Screamindemon3
Well-known member
Yeah, in my experience they get chewed up pretty quick
Any of the high-level competitive players here have any advice for managing your mind, your nerves, and your game in a tournament? I used to be able to play up to my ability in competition, years ago, but having been away from it for a long time I find my game falling apart under the slightest pressure. I'm talking club tournaments - nothing big.
My only thought is to try and play in more tournaments so I get used to it, but so far that isn't helping.
This past weekend I played OK (not good, mind you, but OK) one day but literally shot 12+ shots worse than my index on the second day. How does that even happen?
This has probably been brought up before, but is anybody playing Vice balls ? I lost a brand new $4 ProV1X on the first tee a couple of weeks ago and I'm still pissed about it. The Vice deal of 5 dozen for $125 is half what Titleist balls cost.
Obvious answer is booze. Other biggest thing is to slow yourself down. On everything. Most people want to get the feeling of pressure over with as quickly as possible, so they'll rush their pre-shot routine. Gotta learn how to enjoy, or at least tolerate, the feeling of pressure on the course (not easy to do).
I'd be willing to bet your swing/stroke gets too quick under pressure. I definitely catch myself getting way too quick with tempo on occasion, especially from the top on pressure tee shots, and can get quick/jabby with my putts as well.
I'd also guess you're gripping the club too tightly, and could benefit from loosening your grip. Many people do that, especially under pressure, and it doesn't allow you to release the hands properly on any shot/putt. Loosening my grip has been a huge help for my chips/pitches.
I definitely catch myself speeding up - both in pre-shot and mid-swing. One of my bad misses under pressure is what I call the panic swing from the top where I come over the top with the driver in this terrible spasm and hit a hooded hook... Ugh! The other miss is hitting my short irons fat - again, panicking at the top and dropping my head at impact...
This weekend it was mainly short game and putting - which is new for me - that is typically my strength. Could be grip strength - I'll give that some thought next time...
I felt it getting worse during the round - you hit one or two shots that you NEVER hit and you're thinking "what the hell is going on? I'm choking!" and then it snowballs... Good grief! I tell myself no one gives a shit about the senior club championship at your blankety-blank club, why are you tight? I'm too old for this crap!
A guy in my friends' group for the Senior Club Championship 8-putted #9 at Maple Chase on Saturday. :golfclap:
GIR. 10.
I definitely catch myself speeding up - both in pre-shot and mid-swing. One of my bad misses under pressure is what I call the panic swing from the top where I come over the top with the driver in this terrible spasm and hit a hooded hook... Ugh! The other miss is hitting my short irons fat - again, panicking at the top and dropping my head at impact...
This weekend it was mainly short game and putting - which is new for me - that is typically my strength. Could be grip strength - I'll give that some thought next time...
I felt it getting worse during the round - you hit one or two shots that you NEVER hit and you're thinking "what the hell is going on? I'm choking!" and then it snowballs... Good grief! I tell myself no one gives a shit about the senior club championship at your blankety-blank club, why are you tight? I'm too old for this crap!
That had to be the front pin.
I recently got the Rukket one - https://rukket.com/collections/golf...ck-golf-net-by-sec-coach-chris-haack-10-x-7ft for Covid times.
Very happy with it, seems like a good compromise - not the cheapest, not the most expensive, easy to set up, seems like good overall quality.
Considering trying to build/buy a nice looking turf putting & chipping area for the backyard at the new house. It's a large yard, and thinking could put it one of the back corners. Anyone had any experience with this? I'm not sure I'm handy/knowledgeable enough to do this myself, and assume getting one professionally done would be $$$.