Confidence Impact on Your Game
 

Anyone else have major confidence issues on the course? I feel I am better that what my score reflects most of the time, but can't put it all together due to me losing confidence in my self. Sometimes it only takes 1 or 2 bad shots to really throw me off for the rest of the day. I can go from having a really good day to suddenly being a nightmare. Once I double bogey for the day, stick a fork in me.

Moved to the golf section of the forum.

You definitely aren't alone there.

Look into seeing a sports psych....its helped me with my confidence a ton on and of the golf course

I wouldn't call mine major, but I can have some issues with confidence out there. If I hit a few bad ones in a row it can throw me off and I never really get back in that rhythm on the course. I try to keep a positive attitude the whole time I'm out there, and I find that it helps a bit.

Sorry, clicked on the wrong section.

This a golf issue, confidence can breed good golf and the lack of confidence can stink up a round. The trick is to play one shot at a time and have a great short term memory

I am the same way. That's why I feel the biggest key for me to score well is the get off the tee. The obvious reason for this is its easiest to score well from in the fairway, but the flipside is, my confidence is through the roof when I am pounding the ball off the tee. When I am spraying the ball, even if the ball ends up in a good lie, I don't have the confidence that I will hit the green.

I completely agree Wake. For me, confidence is a 2-way street. When I'm feeling good I know I can shoot in the 70's. When I'm not feeling good, I'll be in the high 80's low 90's. It all starts for me with my tee shots. When I'm in the fairway I'm feeling very confident and the rest of my game feeds off it. I'll putt well, chip well, and hit solid irons. When I'm spraying the ball my confidence wavers and I start pressing in other aspects of my game.

I agree.. One shot at a time. The only time bad thoughts carry over for me is on the putting green.

Confidence is paramount in my game. When I smoke that first tee shot it sure helps. Or even if its making a long putt or sticking an iron shot in close whatever triggers it I know I need it.

Tons and tons of practice and repetition have destroyed any confidence issues I've had. I used to let a shot or two ruin my game but repetition through practice really helped me to realize that one bad shot shouldn't outweigh the 70+ good shots. Just stay positive man, last thing you want to do is ruin your round!

I find that my confidence usually holds me through about 2-3 consecutive bad holes... then it is just destroyed from there on. Although, I have had horrible rounds with no lack of confidence and then great rounds where a single hole or a few shots can really rattle me.

But then again, my reactions on the golf course are usually proportionally tied to how empty my stomach is. haha

Owen, you shouldn't let a double bogey get to you. They are simply going to happen. Heck I had three of them yesterday and still had a great round.

My confidence took a huge step up when I got my eyes checked and now can actually see whats going on. Another key for my confidence is to play with purpose, as in "see the shot, hit the shot", no dilly dallying.

A friend and I have taken to playing Match Play to build confidence. The reasoning is this, each hole is a battle and if you want to stay in it you have to have a short memory and get right back on the gas. I think it has really helped me step back and instead of thinking about the round, I think about the current hole. I get overwhelmed if I think about the whole round.

Confidence is huge in golf. That's why a (selective) short memory is important. I say selective because you certainly want to forget those bad shots quickly. But it's nice to stand over a shot knowing you hit a good one just like it 4 holes earlier.

I pretty much always feel good standing over anything less than a 7-iron and with most greenside shots, and have been hitting those really well. And my confidence with those doesn't really get shaken by a bad shot, because in my mind, there is no way I'll do that again.

Problem is, when you hit one OB off the tee or into a place where the only play is a chip-out, and feel like you're going to 3-putt every hole, solid iron/wedge play will only get you so far. And the tee and green is where I have no confidence lately. Fortunately, I have a new putter, and while I haven't played with it yet, I feel much better standing over putts while practicing with it (and yes, I know it's mostly operator error, but a new toy can do wonders on the psyche). And my last range session I feel like I found something with the driver. SO, now I just need to gain some confidence with these things and I think it will help fix my scores dramatically. But we shall see...

It impacts my game... primarily in the short game. If I hit two poor pitches in a row early in a round, it often starts to impact my confidence... which impacts my score.

some of u saying that after a couple bad hacks you lose confidence the rest of the round. Is that lack of confidence? or just being and staying ticked off, I know with me I always feel I can amke any shot or at least feel confident to try, however when a complete blow-up hole ruins my day is because I may get teed off and don't know how sometimes to put it behind me. Especially when I do relax, put it behind me, and then still screw up the next shot. Just kills me and the frustration can last for next several holes. But again, not a confidence thing, just more a bad state of mind. The old saying " have to have a clear head when tryong to golf"

It can be an issue with my putting. Sure, I hit my share of wayward shots but if I have driver or any wedge in my hands I "know" I will hit a good shot.

Standing over a 3 - 10 foot putt, not so much. And if I miss a short one I will probably miss a few more.

I am reading a couple of Bob Rotella's books to try to get past my phobia.

I think this is the best advice for any golfer... play one shot at a time and just forget about the bad ones when they happen.

Yea, it really is alot of that. After a few bad in a row not only am I really ticked, but I begin to tell myself "I'm not gonna hit this right."