nerves

gymman39

played yesterday with a 5 handicapper (im off 18) and played terrible after a month of playing well...just felt nervous and never got into a flow..swinging too fast etc...does this happen to others???...felt like giving it up ha ha

n2o

Can happen on the first hole or two if you don't know the person but I find playing with a better golfer spurs me on. You can learn a lot from them.

Kevinmarkham

Sorry to hear you felt nervous. I've been surprised at the number of times higher handicappers have implied that I wouldn't want to play with them because I'm a 'low man' (I'm off 6). Trust me, unless you're off scratch or 1, you don't feel like a low man, and most of us just want to play golf with anyone else who wants to play golf...

... then again, I do recall a tournament where I played with a guy who took 9 shots to reach my drive... and it was Stableford format!

As n2o says, take it as an opportunity to learn and aspire.

PRAF

Agree with the other posters, no need to be nervous, you just need to play your own game and enjoy it.

Nerves are just a distraction and can put you off if you don't manage them. A good way to avoid any distractions is to have a solid pre-shot routine. If you are focussed on your routine and your target, you will have no time to even think about nerves!

blue note

I find I play a better (less worse) with good players. Easier to get into your own rythym.

k.p.h

Understand where you are coming from but Golf is such a game so much as to become a good player you have to humbled quite often to achieve the "good player " status.

The 18th last week was a prime example, pro after pro hooking,pulling and double crossing balls into the water.

I don't think any golfer looks at another hitting a bad shot and thinks "what a hacker" but rather more an "I feel you pain" type of attitude.

I love playing with low handicap players or even just experienced players, always learn something new. (And occasionally a made up rule )

Rabidlamb

Played a 3-ball one day where we decided to let the guy on his own behind us join up for a 4.
He was shaking like a leaf just teeing the ball up, we were polite & said nothing.
His first swing was like he'd been electrocuted & he fresh aired after hitting about a foot behind the ball.
The next swing was worse & his divot knocked the ball off the tee.
He was clearly panicking now & couldn't get the ball on the tee such was his condition.
After about 30 seconds of fumbling he said he felt unwell & had to go in.
We met him in the clubhouse about 3 hours later where he'd calmed himself with about 6 pints.
Nice chap.

Jul3s

Rabidlamb wrote: »

Played a 3-ball one day where we decided to let the guy on his own behind us join up for a 4.
He was shaking like a leaf just teeing the ball up, we were polite & said nothing.
His first swing was like he'd been electrocuted & he fresh aired after hitting about a foot behind the ball.
The next swing was worse & his divot knocked the ball off the tee.
He was clearly panicking now & couldn't get the ball on the tee such was his condition.After about 30 seconds of fumbling he said he felt unwell & had to go in.
We met him in the clubhouse about 3 hours later where he'd calmed himself with about 6 pints.
Nice chap.

Are you sure he didn't have 6 pint before you met him, cause was he trying to tee it up the 2nd time?.

OP yes you are the first and only person ever to have got nervous in this situation.

Tones69

I always play better with lower handicappers for sure as most of the guys i play with lately are single digits bar one or two., BUT playing a round with a stranger can be a bit nerve racking until you get to know them a bit i suppose! Doesnt matter if theyre off 5 or 25 its just the fact that ur stuck with someone for the best part of 4 hours that you may or may not get on with, and that does affect ur game, best thing to do is just stay relaxed and do the things you know how to do

bustercherry

Tones69 wrote: »

I always play better with lower handicappers for sure as most of the guys i play with lately are single digits bar one or two., BUT playing a round with a stranger can be a bit nerve racking until you get to know them a bit i suppose! Doesnt matter if theyre off 5 or 25 its just the fact that ur stuck with someone for the best part of 4 hours that you may or may not get on with, and that does affect ur game, best thing to do is just stay relaxed and do the things you know how to do

No bother to you tones though, you don't feel pressure or get nervous