The Mental Game

[Slug]

so heres how it is folks....ive got this one hole, the 16th, par 5 road down the left.
it gets in my head every single time i step up to that tee box.....dont hit left, dont hit left.
i havent scored on this hole for i dont know how long, and its ruined many solid rounds that i had going.

my natural driver shape is a nice fade, but no matter how well im hitting driver that day, i end up hooking onto the road, or slicing so far right, i end up on the far side of the next fairway.

its killing my game.
basically, my question is, do people have any particular holes that really get in their heads, and if so, how do you/have you get around this.

thanks!

[AndyP]

I recognise that it is a trouble hole, and find a different way to play it. Maybe go conservative off the tee, and accept bogey as a good result for confidence.

[PeteyD]

Yes don't hit driver

[mrbluu]

Buy a new putter....

Like the lads said, play it differently and/or get out on that hole in a practice round and double check your alignment.

[razaar]

Google strategies for dealing with anxieties in golf. When we focus on results and goals in performing any action, it tends to lead to a build up of tension in the body which impacts on performance. The key is being able to forget the goal of a good score and focus on the process of making your best shot every time you step up to the ball. Get your mind fully involved in the shot with no thought of the result.
Easy to say but hard to do when anxiety rears its head. Breathing helps as does challenging your thinking why a simple par-5 scares you.

[Dotty]

Keep playing the hole the same way, as your handicap already takes this into account.

If you suddenly started playing it better, then you would be accused of being a sandbagger.

[Courty]

Par 5s often take 3 shots to reach, and driver is rarely necessary. 3 x 160-170m will get you to most. Try a different club that you know you can keep in play.

[timah!]

Maybe start with a positive 'let's but this down the right' thought rather than a negative 'don't go left' thought?

[Daves]

Par 5s often take 3 shots to reach, and driver is rarely necessary. 3 x 160-170m will get you to most. Try a different club that you know you can keep in play.

^This

[Slug]

Par 5s often take 3 shots to reach, and driver is rarely necessary. 3 x 160-170m will get you to most. Try a different club that you know you can keep in play.

thanks for all the suggestions, this one here i particularly like. a smarter person (clearly not me) would of already considered that.
gonna try that out next round.
thanks again!

[Lagerlover]

Google strategies for dealing with anxieties in golf. When we focus on results and goals in performing any action, it tends to lead to a build up of tension in the body which impacts on performance. The key is being able to forget the goal of a good score and focus on the process of making your best shot every time you step up to the ball. Get your mind fully involved in the shot with no thought of the result.
Easy to say but hard to do when anxiety rears its head. Breathing helps as does challenging your thinking why a simple par-5 scares you.

+1

[dee cee]

But how many of us can hit 160-170 straight... 3 times. Depends on your game. Go to the tee through the week and hit 20 drives with old balls. You'll probably lose minimal if any. Then you know next time you can do it. Go through your routine, visualize those good shots, pull the trigger....

[Scifisicko]

Maybe start with a positive 'let's but this down the right' thought rather than a negative 'don't go left' thought?

+1

These guys take the credit for causing Robbie to hit it in the water. They probably did.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/...615126076.html

[LeftyHoges]

But how many of us can hit 160-170 straight... 3 times. Depends on your game. Go to the tee through the week and hit 20 drives with old balls. You'll probably lose minimal if any. Then you know next time you can do it. Go through your routine, visualize those good shots, pull the trigger....

But you don't have to hit them "straight". For a regular 18 capper, a 5 iron probably goes about 160. You have 30 metres of room to land that 5 iron twice, then maybe a 15m target at the end. That covers your majority of 460-480m par 5's.

We just can't bring ourselves to do it because "Par 5's need the BIG DOG!"

[oldracer]

I get looks now when I pull out the hybrid or 2i, howdya go pullin out a 6i on the tee for a par 5???? guess when you say "whatever par is" when asked your score at the other end is all that matters

[Yossarian]

The issue is I'd rather pull hook my driver (in most cases) than pull hook my 5 iron. I am as likely to do it with one clubs as another.

[Lagerlover]

Oops, sorry.

Thought this was the Gary Lyons thread.

[benno_r]

The issue is I'd rather pull hook my driver (in most cases) than pull hook my 5 iron. I am as likely to do it with one clubs as another.

Yep, better to be chipping sideways back on to the fairway 200m down, not 130m down.

[Courty]

But how many of us can hit 160-170 straight... 3 times. Depends on your game. Go to the tee through the week and hit 20 drives with old balls. You'll probably lose minimal if any. Then you know next time you can do it. Go through your routine, visualize those good shots, pull the trigger....

I wasn't suggesting that anyone actually plays par 5s this way, it was an illustration that there are more ways than one to get there in 3 (besides the usual driver, long iron, wedge).

[Hatchman]

But how many of us can hit 160-170 straight... 3 times. Depends on your game. Go to the tee through the week and hit 20 drives with old balls. You'll probably lose minimal if any. Then you know next time you can do it. Go through your routine, visualize those good shots, pull the trigger....

But you don't have to hit them "straight". For a regular 18 capper, a 5 iron probably goes about 160. You have 30 metres of room to land that 5 iron twice, then maybe a 15m target at the end. That covers your majority of 460-480m par 5's.

We just can't bring ourselves to do it because "Par 5's need the BIG DOG!"

Substitute straight for in play, it's still a very valid point. I wouldn't back myself as a high possibility to keep it in play for 2 shots and hit the target on the third even if I did.

The issue is I'd rather pull hook my driver (in most cases) than pull hook my 5 iron. I am as likely to do it with one clubs as another.

This.

Yep, better to be chipping sideways back on to the fairway 200m down, not 130m down.

Yes, this.

I like the heaps of practice balls method. Build up the confidence and just play it like any other hole.

[LeftyHoges]

Substitute straight for in play, it's still a very valid point. I wouldn't back myself as a high possibility to keep it in play for 2 shots and hit the target on the third even if I did.

Really? You're a single figure marker and you wouldn't back yourself to hit 5 iron, 5 iron then probably a 6 or 7 iron into the green?

[3oneday]

Thats a short par 5 for some of us, under 400!!!

[Jazz18]

Sometimes being more aggressive can pay off. You have to be able to forget about the results though otherwise the mental challenge increases. When I became more aggressive off the tee on one of my trouble holes my scores on that hole improved because on average, it makes the second shot significantly easier.

[Hatchman]

Really? You're a single figure marker and you wouldn't back yourself to hit 5 iron, 5 iron then probably a 6 or 7 iron into the green?

Yep, I don't do safe well on the golf course. I seem to find ways to c@ck it up 99 times out of 100 and then it does my head in big time.

[solarman]

Haysey plays par 5's awesome. 8I, 8I, driver off the deck, wedge, putt.