[DrKirkNoliss]

A couple of things get in my head while I'm playing - one is water. When I first started playing in the Winter - I thought I'd get over that because everything was frozen, but that didn't happen. My ball would land in the middle of the ice and stay there - figures. The other is going uphill. I'm not talking about standing on the hill, but rather when I'm at the bottom. Do any of you have any tricks to get the imps out of your head?

[zatronanec]

I understand on the water issue. I honestly believe you place a cup in watter in the fairway and I could put my ball in it (maybe thats what I need to stay in the F/W). As for the pond or lake, I try to make sure I take one more club up to give me room for error to get the ball over the water. This has worked for me. I also try not to think about hitting the water and focus more on my target. I remember one time my very last swing thought was "dont put it in the water" and that is exatly what I did. It is amazing how that last swing thought can often come true.

[Opinion_counts]

I just try and forget there's water there.I just try and make good contact.Sometimes I talk to my playing partners all the way through my swing which seems to help me concentrate on making contact.

[mas-dkt-sive]

The course where I learned to play was a 9 hole affair built in and around the edge of a large lake. Water was in play on 7 out of the 9 holes, either both sides of the fairway or front and back of the greens. All the par 3's were 100% water carries. It was either learn how to ignore the water or go broke buying balls. The first time I played it (probably my 3rd round) I lost all 15 balls in the first 5 holes and had to buy balls in the clubhouse to continue. Now, I just ignore it and concentrate on where I want the ball to go instead of where I don't. Works most of the time.

[artkolkovk]

I just concentrate on the yardage I need, and my pre-shot routine. My home course has water, or peoples' back yards on all 18 holes. Sometimes the cart girl if she is a looker

[Unhappu]

The real trick is just to concentrate on the target and forget about the hazards. Easier said than done I know, so if the water is really in your head, there's normally a way to play safely from it. So do that. If you feel like the club in your hands is going to put it in the water, pick a different one. Once you stand on a tee with a driver and think "this is going in the water" or "don't hit it in the water", you're done. It's difficult to change that mindset, but if you go pull out a 3-wood or hybrid or whatever, you have the chance to start again.

As to the hill, you're probably trying to help it up there. Hitting up on the ball is rarely successful. You'd be better off just relying on the club to do its bit and hit down on it. If you hit it well, the worst case scenario is it doesn't carry as far as you wanted it to, but you won't be in any real trouble.

[SergeyMaikov]

Water is just scenery, you have to hit a really bad shot most of the time to hit it.

Uphill shots are just a club or two extra so just hit it normal.

[DrKirkNoliss]

Water is just scenery, you have to hit a really bad shot most of the time to hit it.

I don't know whether to be offended or not.

[SergeyMaikov]

I don't know whether to be offended or not.

Don't be. Taking water out of your head is like that first tee drive when others are watching. The sooner you realize others don't care what you do the faster you can relax around it.

[Charryith]

Not to answer your question, but I hate playing in really windy conditions. It's actually one of the things I look at in the weather forecast when deciding whether or not to play. It doesn't always stop me, but I still consider the wind when booking a tee time or just heading out to play.

[blackjackiisre]

I take the same advice given to Neo:



For hills, I just club up. If need be, I'll hit a hybrid, and back off of it.

[mas-dkt-sive]

Not to answer your question, but I hate playing in really windy conditions. It's actually one of the things I look at in the weather forecast when deciding whether or not to play. It doesn't always stop me, but I still consider the wind when booking a tee time or just heading out to play.

Isn't Kansas a tough place to be if you don't like to play in the wind? Didn't Dorothy and Toto have some real trouble with wind there?

[Noxassope]

Isn't Kansas a tough place to be if you don't like to play in the wind? Didn't Dorothy and Toto have some real trouble with wind there?

It's not too bad, just don't go play in a tornado.

[Sydneyfonzi]

aim at the green and not the water

[Nutpoode]

Don't use a water ball. It's like an admission that the ball is supposed to go in the water. Once I stopped using water balls, fewer balls ended up in the water. Go figure.

Other than that, I try to look at and think about my target, and forget the water is there at all.

As for uphill shots, my fiance shares your pain. I certainly haven't been of any help to her.

[Charryith]

+100 on not using a special ball for the water.

[Geetiill]

For me it is the narrow tee box areas....Regardless of what I hit I am never confident that I won't hook or slice.

[CULTDIAMONDS]

I enjoy playing in the wind, 20-30mph days are a blast.

Water used to be a major issue with me, I swear I could lose a ball in the only puddle on a fairway. Got over it though & now water usually isn't a problem.

Uphill shots can be tricky depending on how far uphill they are. We have a course in Baraboo & their signature hole is a doglegged par 5. The green is on top of a hill that's about 50-60' tall. It's very steep, i don't think I could walk up that hill. Anyways I have never been able to hit the green from the bottom of that hill no matter what club I try.

[66paptroump]

I enjoy playing in the wind, 20-30mph days are a blast.

Water used to be a major issue with me, I swear I could lose a ball in the only puddle on a fairway. Got over it though & now water usually isn't a problem.

Uphill shots can be tricky depending on how far uphill they are. We have a course in Baraboo & their signature hole is a doglegged par 5. The green is on top of a hill that's about 50-60' tall. It's very steep, i don't think I could walk up that hill. Anyways I have never been able to hit the green from the bottom of that hill no matter what club I try.

Try a nine iron.

[Noxassope]

For me it is the narrow tee box areas....Regardless of what I hit I am never confident that I won't hook or slice.

This is the one that gives me a problem also. The course I play for my league has to par 3's that you tee off through a narrow opening in the trees. I'm always so worried about trying to start the ball far enough to the left to allow for my fade that it seems like I end up yanking the ball dead left.