piss me off, yes, but if I just have the proper attitude I can par them no problem if my putting is fine. Unless the hole is 750 yards or something I don't see a reason why I don't have a chance every time. Penick said golf doesn't usually require a spectacular shot unless the one that precedes it was awful. I really think that is true, at least from the courses I have played.

I'm just happy to be able to play when I can. But I don't like playing bad golf. Ever. If I am playing poorly, it's not because of a hard hole or a hard shot or something. It's because something is off and I'm just sucking it up to begin with.
 
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