Rubbing Off
 

Do you think playing with a certain level of player rubs off on you?
I've been playing a lot of golf with my roommate (who is new to the game) and it seems like I've been playing worse than usual. But on Tuesday, I played with a buddy of mine whose HC is 5 and I played one of my best rounds.
Is there a tactic to block the low levelness... (I think I just made up a word)

I'm thinking that there may be something to it. I've been playing solo a lot lately, and since I'm not any good, my golf game just seems to get worse! Haha!
Seriously though, I've shot some of my best rounds while playing with higher handicapped friends.

Just play your own game. Don't focus on what shots they are hitting or how they're scoring. I know it's harder than it sounds but it's what you have to do.

The thing is, I don't even think about their shots at all. But I obviously see their shots and subconsciously effect me. It's weird. I wouldn't say it's a mirror effect though.

not really. I shot a 40 on 9 holes which was my best 9 holes ever and the guys I was playing with were quite a bit worse than me

I mean it doesn't happen all of the shots but my scores are noticebly different.

There is. For a couple of years, I played with a couple of guys who were new to the game. Despite it not being a competition, I always like to be the best in a group. Still, I was shooting a few strokes worse per round. Now, they are much better, and I find the 'competition' to be much stronger, and I now have to shoot my average or even a little better to be the best in the group.

~Rock

I think there might be something to this because i have experienced to to some degree here and there to ????

I'm the exact opposite. I regularly play with better players and find that I shoot the best when some random joins me on the course and they are worse than I. I guess my confidence goes up or something. I'm not sure but I believe that makes me a horrible person.

It all goes out the window if I'm in a tournament setting, I play out of my head in tournaments. Its nice.

Yeah, I seem to find that, too. I always seem to play a little harder and stay more focused when I play with better players (for example, a friend who is a 5 HC) than when I'm with not-so-good players (i.e. 20 HCs). It seems I'm a little more carefree and a little more showy (if that's the word) around those guys

I agree, but on the other end of the spectrum. My fiancé's uncle is a scratch golfer and I feel like he elevates my game when I play with him..

I find that when I play with other players that know how to play well, I play well! I like to take my game serious and when I'm around serious players I do better. I try to keep to myself when the other players in my group are just out there whacking the ball and messing around, but sometimes I get caught up into it that and I just get LAZY. So I would say YA other players can rub off on your game.

I don't think another golfers game can hurt, but attitude definitely can. If he/she put on their grumpy pants that day and are throwing/kicking clubs, yelling at the ball...it can affect you. No one wants to play with THAT guy/gal.

have you tried any tactics to block the laziness?

It's all about comfort zone and mentality in my opinion. If I play with someone who is quite a bit better than me, I tend to focus more and play better usually. Nothing against a higher handicap (ME) and my buddies, but I play better when i'm paired up with someone that gives me a challenge.

I just realized that the title for this thread could sound like something else... sorry if I offended anyone.

Yes, there definitely is something to this. It gets easier to block out the bad players and their 'bad' shots rubbing off on you, the better you get. See Tiger / Rickie last weekend... Tiger was able to keep Rickie's 84 from messing him up. It works the other way, too. When the group is going good, you find the whole group feeds off of itself and can really play well. This seems to work like 'drafting' in cycling or racing. The other players just go with the flow, especially on Thurs / Fri, all the players in the group seem to be rooting for the others to do well on those days. When you get to Sat / Sun, you're no longer 'friends', so it becomes more cutthroat.

I have noticed this as well. I am not sure why it happens though. I occasionally play with a couple of guys who play on the mini tours and I always seem to play really well when I play with them. On the otherhand, when I play with a few guys that are high handicappers I sometimes tend to play quite a bit worse. Weird...I guess it may just be one of those things that is in our heads.

PERFORM, the first sign of me getting lazy I try to challenge myself. If that doesn't work I tell myself that I just wasted $50 and 5 hours away from my wife and 1 year old. Guilt tripping myself usually works.

Man I just realized I have head issues.....lol

Playing with someone that is not as good as I am doesn't seem to affect me at all.
But...when I do play with someone that is better than me, my game seems to elevate a bit.