Getting below 79–I may need a brain transplant

Question:

I seem to have run into a bit of an interesting problem. The last three times I’ve broken 80 have been 79s. That’s fine, so far as it goes, but I’m getting the sense that I’m playing *down* to my expectations of myself as a player, rather than up to what my potential is. Today, I was 2-over on the front (a 39), and started the back par-par. Then, standing on the 12th tee (a long par 3 uphill about 186 yards), I suddenly realized: I was on a pretty good streak, 1-under for the last 6 holes. So I promptly hit the worst shot of the day into the practice range to the right of the fairway. I managed to get away w/ just a bogey, but I was not happy w/ the way I talked myself into that tee shot. In fact, I’d mentioned to one of my playing partners that I was unhappy (this before I teed off) because I’d suddenly realized I was on a streak. I recovered w/ 2 pars on the next two holes, one a great two putt from way above the hole (weird shot put me there, nothing I was upset by, I just got a bad kick), one a tap-in par after just missing the birdie. But then I just kind of crapped out a bit. Doubled the next hole (was in the trap, didn’t get out well), then after missing a 15-foot birdie putt 4-feet short on the next hole, I simply tried to backhand it in. Missed it, of course, for a bogey. Then on the next hole I put my tee shot under an arbor vitae tree, had to chip out, got the bogey, but you can see it slipping away. I finally bogeyed the 18th too, for the 79. It’s as if I reach a place on the back nine where I can say to myself: "Well, I should be able to coast in and still break 80." And I do. Barely. But this was a round where I should have been threatening 75. I played well. Putting wasn’t great–I missed 6 or 7 makeable birdie putts, only put one in–but the ballstriking and course management was just fine. So I’m trying to figure out what is going on here. I think part of it is that I always equated a "good" round with breaking 80. Maybe I just need to refocus, to think of myself not as someone who occasionally breaks 80, but rather someone who gets into the middle 70s regularly. I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Mike — Mike Dalecki I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean! GCA Accredited Clubmaker. Web Site: http://www.dalecki.net/clubdoctor/ RSG-Wisconsin 2002 Report/Pics: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2002/part1.html RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim

Response:

<< I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Mike It does sound as if you’ve made 79 your Holy Grail of scoring. I really think it does no good to think about your total score while you’re out on the course. Play each shot one at a time, to the best of your ability, and the good scores will naturally follow. Best, Ken Meltzer

Response:

I’ve heard the big boys ( 2 or less handicappers) always have a plan. Get it in play, get it on the green, get it in the hole. ( I like thinking only one or both: Get it in the hole or I need to birdie this hole) Everyone has a scoring comfort zone! Kinda like you can’t get there until you’ve been there. ( Lots of 35’s/45’s) ( I’ve had 31-42) What do you think you would shoot if you hit all 18 greens? Try to make hitting greens a goal. Some can hit 13 or 14 and shoot par, others hit 17 and are 2-3 over but could have shot several under if they made 6 foot putts. ( most people think if they putted for 18 birdies they would shoot 60. Not so! Never gamble unless you are playing match play, get it back in play. Amazing how often you make par after chipping out of the rough. You, if you care about total medal score, won’t play good match play and visa versa. Soon you will be able to say, I shot 79 but missed 5 putts inside of 5 feet once switched ball brands, made 7 birdies that day and for several months used the new brand and constantly called it "The Birdie Ball". Worked for several months.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I seem to have run into a bit of an interesting problem. The last three times I’ve broken 80 have been 79s. That’s fine, so far as it goes, but I’m getting the sense that I’m playing *down* to my expectations of myself as a player, rather than up to what my potential is. Today, I was 2-over on the front (a 39), and started the back par-par. Then, standing on the 12th tee (a long par 3 uphill about 186 yards), I suddenly realized: I was on a pretty good streak, 1-under for the last 6 holes. So I promptly hit the worst shot of the day into the practice range to the right of the fairway. I managed to get away w/ just a bogey, but I was not happy w/ the way I talked myself into that tee shot. In fact, I’d mentioned to one of my playing partners that I was unhappy (this before I teed off) because I’d suddenly realized I was on a streak. I recovered w/ 2 pars on the next two holes, one a great two putt from way above the hole (weird shot put me there, nothing I was upset by, I just got a bad kick), one a tap-in par after just missing the birdie. But then I just kind of crapped out a bit. Doubled the next hole (was in the trap, didn’t get out well), then after missing a 15-foot birdie putt 4-feet short on the next hole, I simply tried to backhand it in. Missed it, of course, for a bogey. Then on the next hole I put my tee shot under an arbor vitae tree, had to chip out, got the bogey, but you can see it slipping away. I finally bogeyed the 18th too, for the 79. It’s as if I reach a place on the back nine where I can say to myself: "Well, I should be able to coast in and still break 80." And I do. Barely. But this was a round where I should have been threatening 75. I played well. Putting wasn’t great–I missed 6 or 7 makeable birdie putts, only put one in–but the ballstriking and course management was just fine. So I’m trying to figure out what is going on here. I think part of it is that I always equated a "good" round with breaking 80. Maybe I just need to refocus, to think of myself not as someone who occasionally breaks 80, but rather someone who gets into the middle 70s regularly. I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Mike — Mike Dalecki I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean! GCA Accredited Clubmaker. Web Site: http://www.dalecki.net/clubdoctor/ RSG-Wisconsin 2002 Report/Pics: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2002/part1.html RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim

Response:

Don’t think about your score. I know from personal experience that this is easier said than done, but on the rare occasion that I have done it, it worked.

Response:

Absolute rule no. 1. is don’t add your score up until you’re in the 19th hole. Just take one shot at a time and one hole at a time. Write your number down for each hole and then fuhgetaboutit! It may take some practice to do this(it’s harder than you think) but do it you must… me

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I seem to have run into a bit of an interesting problem. The last three times I’ve broken 80 have been 79s. That’s fine, so far as it goes, but I’m getting the sense that I’m playing *down* to my expectations of myself as a player, rather than up to what my potential is. Today, I was 2-over on the front (a 39), and started the back par-par. Then, standing on the 12th tee (a long par 3 uphill about 186 yards), I suddenly realized: I was on a pretty good streak, 1-under for the last 6 holes. So I promptly hit the worst shot of the day into the practice range to the right of the fairway. I managed to get away w/ just a bogey, but I was not happy w/ the way I talked myself into that tee shot. In fact, I’d mentioned to one of my playing partners that I was unhappy (this before I teed off) because I’d suddenly realized I was on a streak. I recovered w/ 2 pars on the next two holes, one a great two putt from way above the hole (weird shot put me there, nothing I was upset by, I just got a bad kick), one a tap-in par after just missing the birdie. But then I just kind of crapped out a bit. Doubled the next hole (was in the trap, didn’t get out well), then after missing a 15-foot birdie putt 4-feet short on the next hole, I simply tried to backhand it in. Missed it, of course, for a bogey. Then on the next hole I put my tee shot under an arbor vitae tree, had to chip out, got the bogey, but you can see it slipping away. I finally bogeyed the 18th too, for the 79. It’s as if I reach a place on the back nine where I can say to myself: "Well, I should be able to coast in and still break 80." And I do. Barely. But this was a round where I should have been threatening 75. I played well. Putting wasn’t great–I missed 6 or 7 makeable birdie putts, only put one in–but the ballstriking and course management was just fine. So I’m trying to figure out what is going on here. I think part of it is that I always equated a "good" round with breaking 80. Maybe I just need to refocus, to think of myself not as someone who occasionally breaks 80, but rather someone who gets into the middle 70s regularly. I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Mike —

Mike A few years ago I was in a club event–low gross / low net. I’m in the last group out and our club head pro decides to round out our group, as we were a threesome. On the front nine I had 6 birdies. ( I also had a double bogey) and I turned with a 32. I was showing off! So what did I do? Shot a 40 on the back. Sure, even par and low gross money, I shot even 72, but it really should have been a special round. My clubs got heavy. I was still about 4 under through # 12. So do the math. I shot 4 over for the next 6 holes. Brad

Response:

I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Absolute rule no. 1. is don’t add your score up until you’re in the 19th hole. Just take one shot at a time and one hole at a time. Write your number down for each hole and then fuhgetaboutit! It may take some practice to do this(it’s harder than you think) but do it you must… me

I never write my scores down until the end, but over time I’ve found it tough not to know where I am score-wise. I’m not fidgeting trying to know what the score is, but rather, it’s just simply there. I know that not knowing the score is perhaps the best way to take it one shot at a time, but for whatever reason, it’s just there. Too easy, I suppose, to count how many over (or under!) I am at any time. And these aren’t chokes (though it might look like it, they’re not). Instead, it’s a sort of laziness or some such on my part. Lack of focus, I’m not quite sure exactly what it is. My game isn’t falling apart when this happpens. Even at the end, I hit some very nice shots, though there were a few stinkers in there through the day–I hit only about 5 bad shots all day. On the 17th, I had to chip out from under an arbor-vitae tree. Got the ball back into the fairway, 123 from the flag. Struck a very nice PW, expected the wind to move it over, it didn’t, but I hit it dead perfect as I wanted to. On the 18th, got a bit unlucky w/ my drive, in the right rough, had room I thought to negotiate a tree, but just ticked the top branch and ended up 85 out. Hit a nice sand wedge to about 15 feet (this time, the wind DID move the ball. Go figure). Also a very nice swing/nice shot. So it’s not nerves or choking. I’ve broken 80 a bunch of times, so it’s no longer any big deal. But that seems to be all the goal I have, psychologically. I know what you’re saying is essentially play them one shot at a time, and maybe I just need to be more aggressively focused on what I’m doing. But I’m sure leaving a lot of strokes out there, and I need to find, I don’t know, maybe some mental toughness or something to force greater focus. I’ve learned to do that pretty much in match play. Maybe there’s a hint in that. Mike — Mike Dalecki I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean! GCA Accredited Clubmaker. Web Site: http://www.dalecki.net/clubdoctor/ RSG-Wisconsin 2002 Report/Pics: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2002/part1.html RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim

Response:

Play some different courses on a regular basis if you can, Mike. Playing the same track over and over will dull your course management skills, and mentally you can get in a rut. Brad S.

Response:

I know that not knowing the score is perhaps the best way to take it one shot at a time, but for whatever reason, it’s just there. Too easy, I suppose, to count how many over (or under!) I am at any time.

I never said it’d be easy.. I’ve learned to do that pretty much in match play. Maybe there’s a hint in that.

There’s a BIG hint in there. :-) What’s the one thing you’re not thinking about in match play? Ask any single digit handicapper what his swing thoughts are and you’ll find they almost always never have more than 1 swing thought (and several of them won’t have any at all). There’s only room enough in the human brain for 1 thought when you’re swinging your club. If you’re thinking "gee I only need X number of strokes to break 80" then there’s no room for "hit the dam ball to the left side of the green". me

Response:

with his/her presence, and uttered…..: <snip Mike, remember, golf’s an easy game in theory. Hit the fairway, hit the green, two putt, par! As soon as you start playing, and start thinking is when it goes pear shape! How about doubling the 18th next time for an 80 Sorry, not much help, but as long as it gets a grin. — Mad’Doug Trentham Camp GC, New Zealand RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=stokesd Please remove the apostrophe (‘) to email me

Response:

The only thing I can suggest is throwing caution to the wind to an extent. Don’t tighten up and get cautious, protecting your sub-80 round. Psychologically, that can lead to "controlling" and "steering". On your drives, aim at a cloud and just let it fly, like Nicklaus. In fact, just let everything fly. Get free and aggressive. Not by taking unnecessary risks, but when you pick your shot, go at it.

Response:

Don’t think about your score. I know from personal experience that this is easier said than done, but on the rare occasion that I have done it, it worked.

Have to agree. Just a couple of days before I was injured the best score I had was level par – 72. My opponent shot a 73, and neither of us had any idea of what we were scoring until we tallied up the card after #18. We knew we were scoring well, since it was a very tight match, but as to actual numbers – no idea. I think when you are in a tiht match, then the course and the opponent become primary, and the numbers are secondary. — David RSG Roll Call http://rec-sport-golf.com/members?rollcall=sneddond email: dsneddon AT cogeco DOT ca

Response:

snipaphilia…. I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course?

Not that we don’t all know this, but stating the obvious can be rewarding at times. When you play to shopot a score, you will suck. This is THE spiritual rule of golf. Go out and play each shot as best you can; keep track or not of the score, but play each shot independently and don’t worry about its efffect on your score, and you will play the best you can and shoot the best score you can, regardless of run on sentances like this. Rob — Service is the rent we pay for being RSG Masters 2002 ( http://home.att.net/~janellenrob/RSG-MS_02.html ) RSG Masters 2003 ( http://home.att.net/~janellenrob/RSG-MS-03P.html )

Response:

I’ve learned to do that pretty much in match play. Maybe there’s a hint in that. There’s a BIG hint in there. :-) What’s the one thing you’re not thinking about in match play?

Yeah, but there’s a fundamental difference between match and stroke – in match, blowup holes or "X’s" don’t count the same. This isn’t just psychological – it’s a significant difference. And I assure you – you *do* think about your score in match play – for the current hole.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve heard the big boys ( 2 or less handicappers) always have a plan. Get it in play, get it on the green, get it in the hole. ( I like thinking only one or both: Get it in the hole or I need to birdie this hole) Everyone has a scoring comfort zone! Kinda like you can’t get there until you’ve been there. ( Lots of 35’s/45’s) ( I’ve had 31-42) What do you think you would shoot if you hit all 18 greens? Try to make hitting greens a goal. Some can hit 13 or 14 and shoot par, others hit 17 and are 2-3 over but could have shot several under if they made 6 foot putts. ( most people think if they putted for 18 birdies they would shoot 60. Not so! Never gamble unless you are playing match play, get it back in play. Amazing how often you make par after chipping out of the rough. You, if you care about total medal score, won’t play good match play and visa versa. Soon you will be able to say, I shot 79 but missed 5 putts inside of 5 feet I once switched ball brands, made 7 birdies that day and for several months used the new brand and constantly called it "The Birdie Ball". Worked for several months. I seem to have run into a bit of an interesting problem. The last three times I’ve broken 80 have been 79s. That’s fine, so far as it goes, but I’m getting the sense that I’m playing *down* to my expectations of myself as a player, rather than up to what my potential is. Today, I was 2-over on the front (a 39), and started the back par-par. Then, standing on the 12th tee (a long par 3 uphill about 186 yards), I suddenly realized: I was on a pretty good streak, 1-under for the last 6 holes. So I promptly hit the worst shot of the day into the practice range to the right of the fairway. I managed to get away w/ just a bogey, but I was not happy w/ the way I talked myself into that tee shot. In fact, I’d mentioned to one of my playing partners that I was unhappy (this before I teed off) because I’d suddenly realized I was on a streak. I recovered w/ 2 pars on the next two holes, one a great two putt from way above the hole (weird shot put me there, nothing I was upset by, I just got a bad kick), one a tap-in par after just missing the birdie. But then I just kind of crapped out a bit. Doubled the next hole (was in the trap, didn’t get out well), then after missing a 15-foot birdie putt 4-feet short on the next hole, I simply tried to backhand it in. Missed it, of course, for a bogey. Then on the next hole I put my tee shot under an arbor vitae tree, had to chip out, got the bogey, but you can see it slipping away. I finally bogeyed the 18th too, for the 79. It’s as if I reach a place on the back nine where I can say to myself: "Well, I should be able to coast in and still break 80." And I do. Barely. But this was a round where I should have been threatening 75. I played well. Putting wasn’t great–I missed 6 or 7 makeable birdie putts, only put one in–but the ballstriking and course management was just fine. So I’m trying to figure out what is going on here. I think part of it is that I always equated a "good" round with breaking 80. Maybe I just need to refocus, to think of myself not as someone who occasionally breaks 80, but rather someone who gets into the middle 70s regularly. I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Mike — Mike Dalecki I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean! GCA Accredited Clubmaker. Web Site: http://www.dalecki.net/clubdoctor/ RSG-Wisconsin 2002 Report/Pics: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2002/part1.html RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim

Response:

Well, when you find the answer let me know! We’ve both read Rotella and how he says the only focus should be on the shot at hand, but it’s so hard to put other things out of your mind. And the more prior negative experience comes to play, the more your mindset will be against you. I was par with the course once last year coming down the last and scored a quadruple-bogey eight. I keep telling myself it was just one slightly pushed right into a virtually plugged lie in a bunker right where the grass overlaps. But in a sense it (wrongly) told me psychologically that my even-par expectations were maybe too ambitious. Now I can’t get it into my head that shhoting par is a realistic possibility. A fortnight ago I was four-over with four to play, and bogeyed the last four holes (surprisingly I still won the tournament with a 78). Then in the Tuesday Stableford at Country Week in Melbourne, I had my only "out" on the last hole to lose by one solitary point. So if you’re set for a your "best-ever" round with a few to play, what should be your mindset? If you think "go for it" to really break your personal record, your course management may well go out the window, and you’re dead. If you think "maintain the line … I just need to relax", you’ll probably lose positive tension, and you’re also dead. And the worst thing you can probably do is think "I’ve got x shots to play with to break 80". The reality may well materialise, as you found out. So maybe the answer is to "go for it", since it might well be the best horn of the dilemma. And how much can you "ignore the card"? For me it’s impossible. No matter how much I try I can’t ignore my *score* … you know when you are scoring well, and it just sits in your mind like a heavy pudding in your stomach. It’s like trying to ignore a car accident on the other side of the freeway … you just can’t drive on without looking, no matter what the advice and the danger. THe flashing lights just attract you to it. So my answer about what to do when you realise you’re in a good position would be "don’t ignore it, accept it". Trying to focus less on the score means sub-consciously focusing on it *more*. I really don’t know the general answer to your (and my) problem other than Rotella’s "one-shot-at-a-time" focus. That means reverting to basics, like ensuring some things are done right … pre-shot routine, alignment, posture, grip not tense etc. … and some relaxation techniques like breathing easily before each shot. Then trust that it will work. It might seem silly, but the bright spot for me occasionally is a round like I had yesterday. I played the first nine in a dismal 10-over, and the next nine I had a par 35 (two birdies, one double). I played the mental game of trying to "get back". There was no "real pressure" because the round was gone anyway. If I could just convince myself that I needed to "get back" every time I come down the last few holes, I might be a more successful finisher. One handy hint that I saw recently might be to break down your scores into groups of three holes. Spread your handicap strokes across three holes rather than 18, and try to play to it. Every three holes, start a completely new "mini-round". So if your handicap is 12, your aim for each three holes is par-bogey-bogey, in any order. That might take your focus away from your overall score, and lead to less anxiety about expectations towards the end. BTW, I believe I started scoring better when I broke through with the idea that I could (judiciously) go for birdies rather than trying to just accept par as a realistic *goal*. I’m usually not successful, but the worst you can do is just miss the shot! Maybe being a "yellow light" player has something going for it, rather than the safety of only being "green light" all the time. That’s all about expectations too. — Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=wilsonc Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com

Response:

Clearly you can score par or better on every hole so forget your handicap and play the course off level. Usually you will be down and fighting to stop going further down, giving you a different psychological perspective of your performance. Alan

Response:

<< So if you’re set for a your "best-ever" round with a few to play, what should be your mindset? Probably the same mindset that got you there in the first place! I’ll bet it was much more relaxed then one adopted to try to protect a best-ever score in the final few holes. Ken Meltzer

Response:

And. The bigger the bet the more likely you are to play better/grind or give it up!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve heard the big boys ( 2 or less handicappers) always have a plan. Get it in play, get it on the green, get it in the hole. ( I like thinking only one or both: Get it in the hole or I need to birdie this hole) Everyone has a scoring comfort zone! Kinda like you can’t get there until you’ve been there. ( Lots of 35’s/45’s) ( I’ve had 31-42) What do you think you would shoot if you hit all 18 greens? Try to make hitting greens a goal. Some can hit 13 or 14 and shoot par, others hit 17 and are 2-3 over but could have shot several under if they made 6 foot putts. ( most people think if they putted for 18 birdies they would shoot 60. Not so! Never gamble unless you are playing match play, get it back in play. Amazing how often you make par after chipping out of the rough. You, if you care about total medal score, won’t play good match play and visa versa. Soon you will be able to say, I shot 79 but missed 5 putts inside of 5 feet barriers. I once switched ball brands, made 7 birdies that day and for several months used the new brand and constantly called it "The Birdie Ball". Worked for several months. I seem to have run into a bit of an interesting problem. The last three times I’ve broken 80 have been 79s. That’s fine, so far as it goes, but I’m getting the sense that I’m playing *down* to my expectations of myself as a player, rather than up to what my potential is. Today, I was 2-over on the front (a 39), and started the back par-par. Then, standing on the 12th tee (a long par 3 uphill about 186 yards), I suddenly realized: I was on a pretty good streak, 1-under for the last 6 holes. So I promptly hit the worst shot of the day into the practice range to the right of the fairway. I managed to get away w/ just a bogey, but I was not happy w/ the way I talked myself into that tee shot. In fact, I’d mentioned to one of my playing partners that I was unhappy (this before I teed off) because I’d suddenly realized I was on a streak. I recovered w/ 2 pars on the next two holes, one a great two putt from way above the hole (weird shot put me there, nothing I was upset by, I just got a bad kick), one a tap-in par after just missing the birdie. But then I just kind of crapped out a bit. Doubled the next hole (was in the trap, didn’t get out well), then after missing a 15-foot birdie putt 4-feet short on the next hole, I simply tried to backhand it in. Missed it, of course, for a bogey. Then on the next hole I put my tee shot under an arbor vitae tree, had to chip out, got the bogey, but you can see it slipping away. I finally bogeyed the 18th too, for the 79. It’s as if I reach a place on the back nine where I can say to myself: "Well, I should be able to coast in and still break 80." And I do. Barely. But this was a round where I should have been threatening 75. I played well. Putting wasn’t great–I missed 6 or 7 makeable birdie putts, only put one in–but the ballstriking and course management was just fine. So I’m trying to figure out what is going on here. I think part of it is that I always equated a "good" round with breaking 80. Maybe I just need to refocus, to think of myself not as someone who occasionally breaks 80, but rather someone who gets into the middle 70s regularly. I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Mike — Mike Dalecki I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean! GCA Accredited Clubmaker. Web Site:

http://www.dalecki.net/clubdoctor/ RSG-Wisconsin 2002 Report/Pics:

http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2002/part1.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim

Response:

The one time I shot a subpar 9 holes, a 35, I had no idea. I knew I was in the 30’s but had no clue how low until the end. Had I known, it would have affected me. As for swing thoughts, mentioned in your other post, when you are striking the ball well….sure, it’s easy to have no swing thoughts. Everything flows….the sun is shining. But…..even scratch players I presume wake up with a bad swing or tendencies, and sometimes on-course review of fundamentals is absolutely critical, in order to save the round. We see pros do it all the time….reviewing their backswing and downswing move, especially after a bad shot. Mike and I have 12 handicaps. I assume he struggles with having a good, repeatable golf swing as I do. Whereas scratch players pretty much have the same swing, day in and day out. Swing thoughts reminders like "less is more"…..and "stick your butt out" and "get loosy with my arms" are critical in maintaining a good swing. -Greg

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I don’t know about that — different strokes for different folks. I’d never shot even par for nine holes until last month, and then again last Saturday. The mathematical side of my brain won’t let me ignore my score — I always know where I am in relation to par (or bogey), whether I like it or not. The only way to get away from it is to be playing *so* fast (like, a 2.5 hour round), that I don’t have time to think about *anything* except playing the next shot and getting to the ball as quickly as I can. Both times I shot 36, I knew what was going on. I only had one bogey and one birdie the first time, and I finished par-par-birdie-par to get the 36. The second time, I had to finish birdie-birdie, and did so. It might be just because I play a lot of match play and tournament play, but knowing that I’m closing in on some sort of personal best has never really shaken me in the past. But I can certainly see how ignoring score and focusing on the shot at hand would be a good thing — if not writing down or keeping track of your score gets you to that point, then by all means, do it. Doug — ___, Doug Massey, ASIC Digital Logic Designer o IBM Microelectronics Division, Burlington, Vermont | | Phone: (802)769-7095 t/l: 446-7095 fax: x6752 | / | . My homepage: http://doug.obscurestuff.com (|)

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If this guy is zoning in on a 75, it’s not exactly hard to figure out what your score is at any moment. He just counting birdies and pars, not 7’s and 8’s. E, -1, +1, E, -1, +1, +2. etc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Absolute rule no. 1. is don’t add your score up until you’re in the 19th hole. Just take one shot at a time and one hole at a time. Write your number down for each hole and then fuhgetaboutit! It may take some practice to do this(it’s harder than you think) but do it you must…

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So it’s not nerves or choking. I’ve broken 80 a bunch of times, so it’s no longer any big deal. But that seems to be all the goal I have, psychologically.

The backhand putt is unexcusable and you know that So that would have been your 78 right there. Make three of six birdie putts instead of just one and you’re at 75 Ulrich

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Don’t think about your score. I know from personal experience that this is easier said than done, but on the rare occasion that I have done it, it worked.

Laura Diaz gave the advice to think about the score for each hole, not birdy/par/bogey. I.E. plan out the number you want to get on each hole and how you plan to get it, then at each hole recall your plan for it. — Digital forums are a gift to the slow witted

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Fellow golfers I have played golf for more than 40 years and most times I shoot between 70 to 80. Hey, dont try and kid yourselves anyone with half a brain knows how they are playing and around what they are going to score at the end of the round. What does it matter if you score 65 or even 95 as long as each time you play a shot you give 100%. Somedays you play well and some days you dont. If you practise to improve your game you will improve. If you give 100% and you are scoring in the 80’s well its simple you need some professional and practise to get better. In life you will only get out of it what you put in. Think of the shot you what to play and give it your best. If you shoot 73 its ok if you shoot 100 its also Ok because you know you have given your best. No excusses for your score just be happy that God has given the opportunity to play. I have never thought what if, or if I had not missed that short putt. My thoughts at the end of the round is what did I do well and what do I need to do to improve my game. By the way I love to practise. Regards to all – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And. The bigger the bet the more likely you are to play better/grind or give it up! I’ve heard the big boys ( 2 or less handicappers) always have a plan. Get it in play, get it on the green, get it in the hole. ( I like thinking only one or both: Get it in the hole or I need to birdie this hole) Everyone has a scoring comfort zone! Kinda like you can’t get there until you’ve been there. ( Lots of 35’s/45’s) ( I’ve had 31-42) What do you think you would shoot if you hit all 18 greens? Try to make hitting greens a goal. Some can hit 13 or 14 and shoot par, others hit 17 and are 2-3 over but could have shot several under if they made 6 foot putts. ( most people think if they putted for 18 birdies they would shoot 60. Not so! Never gamble unless you are playing match play, get it back in play. Amazing how often you make par after chipping out of the rough. You, if you care about total medal score, won’t play good match play and visa versa. Soon you will be able to say, I shot 79 but missed 5 putts inside of 5 feet barriers. I once switched ball brands, made 7 birdies that day and for several months used the new brand and constantly called it "The Birdie Ball". Worked for several months. I seem to have run into a bit of an interesting problem. The last three times I’ve broken 80 have been 79s. That’s fine, so far as it goes, but I’m getting the sense that I’m playing *down* to my expectations of myself as a player, rather than up to what my potential is. Today, I was 2-over on the front (a 39), and started the back par-par. Then, standing on the 12th tee (a long par 3 uphill about 186 yards), I suddenly realized: I was on a pretty good streak, 1-under for the last 6 holes. So I promptly hit the worst shot of the day into the practice range to the right of the fairway. I managed to get away w/ just a bogey, but I was not happy w/ the way I talked myself into that tee shot. In fact, I’d mentioned to one of my playing partners that I was unhappy (this before I teed off) because I’d suddenly realized I was on a streak. I recovered w/ 2 pars on the next two holes, one a great two putt from way above the hole (weird shot put me there, nothing I was upset by, I just got a bad kick), one a tap-in par after just missing the birdie. But then I just kind of crapped out a bit. Doubled the next hole (was in the trap, didn’t get out well), then after missing a 15-foot birdie putt 4-feet short on the next hole, I simply tried to backhand it in. Missed it, of course, for a bogey. Then on the next hole I put my tee shot under an arbor vitae tree, had to chip out, got the bogey, but you can see it slipping away. I finally bogeyed the 18th too, for the 79. It’s as if I reach a place on the back nine where I can say to myself: "Well, I should be able to coast in and still break 80." And I do. Barely. But this was a round where I should have been threatening 75. I played well. Putting wasn’t great–I missed 6 or 7 makeable birdie putts, only put one in–but the ballstriking and course management was just fine. So I’m trying to figure out what is going on here. I think part of it is that I always equated a "good" round with breaking 80. Maybe I just need to refocus, to think of myself not as someone who occasionally breaks 80, but rather someone who gets into the middle 70s regularly. I get the distinct feeling I’m playing down to my expectations of what kind of scores I can shoot, not up to them. Anyone have any suggestions about how I should be thinking about this kind of thing on the course? Mike — Mike Dalecki I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean! GCA Accredited Clubmaker. Web Site: http://www.dalecki.net/clubdoctor/ RSG-Wisconsin 2002 Report/Pics: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2002/part1.html RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim

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