Isn't it interesting...

PA-PLAYA

How much confidence really matters, how important self-belief is.

Case in point - the last round I played back on Sunday - I found myself standing over a 50-footer for birdie, uphill the entire way. Ordinarily I wouldn't be too pleased with a putt of that length, but this was a long par4 where anything other than a fairly long and accurate tee shot will not have you hitting the green. In other words - I'm usually pretty happy anytime I hit this green in regulation.

Anyway, standing over the uphill 50-footer... I think to myself, "there's no way in hell I can get this to within 10 feet of the hole." Guess what - I was right. Left myself a 12-footer and missed the ensuing par putt.

Three holes later, I'm standing over a 30-footer with about 2-feet of break. I surveyed the putt from a couple different angles, was pretty sure of the line, felt fairly confident that I could maybe squeak it in if I got the pace just right. Guess what - I was right again. In she went, perfect speed, perfect line.

Some days it's as simple as just believing you can do it.

Typhoon

You should always be like, " what I'm going to do" not " what I don't want to do"

PA-PLAYA

Typhoon

Some days that's the greatest challenge, it seems. I've had rounds, like that round last Sunday when I shot 73, and look back on it and think that aside from a couple of 3-putt blemishes - the game really didn't seem overly complicated.

It didn't seem overly complicated because for 71 of those 73 strokes - my mind was precisely where it needed to be, and in harmony with my golf swing. Even the poorest of swings were reasonably acceptable.

I will say, however, that being confident on the greens really makes a difference. It's just a great feeling when you stand over a 5 footer for par and know you're going to make it, yet when you don't - you feel it was an anomaly and don't panic.

If you're putting well, you take a lot of stress off of the other aspects of the game. I would be foolish to believe that that feeling is to be expected for every round... but it sure is nice while it lasts.

Subsonic

I feel the most important part of putting is confidence. I struggled to putt well when I started playing golf. Then I remembered a trick my parents taught me when I was a child. Every time I got out of the cart to walk to the green I told myself how good I was at putting. Amazing how that works.

Lead your mind and your ass will follow.

sdandrea1

Confidence rules my performance. The minute doubt creeps into my head, I'm done. I have not been there in a long time. I really try to focus on things I know I can do well, using memories of good shots I have made. I am a firm believer that good scores and good shots are NOT lucky. They are indications/evidence of my ability. I am not afraid of hitting a bad shot or losing a ball, so I do not get nervous over risky (or any) shots (water/sand hazards, etc.). That's not being cocky - it is a combination of confidence and the fact that if I do fail, it's really no big deal - just a game. If I hit it in the water, my next thought is "OK, how can I still salvage this hole?" I forget the bad shot and move FORWARD to the next shot. It took me YEARS and ALL of Bob Rotella's books to master this way of thinking, but it leads to a more relaxed attitude which leads to more good shots, better rounds and more confidence. I can actually play like I don't care and really enjoy the game.

On your example of the 50 foot putt, my thoughts to myself are: "Two putting from this distance would be awesome, so just try to get it around the hole somewhere. Give yourself a chance. If I 3 putt from 50 feet, no big deal - I'll make it back somewhere else."

Sneakylong

Lately I'm really trying to concentrate on pace rather than line especially on long putts. How many times do we get so caught up with the line that we forget to get it to the hole. Easier said than done though.

Bangoman

The first drive on the first hole dictates my round as a general rule. If I hit a lousy drive and a lousy 2nd shot well...who knows? But, I put my Drive in the right position in the fairway and make a good solid swing on my 2nd shot into the green...I'm good to go. My best start was -3 thru 7 holes at a really tough course known as Big V or Valencia CC near Magic Mountain in S. Ca. Then Double...Double. to finish +1 thru 9. Forgot my final score but it was high 70's or low 80's...all I remember was the first 7 holes...I felt like a Tour Player for a bit.

LBlack14

Bangoman

What was in the bag that day?

PA-PLAYA

Something generally happens, midway through my round usually. Maybe it's fatigue, who knows... Not so much with putting, but just a lack of concentration overall on full-swings. There's the odd day here and there when maybe I keep it together through 15 or 16 holes, then there's a letdown of sorts on the final two holes, two demanding holes at that.

I can, somewhat, accept bogeys on our closing holes. It doesn't help matters that on three of the four par5's - I'm hitting mid-irons into the green usually. Our par5's are tough. Hell - the entire course (with exception of maybe 3 holes) is a brutal challenge on an off-swing day.

What I've learned over the years has helped me offset some of the challenge, however demanding the course might be. Expect nothing. Don't assume. No matter what I shot yesterday, or the day before, means absolutely nothing today on that first tee. I'm not saying to not be confident, but to understand the fickle nature of this game and how from one day to the next - the challenges never seem to be the same. Embrace the challenge, do your best, try to stay focused-yet-relaxed. As Steve said - fear of missing never works. Might be the reason why I've always been a good putter - I'm not afraid of the 4-footer coming back.

Of course - I practice the 4-footers more than most. And that has definitely paid off in spades at my current club, where the greens are generally quick and rather tricky. In an overwhelming majority of my individual competitive matches - it's the difference between being 1-up or 3-down.

Getting the ball in the hole has never ever been overrated in this game we love.

sdandrea1

PA-PLAYA

I have rounds where one particular part of my game is on strong and the others might be waning a bit. When the putter is hot, I REALLY relax because I feel I can salvage any hole. That relaxation breeds better ball striking and the whole game falls back in line. This really is a game of confidence and managing expectations. I have a 69 year old buddy who still expects too much out his game and thereby gets pissed when he mishits a shot or misses a 3 footer. I am working with him and he is improving but he still remains his own worst enemy. He gets in his own way.

PA-PLAYA

sdandrea1

I think most of us have a guy like your buddy in our groups. I know I do. He expects too much, can't find anything remotely positive to say about a so-so shot that ends up being a great result, etc... sad to say - his condition might be more physical than mental. He's had two heart attacks already this year, albeit minor. He's just wired entirely too tight, golf seems to be more torture to him than enjoyment. Obviously he has some serious medical issues to sort through with blood clotting, etc. - you'd think he would just be happy to be out playing.

He's been cleared to return (last heart attack happened three weeks ago). So I'm playing with him Thursday. Great guy off the course, one of those guys who would go out of his way to help a friend in need, no matter the circumstance. Hopefully the change in blood-thinner meds will help, but I'm not holding my breath. And he's actually a pretty good player. Two seasons ago he finished runner-up in the club championship, and he's in his mid-60's. When his mind doesn't get in the way - he hits it a long ways, great iron player, solid short game, decent putter. He was a legit 4 handicap playing well above his level a couple years ago - one of those memorable stretches that almost got his name on the clubhouse foyer.

And I know it's not easy to go from routinely shooting in the mid-low 70's to shooting in the mid-low 80's after that type of season... but it's mental. And I've told him that he needs to look at things differently, embrace the challenge, do his best and let the score take care of itself. But the first instance of trouble? Dude is finished. He just can't regroup and overcome his attitude.

If anything - I suffer from the exact opposite nowadays. Not that I expect to hit bad shots routinely - but I used to really buckle down and find some focus after a bad shot... for instance - if I 3-putted a green, I would absolutely murder my next tee shot, long and straight. Prof can attest to that - he's seen that happen on more than a few occasions... he used to say that was my strength - using that frustration in a positive, motivational way.

Anymore, I just struggle to really get too amped up after a boo-boo like that. Might have something to do with growing older and having a different perspective, or might have something to do with my physical conditioning these days and just how much easier I fatigue near the latter part of the round. Who knows...

What I do know... however I might sense that I'm struggling with the bounce-back factor after a bad shot - my handicap is 1.8 and trending to 1.5. It hasn't been that low in several years, and the kicker is that it's happened on undoubtedly the toughest, longest layout I've ever played on a regular basis.

Putting.... turning bogeys into par. If there's a secret for a decent ball striker to shoot lower scores, it's all about rolling the rock with some confidence.

With the club champs coming up in a few weeks, I just pray it continues. I figure if I shoot low-mid 70's and someone gets the better of me - they've more than earned it. I've never been one to get upset when I play well and yet still lose.

Not getting ahead of myself, but I think I might surprise a few folks this time around. I've been a member at my new club for 3 seasons now, and unfortunately (because of my daughter's college life beginning around the same timeframe) I've been out of town and not able to participate. But that's not the case this year, I told my wife two months ago - you can make the trip down to Athens and help her get her new apartment squared away - Daddy's on a mission!

Subsonic

You all sound so zen like...

I think about tittites and moving FORWARD.

sdandrea1

Subsonic

Sam Snead said: "If you're not thinking about pussie, you're not concentrating"

PA-PLAYA

Subsonic

Part of the real enjoyment of golf for me is the ability to use profanity, tell dirty jokes, and undress the 20-something cart girl and wish that I was 23 years old again.

The sad part in all of this - I'm only 47 and have another 18 years before I can move up to the senior tees and more accurately represent the dirty old pervert I've become.

But although it doesn't always correlate to lower scoring, alcohol seriously helps offset that depressing thought. A few Long Islands and a little music on the bluetooth speaker - the scores might occasionally suggest otherwise, but life ain't all that bad. 😉

Subsonic

He was right. And a fellow Gentleman of the Commonwealth.

Subsonic

Damn. Your life would be so much simpler if you thought about titties. Confucius say you think too damn much Grasshoppa!

sdandrea1

Subsonic

Ok, I'll work on it. Send me some pictures of your favorite titties. 😉

Subsonic

Damn Geezer! You have your own titties.

sdandrea1

Subsonic

Nothing wrong with variety.................especially when concentrating.

sdandrea1

PA-PLAYA

I'm 64, retired, playing 3 to 4 days a week from the forward tees and thinking about titties. Life is good!

Subsonic

Pa Playa- I am blessed to be simple. No Agendas etc... I just think about titties and let the magic happen.