Golf, The Mental Side

[Eag's]

Many of you may be aware that I have been, and still am in a form slump
I know it is not a physical aspect of my game because I have been hitting the ball very well in practise rounds or while on the range.

I am intrested in ways of improving the mental side of my game and I would welcome any thoughts or ideas you guys may have on this topic

[markTHEblake]

I revitalised my golf game in a big way once before by giving the missus the flick. worked for about 5 years then I found another one. Alimoney is too expensive so now i just break clubs. (only 12 more to go).

You just gotta get into a positive mindset. Its too hard to play golf if the mrs or the boss has been yelling at ya, or your mistress is holding out.

Everybody says to think positive, but thats just dumb. How can you do that when you 3 putted the last green and just put two balls in the water.

You gotta do positive things (that make positive thougts) ! and i learnt last year a very easy one.

It was our pennant final and i had a very wobbly start and was 2 down early. nobody knew that i had improved from there and before anyone realised i won 6 holes in a row and won the match.

As i was walking back towards the others someone said "well thats it he has lost"
and a woman said "no, he won, look at the way he is walking"

Obviiously I looked confident and that was something that i thought was significant.

Early this year in another pennant match i was getting thrashed and was playing crap. The head was down, shoulders slumped and dragging my feet, anyone that looked would have known how i was doing.

Then i remembered, so i put that thought in my mind and said to myself, buggar it, no matter how bad i am going I am going to look confident.

So head up shoulders back and walked with a spring in my step - and it worked. I won 3 holes in a row to sqaure the game.

Gary player always said he was playing the best golf of his life - no matter how bad he was playing. So thats sort of the same thing.

[3oneday]

What he said.... to some extent.

You must have the ability to relax and focus in the now. If the mistakes are mental, even easier because once you start thinking more about the mental side, you start to acknowledge, accept and know when you have made one.

Previously it would have been put down to a bad swing, but why did you make the bad swing in the first place ??

Could go on for hours, i'll see where this heads first

Pete

[Iain]

You've got to focus on the process of hitting the ball, (the setup, aim etc) not worry about the results, because lets face it, the face only has to be open a couple of degrees at impact to be on the next fairway, and thats not really something you can control easily or regularly....

I know people will be sick of it, but go and borrow/buy the Dr Bob Rotella books, even "Putting out of your mind" is relevant to the full game as the principles are similar.

If you want I have 2 of them that you can borrow?? I have Putting out of your mind and Golf is a game of confidence.

[cazandpaul]

Get 'Golf is not a Game of Perfect' by Bob Rotella.

Also whilst lurking on the 'dark side' the other day there is the start of a golf phsycology series - looks good so far.

[AndyP]

I'll third the recommendation of Dr. Bob, I think it has helped my game (let's ignore today's game shall we ), but more importantly I enjoy it more.

[Eag's]

Might have to have a look at these books by the sounds of it
I know I have to try something to get myself focused on the course

At the moment when I am over the ball, I almost forget how to take the club back. Just one brain fart after another

The thing that is so frustrating for me is, I used to be able to play this game with a much lower handicap (7) but that was a long time ago. I have to stop thinking like a 7 handicaper and learn to play to what I am on now.

Thanks for the responses so far

[Eag's]

I went out and bought myself 2 of Dr Bob's books the other day.
"Golf is not a game of perfect" & "Golf is a game of confidence"

I have already read half of the first one and I am really enjoying it
His ideas are so simple and make sense, can't wait to get out on the course and apply them in practise

Thanks for the recomendations from AndyP, Iain & Paul

[Onewood]

I went out and bought myself 2 of Dr Bob's books the other day.
"Golf is not a game of perfect" & "Golf is a game of confidence"

I have already read half of the first one and I am really enjoying it
His ideas are so simple and make sense, can't wait to get out on the course and apply them in practise

Thanks for the recomendations from AndyP, Iain & Paul

Where did you get them from Eags

[Eag's]

I went out and bought myself 2 of Dr Bob's books the other day.
"Golf is not a game of perfect" & "Golf is a game of confidence"

I have already read half of the first one and I am really enjoying it
His ideas are so simple and make sense, can't wait to get out on the course and apply them in practise

Thanks for the recomendations from AndyP, Iain & Paul

Where did you get them from Eags

From Dymocks Kev $24.95 each
Angus & Roberston have them as well, just give them a call first to see which ones they have in stock.

[AndyP]

Where did you get them from Eags

From Dymocks Kev $24.95 each
Angus & Roberston have them as well, just give them a call first to see which ones they have in stock.

There's a new one out. Didn't see that one around at all?

[Iain]

I went out and bought myself 2 of Dr Bob's books the other day.
"Golf is not a game of perfect" & "Golf is a game of confidence"

I have already read half of the first one and I am really enjoying it
His ideas are so simple and make sense, can't wait to get out on the course and apply them in practise

Thanks for the recomendations from AndyP, Iain & Paul

No Problems Eag's.

That was the thing I was amazed at when I read them, all his ideas make a lot of sense and are very simple......

[Jarro]

Hmmm, sounds interesting .... i might have to hunt down a couple of the good doctors books as well

[Keza_G]

Eags,

Best golfing investment you can make... Peter_rs gave me 2 double cd's of Dr Bob reading his books "Golf is not a game of perfect" and "Golf is a game of Confidence". So far I have only had the chance to listen to 1 cd of "Confidence"... really good. I have also read, "putting out of your mind".

Good luck with them, actually you wont need luck.... you've got Dr Bob confidence.

Cheers

Keza

[Fishman Dan]

Eag's - give this a try. Book a social game, and don't score.

Best way to go back to enjoying a game of golf. Often you overlook the 'enjoyment' factor when you're keeping score Helps you just get out there and play your natural game.

[BrisVegas]

Eag's - give this a try. Book a social game, and don't score.

What is this "social game" you speak of ??

[Jarro]

Eag's - give this a try. Book a social game, and don't score.

that's just plain stupid Fishfinger

[Iain]

Eag's - give this a try. Book a social game, and don't score.

that's just plain stupid Fishfinger

And you'd know what's stupid Posta, with all the stuff you come out with!!!!! :P :P

[AndyP]

Eag's - give this a try. Book a social game, and don't score.

that's just plain stupid Fishfinger

It's actually a Dr. Bob suggestion.
I don't think I could bring myself to do it though. I have to know my score.

[Jarro]

I don't think I could bring myself to do it though. I have to know my score.

me too

[Iain]

It depends how often you get out, if you can play regularly during the week, it's easy done, but a lot of people only play in comps and don't have the time to have a round where they don't want to know the score.

When I was playing at Logan 3 times a week, used to do it regularly, just couldn't be bothered to keep score......

[McMw]

okay...call me a cynic, idiot...whatever....

I just can't see how reading a book or two is gonna help me play better golf?!?!?

what's so great abt his book???? i

[AndyP]

okay...call me a cynic, idiot...whatever....

I just can't see how reading a book or two is gonna help me play better golf?!?!?

what's so great abt his book???? i

The books are intended to help your mental approach to the game, such as focusing on the target, pre-shot routine, trusting your swing, how you should be practicing for maximum benefit, etc.

Maybe you are better off reading one of them than being a cynic, idiot...whatever....

[Fishman Dan]

Eag's - give this a try. Book a social game, and don't score.

that's just plain stupid Fishfinger

It's actually a Dr. Bob suggestion.
I don't think I could bring myself to do it though. I have to know my score.

No, it's a Dr Fish suggestion

Had a great time at The Vintage after i stopped scoring, and played better on the back 9 - not that I was getting much worse.

When i have a social hit (usually with the missus), i end up playing for par's and bogey's without having to worry too much about having a bad hole to make up the score. Different frame of mind and allows you to have a lash.

[markTHEblake]

Eag's - give this a try. Book a social game, and don't score.

that's just plain stupid Fishfinger

It's actually a Dr. Bob suggestion.
I don't think I could bring myself to do it though. I have to know my score.

Its not a case of bringing myself not to do it, ie my first 9 yesterday was, -1,+1,0,+1,+1,0,+1,-1,0. How could somebody not keep count of 1's and -1's.

Its impossible not to know what I am shooting no matter how hard i try, unless i am having a clanger.