Short game Pain

jampotjim

Ok I am about to lose it with my short game..

Put in huge hours on it over the last few months, Got lessons etc...

Technique is good apparently and when I practice it is excellent but as soon as I go on the course it goes to **** am jerking at pitches which has me alomst at breaking point...

I have looked up sport psycologists at this stage as can't do anything else..

Anyone else got similar issues and found a cure????

celtic723

it's normally just a phase you go through. for example i went through such a **** phase regarding my long game but i've come into it as of late.

around the greens a sandwedge is the best club choice i find. it's very forgiving and is very easy to master if you use it at every opportunity.

try not dwell on it. golf is played between 6 inches. ear to ear. it's all in your head and if you can keep your composure the rest will come together. trust me.

Spudmonkey

I was the same till recently, still mess up the odd chip or two but I'v got over it now for the most part. It really is a psychological thing, you have to believe you have the ability around the greens, that you can get it up and down from no where. But don't get too down on yourself if you don't..

And try keep in natural, I found I was really relaxed in practise but was freezing over the ball on the course

uberwolf

commit to replicating your practice swing

jampotjim

uberwolf wrote: »

commit to replicating your practice swing

Thats what I am trying...

Can hit pitches on 1 leg/ eyes closed/ 1 handed/ while moving but find it almost impossible on the course with a normal setup latley...

Mister Sifter

Certainly sounds like you need to get your head sorted. One thing that ain't gonna help you at all is anger and frustration though. You've gotta start thinking positively on the course and play like you practice. As Bob would say, get free. Just concentrate on trying to get it in the hole everytime you're faced with a shot inside 50 yards.

BUACHAILL

It also sounds like you freeze up a bit on the course, In practice you always do better because its only practice, In a comp its different because you allow yourself to think of the what if's !! and you start focusing on things that might happen if it goes wrong and straight away your mind is off the shot.

Play like you dont care what the outcome is and you will start to play better but more importantly you will start to enjoy it and it sounds like your not doing it at the minute. It will come just relax a bit on yourself.

jimbling

If you're good in practice then it's definitely all in the head. Honestly, give golf is not a game of perfect a read... it's well worth it.

Kevinmarkham

When I start playing rubbish, I tell myself that it doesn't matter. If you fluff a chip or sink a shot from the bunker, are a billion people in China going to care? No. It's only a game, so the next time you have a short shot just relax and hit it. If you're jerking at it you're obviously tense/nervous, which is fatal for the short game. I've always found Bob Rotella's 'visualisation' tip handy - see the shot the way you want to play it and then hit it.

How are you with two to three foot putts?

davgtrek

This is a tricky one.
another poster was right is you have to "not give a s&*t" to get yourself out of this. You are also confirming to yourself that you are in a rut. as a result you will stay in it.

i would prob suggest backing off on the long hours on short game as its putting too much pressure to perform on you with probably unreasonable expectations. Try focusing on your long game in practice for a while, long irons etc. give ur short game a chance to breathe.

everyone duffs a few chips, big deal.
you dont make your living from golf, its a hobby so enjoy it.
Why don't you give it up completely for 2 years..... only messing
You say you can chip it into the hole on one leg blindfolded.
why not try that approach in your next competitive round..... go out and try to have some craic and experiment in the next competition. completely rule out any notion of winning and sacrafice that comp as a gesture to sorting your tenseness.

dont spend so long setting up practice chips, one quick practice chip, step up to ball and chip it quickly, dont delay when addressed.
practice swing, address, strike in rapid succession.

see what happens.

GreeBo

I had (have?) the same issue with putting/chipping.

I've finally realised (with thanks to Mr. Rotella!) that the difference between practice and on the course is that I try harder on the course.
I take longer over the shot and try even harder to hit it perfectly. This is probably the best way to guarantee that you lose all natural coordination and ability that you were born with. Now I just walk up to them, let my first, automatic read guide me, take a final look at the target and start the swing immediately after I have looked at the ball. Results are *much* better on the course.

Sionnachster

JPJ you have my full sympathies, I'm having similar nightmares, so bad that I was embarassed getting a lesson about it as it is so fundamentally basic a process. Same as you, practices swing technique fine, hit the ball rolling at me fine etc etc Whenever I actually go to pitch it I am controlled by a demon who jerks at it, rotates the hips, head up - basically one of those. This despite endless effort at the academy chipping greens... Definitely a mental issue, It's an exorcist I need, not lessons.....

Would it be worth a chat with one of the pros up there or would you benefit more from a read of a book?