[Imiweevierm]

I went out to play a few holes... key word FEW. It was about 6:30, and by 7-7:30 its getting pretty dark. I went to tee off(on hole 10, proshop guy told me that after he leaves for the day around 3 that I can just teeup n notworry about paying) sliced my first drive about 175yards into the trees. I looked for about 15 minutes and couldnt find my ball. So I lost my favorite B330-S. Dropped a Srixon AD333 and hit the ball on a wormburner the last 180ish yards to about 10 yards from the green. I chipped, PAST the green, then took to more shots to finally make it onto the green, and 2 putted from 15ish feet out.

I called it quits, walked back to the trees I lost my first ball in, and found a Callaway something or other. After about 10 minutes of looking it got pretty dark. So I just randomly dropped the Callaway and decided to hit it to calm my anger of a bad hole.

I swung and hit my BEST shot with my 5 iron ever. Carried past the green which was 180-190 out, not only that I FINALLY hit a draw shot.

I didn't look for the ball, but was in awe of how I hit the ball angerly, with out carring about posture or my swing, and hit an amazin shot.

This happen to any of y'all?

I didnt look for the ball,

[sensation]

I think sometimes anger can provide positive energy that can work to your advance - an example IMO is McEnroe, but it doesn't sound like you were angry. It sounds like your mind was just clear of thoughts.

[Imiweevierm]

It sounds like your mind was just clear of thoughts.

Just hope I can learn to clear my mind more often! lol

[mpzoFeJs]

This is interesting because it's very similar to my nephew's inability to catch a football when he "thinks about catching it".

We'll toss a football around and when he thinks he's "on" (that is - being watched or judged by his father or some other adult) he tends to try too hard and thinks too much about catching the ball.

What I do with him is to carry on a "chatty" kind of conversation and then without warning I'll flip the ball to him - and he almost always catches it. He's even made some rather impressive fingertip catches.

I've tried to explain to him that he should not think about catching the ball because thinking about it is preventing him from simply reacting and doing what his hands already know how to do. So whenever we play catch and I see him "pressing", I'll start talking about something else and then throw him the ball when he doesn't expect it. When he catches it (which he almost always does in that situation) I tell him "Nice catch!" and remind him that he knows how to do this, he just has to stop thinking about it.

dusklose's 5-iron shot reminded me of this and I think it points out the same thing -- that when we "try" to do something, the results are always more disappointing than when we just "let" ourselves do what we already know how to do.


-JP

[Brutton]

At our country club we call this the Bubba syndrome. If you notice above my avatar it says blame it on bubba. That is what I'm referring to. We have a golf tournament at our country club in November called the Bubba Invitational. When it doesn't count and its too late to matter you will ALWAYS hit a great shot, putt, chip etc. It's because when there is no pressure to perform you will relax and put a tension free swing on the ball. Tension is the number one killer of a golf swing.

[MadMark]

I was told a long time ago, that thinking about the golf swing, while playing golf is not the the right time. The time spent during practice sessions is the right time to think about swing issues. Preshot routines are very important, especially when the routine naturally happens. Get all your "next shot" thinking out of the way before you get to your ball. Check your lie, distance needed, grab a club, and hit the ball. Go find the ball, and do the same thing all over again. Enjoy the scenery, and what ever else is available (besides golf) between shots. No matter how well, or poorly your last shot/putt was, your next one will be the toughest you will face the rest of the round.

[Imiweevierm]

I'm heading out in about10 minutes to hit a round. I am goin to try my best to not think golf while golfing. I would agree that i'm tryin to hard. My practice swings are darn near perfect everytime, and once it comes go time to hit the ball, I top it, or slice it, cuz i'm telling myself all these little mechanical things to try to do during my swing.

Wish me luck.

[sensation]

Play well! Have fun!

[Imiweevierm]

Only played 7 today, as it was to dark to continue, I probably should have stopped after 5. Anyways a few highlights.

first few holes suCKEd my swing was off, and just couldnt hit a good shot.

3rd hole, crappy drive, but a beautiful 5 iron shot that got me back on the fairway, next shot, right next to green with a 7 iron. but then 3 putted

4th hole(first par 3) 5 iron to the green, and 2 putted. FIRST PAR OF THE YEAR, and prolly ever.

after that my clubs were just ON FIRE!!

OHH and i'm only playing a 10 club bag right now. why? cuz its all I have money for. Driver 5-GW and putter. I know i'd do better w/ a fairway wood or 2, maybe some better wedges. but I'm set for the time being.

6th hole, I used my 8 iron from what I thought was plenty far out, and over shot the green by at least 30 yards!

7th hole same thing, over shot the green but only by about 10-15 yards. I dont think I was used to my clubs being so darned amazing so I was using my normal clubs that became to much club I liked it

ALSO i picked up some Bridgestone e6+, first time playing them and i am HOOOKED! i got it in my mind that I needed a 'tour ball' like the B330-RX that I want. but NO MORE i'm set w/ the e6+'s.

[LeslieMoran]

I was told a long time ago, that thinking about the golf swing, while playing golf is not the the right time. The time spent during practice sessions is the right time to think about swing issues. Preshot routines are very important, especially when the routine naturally happens. Get all your "next shot" thinking out of the way before you get to your ball. Check your lie, distance needed, grab a club, and hit the ball. Go find the ball, and do the same thing all over again. Enjoy the scenery, and what ever else is available (besides golf) between shots. No matter how well, or poorly your last shot/putt was, your next one will be the toughest you will face the rest of the round.

Excellent advice. 100% right. Do your tinkering on the range and when you get on the golf course don't think about anything other than "there is the target, there is the ball, hit the ball at the target". Keep it simple AND pick your target carefully.

[LeslieMoran]

Line it up and hit it. Anything you have done a thousand times should not be difficult unless you are nervous or distracted in some way. It gets complicated only when you try to shape shots as opposed to just hitting the ball at the target. That is what introduces that element of difficulty that most amateurs have marginal results with. Hit the ball at the target and let the ball find its way, maybe it could be done better in some way with a more finely tuned technique but finding what works best for you is the most important thing. Keep it simple, leave the draws and fades, cuts and knockdowns out of the shot selection unless you have practiced them enough that each one is like stuffing a fork full of food in your mouth, you don't have to think about it, just do it.

[Cheaperisdeeper]

Good info everyone. I needed to hear it.

[Brutton]

Line it up and hit it. Anything you have done a thousand times should not be difficult unless you are nervous or distracted in some way. It gets complicated only when you try to shape shots as opposed to just hitting the ball at the target. That is what introduces that element of difficulty that most amateurs have marginal results with. Hit the ball at the target and let the ball find its way, maybe it could be done better in some way with a more finely tuned technique but finding what works best for you is the most important thing. Keep it simple, leave the draws and fades, cuts and knockdowns out of the shot selection unless you have practiced them enough that each one is like stuffing a fork full of food in your mouth, you don't have to think about it, just do it.

I know that at a 13 handicap I may not be the best scorer on here but I am told daily by the guys I play with as good as I hit the ball I should be shooting in the mid to low 70's. I still make TOO many mental mistakes and kill myself every few holes. I can typically play 5 holes at par or better then throw in a few double bogeys to end a side. Just stupid mental mistakes. This is the best piece of advice I have seen on these forums because too many times I am playing great then start trying to shape my shots more than focus on the task at hand of hitting the green. It's not an easy game and making it harder by your actions is not what you want to do. I really really really need to take this advice to heart and focus more on hitting the ball instead of thinking so much. I am an analyzer to the fullest.

[AdobebePhoto]

Thinking too much about your technical side of golf is called, "paralysis by analysis". I might have the spelling wrong but you get the jest. Especially if you are focusing on a bad shot you just hit like a sxxnk! You will most likely keep hitting them. Your mind is focused on the nagative and that is what your will get. You noticed I did not say shank above as it is a negative word in itself. Pick a target, clear your mind, and let er go! Enjoy your day as if it is the last one you might have. We put way too much emphasis on being perfect instead of letting go. The info received on this site is why I love Hackers Paradise so much. It's the best place I have ever seen to share good info. Enjoy your golf and don't put bad pressure on your game.

[Imiweevierm]

I do agree. On the round where I was on fire, I thought way to much the first 2 holes and 3 putted them, 3rd hole i had 2 nice shots. after i hit my first green on a par 3(usually end in rough or bunker, or short on the fairway). I realized that I just needed to have fun. I couldnt miss a shot after that. I set up, and just hti the ball and 90% of the shots went exactaly where I wanted them to.

I tend to over analyze and when I just let loose and had fun, It was amazing, no slice, no balloon balls no balls off the toe heading straight right, just crisp clean shots. I finally learned what it was like to hit a long iron correctly, and how good it felt with solid contact.