Conference 7.286::golf

                    <<< USER$1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GOLF.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< The Good Game >-
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Note 432.24                    How was YOUR year?                       24 of 27
MSEE::KELLEY "got to get the short game togther"     14 lines  17-NOV-1988 12:28
                      -< Is there a DR in the house...? >-
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    	Even though I did have a pretty good year and some personel
    	bests and got the handicap down to the single digits, I did
    	NOT obtain the objective that I posted in the REGISTRY note.
    	
    	I stated that I wanted to be more consistant, I wasn't...!
    	My game can/does go from 72 to 102... I know the problem
    	lies between my ears (the hardest 6 inches in golf).
    	Does anybody have any good tips for controlling all those
    	negative thoughts that cause those bad shots? any good
    	books on the subject? any good videos on the subject?
    
    	Thanks
    	Gene (who_is_still_playing_36_to_54_holes_per_week)

                    <<< USER$1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GOLF.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< The Good Game >-
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Note 432.26                    How was YOUR year?                       26 of 27
IAMOK::OCONNOR                                       34 lines  18-NOV-1988 13:18
                                  -< Headset >-
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Gene, I do not know your game, but here is a suggestion to help eliminate those 
negative thoughts. I suspect that the negative thoughts create a tension that 
you may or may not be aware of, therfore destroying your tempo and timing. Try 
to target your game for one round, to your strenghs. For example: Lets say your 
chipping is one the the strongest parts of your game.
Set out to purposely chip up close on every one of the eighteen holes.
That means that you INTENTIONALY MISS all the greens in regulation. However, 
you still select the club that you feel you need to get to the green. What this 
does is it eliminates the tension- 

(created by the thought - "I must get on the green to get my par" - which 
really means "I am not going to par the hole and I am not going to break 40, 
again")

-that builds up as a result of negative thoughts and, MORE IMPORTANTLY, through 
this process you develop the habit of thinking only in a positive manner. 
What you do when you do get on in regulation is take it off and place it in a
spot that gives you a challenging chip.

After a while you will certainly reduce a lot of tension AS A RESULT OF 
THINKING POSITIVE THOUGHTS, and your consistancy will improve.

Some side effects:
-you will begin to hit more greens in regulation, which means that you will 
 probably have to practice your putting. 
-you will get more profecient in you chipping
-when you do have to scramble for a par in a tournament your confidence in
 your ability will be extremely high and you will succeed more often.

It has worked for me in the past. If you are inclined, let me know when you do 
do this and I will come along and do it myself. It has been a while since I 
have practiced thus. Let me know how it turns out.
                                                    Richard

    "To hit good golf shots consistently, YOU NEED TO MASTER really
    only a handful of SETUP and SWING FUNDAMENTALS, but MASTER them
    you must." Jack Nicklaus
    
    So as for the mental aspects of the game...spend enough time on
    the practice range mastering the fundamentals so that the golf swing
    and your grip&setup are second nature to you...then the only
    thoughts you'll have are positive ones. Practice builds the one
    ingrediance that you must have to play well....confidence in the
    shots you are hitting.

    Re:< Note 449.3 by TONTO::GORDON >

    I can't  agree  with  you more.  This year I changed jobs in May, and
    my new location made  it easy for me to stop on my way back from work
    (Marlboro to Stow) at the  range in Stow Acres.  As I started to feel
    more confident about the way I  hit the ball at the range, I was able
    to tell  myself  on the course:  "You know you can hit it right.  You
    did it at the range.  Remember how you did it.  And it worked!  Well,
    most of the times :^)
    
    But, the worst part  is when it doesn't work, and every hole is worst
    that the previous ones.  And nothing you do gets your swing and tempo
    back.  And one day you  hit  under  90  and the next day over 100.  I
    don't know any cure for those bad days.   The  only thing I do (And I
    guess most of us) is hope that the next time I get it all back.
    
    Tavo (Who hit over a 100 over the weekend)

>    But, the worst part  is when it doesn't work, and every hole is worst
>    that the previous ones.  And nothing you do gets your swing and tempo
>    back.  And one day you  hit  under  90  and the next day over 100.  I
>    don't know any cure for those bad days.   The  only thing I do (And I
>    guess most of us) is hope that the next time I get it all back.

	I find that often I put too much pressure on my self when I am too
	consious of my score.  When I play each hole as it comes the score
	tends to take care of itself.

	More times than not when I have given up on shooting a good overall
	score and start to play each hole as it comes I settle down and
	even occasionally light it up on the back nine to come up with a
	good overall score.

	Just goes to prove that golf is tough enough without putting more
	pressure on your self.

	Larry

      My round last week is a perfect example of head problems.  Played
    the front in a good 41 and was even par on the back thru 15.  I
    walked up to 16 tee (par 3 175yrds and WELL protected) thinking
    "this hole ALWAYS kills me!".  Hit a 5-iron O.B, hit second tee
    shot wild right, caught a tree, knocked it down, took 7 for the
    hole!  Suddenly 4 over and mentally destroyed!  Bogied 17 and par
    on 18 to finish 41-41=82.  This is a common senario because I allow
    16 to scare me to death.  What hurts most is that my 5-Iron was good
    to me all day until then.  Normally I use a 6 at that distance but
    selected 5 because I was hitting it so well!  
      My point is... Playing tight and thinking negatively gets you
    EVERY time.  
    
    Rick

    "Killer Holes" We all have them. Here is a way that has worked (most
    of the time) for me. I plan the hole at the begining of the round.
    And unless the circumstances are very, very unusual I NEVER change
    the plan. Take the ninth at Stow north. Unless the tee markers are
    way forward I hit a one iron off the tee, aiming out to the right,
    hit a pitching wedge for the second and try to pitch it close for
    the par. So plan the hole you BEFORE you tee off and stick to it!

    That's one of the worst for me (and since it's the 1-handicap hole
    on the course, for everyone else I guess). I used to play that one
    conservatively, but after laying up on the second shot, I usually
    talked myself out of the pitch shot and dumped it in the water.
    So, late in the season, after a good drive, I pulled out the 3-wood
    and knocked it to the back edge, and made bogey (for me, a virtual
    par). Same thing on #4, another water hole...of course, I was having
    major problems with the wedge all year, so switching to the 3-wood
    made sense for me! And, if I knocked a fairway wood into the pond,
    it wasn't nearly as embarrassing as chili-dipping the PW.
    
    Time to go back and reread "The Inner Game"!
    
    	Frank

    re:.6
    
    175 yd 5 iron...try taking more club and therefore relaxing more
    and hence putting a smoother/better swing on the ball....
    almost ALL of us DON'T take enough club and subconsciously
    know it and try to kill everything....don't beleive it??
    Try it and see how many time you actually fly a green...I'll bet
    you hit more greens than you go over...!!!

I feel to be good at any sport you must have a border line arrogant
attitude.  Very confident, not cocky but half way there.  I used to
stink in softball until one year I told myself that I was the best
first baseman in my division, well that year I made one error, and
I actually believed myself.  This year I told myself that I AM
a pretty damm good golfer and approached the year that way.  In 1987
I was scoring in the high 90's consistently.  This year I have
scored more like 81-82 consistently.  I dont know but that borderline
arrogant approach to golf has certainly helped me.  Im not tense,
Im not overly concerned, Im focused and extremly confident in my
game.
    
Greg
    
NOTE:  BEFORE LAST YEARS 3-POINT CONTEST LARRY BIRD SIMPLY SAID IN THE
LOCKER ROOM PRIOR TO THE COMPETITION - 'OK WHICH ONE OF YOU GUYS IS
GOING TO COME IN SECOND PLACE."  (BORDERLINE ARROGANT)            

    RE:9
    
    BEHIND THE PIN IS DEATH ON 16...
    
    I don't want to hit the green I want to hop on... play it like
    165yrds... 6 iron.  
    
    The other par 3 holes are 185, 160(water and bunkers), 185...
    5,7,6 irons for me, so I really was using extra club with a 5!
    
    Like .7's advice...
    next time... 7, SW, one-putt!!!! (plan of attack)
    
    Rick 

    A good tip I heard many years ago for those tense situations is
    to not think about what you NEED to make on a hole, but HOW to make
    it.
    
    Some years ago I stood on the 18 tee at Stow North needing a 7 to
    break 90 for the first time ever.  Remembering the above tip, I
    focused on how to make a 7 instead of "I need a seven".  I used
    a 3 wood and didn't try to bust a drive, played well short of the
    water, hit up short of the green to avoid the traps, chipped on
    and took two putts for a 6.
    
    Its worked many other times when I've had a good score going into
    the final holes and I've felt the pressure building.
    
    Bob                             

          I'd experienced that same degree of tension/apprehension
     last Year that you've experienced this Year! My problem was that
     I'd learned/practiced the 'basics' for a couple of seasons, and
     I'd really relax and enjoy the game while learning it those first
     couple of years. But, my troubles began after reading/practicing
     the monthly 'Tips' in the various Golf magazines, and after reading
     a few different books about Golfing technics! Things got SO bad
     last Year that I'd catch myself trying to 'tune' my game between
     Holes, not just between Rounds! I'm happy to report that I'm
     relaxed and enjoying the game again this Year, and the magic
     solution was not to read any Golf publications and/or any Golfing
     books, just play the game in my own style for better or for worse!
     note: When GOLF magazine arrives at my Home each month, I've made
     a habit of not reading it, and when my Father-in-Law (a Golfer)
     visits he gets to take home any/all of my Golf publications! My
     Golfing books are safely stored in the Attic, and maybe I'll donate
     them to the local Public Library!
    
    						don't Read just Play,
    
    									Bob
    

    Re. -1: Hear, hear! It's certainly easy to become an overeducated
    idiot in this game. I subscribe to Golf and Golf Digest, but restrict
    myself to the non-instructional articles and humorous essays (sort of
    like someone who buys Playboy just for the interviews). After deciding
    to "get a grip" on things, and lighten up, I went out Saturday for
    the real, no-kidding, final round of '88. I used about 25% of my
    normal grip pressure, and got some *very* gratifying results: even
    managed to hit a great pitching wedge to about 2' of the pin (that
    particular club's been my nemesis all season). By relaxing the grip,
    I got rid of most of the tension from my hands up through my shoulders
    and neck, and was able to make much smoother swings. While not
    reflected in the score, I know this is the key (for me, anyway)
    to better, more enjoyable golf. As it was, I managed to par the
    final hole, and walked off the course for the first time in months
    not feeling like I'd spent the last two hours wrestling alligators.
    Now, if I can only remember this until next Spring!

    RE: .14
    
    NO DON'T QUIT YET... DRIVE SOUTH!  You better reinforce that newfound
    grip a while!
    
    I chase warm weather for golf and snow for skiing all the time!
    
    If you don't get out again, oh well, just glad you enjoyed yourself
    the "last" round.
    
    Rick

    Rep. 15: I'll be reinforcing my new "key" on the practice mat for
    the rest of the winter, unless I can persuade Slammin' Susie (my
    wife and favorite partner, golf and otherwise) to travel to the
    Cape during the doldrums of January/February/March for a golf week-
    end or two (a distinct possibility). As it was, I'd already promised
    her I'd played my last round of '88 two weeks ago...how was I to
    know we'd get such incredible weather over Thanksgiving weekend?
    
    Besides, seeing that last par putt drop, on its absolute last vestige
    of forward momentum, is a memory that will keep me warm till Spring!
    

    
    	I just finished a book that I think may help my head game.
    	The book is The New Golf Mind, by Dr. Gary Wiren. It explains
	the things that can affect your metal game and techniques
    	that you can use to over come them. I think it is well worth
    	the $7.00...!
    
    
    	Gene 
    
    	Thought for the day, "you don't stop exercising because you
    	get old, you get old because you stop exercising." From the
    	The New Golf Mind...

    Someone in an earlier note mentioned "Mind Mastery" as a good one,
    so I got hold of it and have started working my way through it.
    Looks like it ought to help. "The Inner Game Of Golf" is also a
    good one, if your head keeps getting in your way. In my case, if
    I let myself start thinking about results rather than just concen-
    trating on the swing, I'm in TROUBLE! Confidence is surely the key,
    but until you've hit a passle of good shots, that's hard to come
    by; and the bad shots are the ones that tend to stick in my mind.
    
    Ah, well, that's what makes golf such an addictive pursuit, right?