Finishing weakly

BoardsMember

Anyone else suffer from this. I know that the causes might be quite different: concentration, going well and when you have a bad hole you dont bounce back, tough finishing holes etc etc.

So I have had a few bad finishes recently, when going well, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations. I usually bring plenty of food & drink, so it isn't fatigue. Its more that I seem to make mental mistakes in the last 5 or 6 holes. And at the moment I am being crucified for them.

Maybe the solution is as much to be 100% certain you have selected the right shot, and reminding yourself that you sometimes choose the wrong one. Though that could be counter productive too.....

PRAF

I'd say 99% of golfers have the same problem. I know I do. You're playing well, in contention, get a bad break or play a bad shot, next thing you've screwed up your round with an untidy finish.

If anyone has the solution, can you let me know too!

Russman

To paraphrase Dr Bob Rotella, its a normal human reaction, getting distracted by the outcome (in the future) and not staying in the present.
It lessens with experience IMO.
The old cliche of "one shot at a time" is probably never more relevant than in that situation.


Of course some mean spirited types will probably say you're a bandit and were pulling :D

Jul3s

You have to lose way more than you win, so if you keep putting yourself in position, it should become second nature and you should become mentally stronger.

TheDoc

I was famous for being unable to close out a round.

I've been in the lead in comps so many times to just let is slide during the last few holes. More recnetly I'm finding I'm hitting a bad patch, 2-3 holes I'll just hit bad shots, no idea why.

But after this weekend I'm going to take a step back and re-evaluate how I react when this happens. Sunday was pretty much rage personafied. I was 20 points of the front 9 and then went bogey bogey. No big deal, still 4 points, and the 12th is usually a good birdie opportunity if not safe par. Ended up three putting for a bogey.

My next drive on the 13th was safe and long, so I figured I'd a chance to pull something back, ended up topping a 9 iron, duffing a wedge and then three putting.

I managed to pull back the rest of the round, but I'm definitly trying to just calm myself during the bad spells, there was every chance of still making par on the 13th, and I let the red mist take over

BoardsMember

I hear your pain.

I used to get pretty annoyed, now I'm fairly philosophical. I suppose what I need is to learn to get it back after a bad hole. Yesterday I was going well, then had a triple, an awful kick to put a decent shot slightly offline into OOB. Par on the next, and perfect drive up the following hole, only to choose the wrong shot in and double bogey. It's mental mistakes for me I think, so important to choose shots where I leave myself good misses if they dont come off I think.

foxyboxer

Perhaps try the Super Six approach.

What this does is it breaks one 18 hole round down into 6 seperate rounds of 3 holes each.

You play the first three holes, then mentally you get to start over on the 'next' round. So say you're playing a course you're familiar with and the 1st 3 holes are a Par 4, 5 and 3.

Your personal best for the 3 holes is Par, Birdie, Par. This is your goal for the 3 holes, to match or better your personal best. If it was stableford, then you would have a points target taking into account your shots in hand.

If you make a balls of it, then you have another 'round' to restart yourself mentally for. It also helps when you play a shocker, say on the 15th and feel that your effort over the previous 14 holes has been worthless, you can mentally re-adjust for you final 3 holes i.e. the last round of the day.

BillyBoy

TheDoc wrote: »

I was famous for being unable to close out a round.

I've been in the lead in comps so many times to just let is slide during the last few holes. More recnetly I'm finding I'm hitting a bad patch, 2-3 holes I'll just hit bad shots, no idea why.

But after this weekend I'm going to take a step back and re-evaluate how I react when this happens. Sunday was pretty much rage personafied. I was 20 points of the front 9 and then went bogey bogey. No big deal, still 4 points, and the 12th is usually a good birdie opportunity if not safe par. Ended up three putting for a bogey.

My next drive on the 13th was safe and long, so I figured I'd a chance to pull something back, ended up topping a 9 iron, duffing a wedge and then three putting.

I managed to pull back the rest of the round, but I'm definitly trying to just calm myself during the bad spells, there was every chance of still making par on the 13th, and I let the red mist take over

Just going on the above post I find sometimes that thinking I need a par here, or need a bogey for two points etc puts me off because it puts so much pressure on the shot. If you hit a bad one, the pressure is doubled on the next shot - you are thinking I messed up the last shot, I really have to hit a good one here! I do it myself a fair bit.

Funnily enough I find that in strokes competitions I sometimes lose track of my score (usually when playing well admittedly!) and find it takes the pressure off - maybe because I am hitting it well and am in 'the zone' or whatever you want to call it. I have finished a couple of times and my playing partner will say 'Great score', and I will have no idea what I shot! I think that because stableford is so handy to tot up in your head its easier to fall into this trap of knowing what you are on and what you have to do.

I am not sure if there is a way to 'forget' deliberately, I still struggle a fair bit with thinking of the result of the hole, not the shot in question. If anyone has any more ideas how to combat this, let us know!

BoardsMember

foxyboxer wrote: »

Perhaps try the Super Six approach.

Thanks for this, it is a really interesting approach, and theoretically sits well with me mentally

Flincher

I think most people have a tendency to do something wrong when pressure comes on, like after a bad shot. I tend to get a bit anxious and lift my head. So after a bad shot, I focus on keeping the head down. I've found that helps.

I think when under pressure, we revert to type. I think often its about finding our bad habit when pressure comes on, and doing something proactive to fix it

If I've missed a bad putt, I find closing my eyes for the next helps. You end up trusting your technique a bit more with the eyes closed I find.

BoardsMember

I'm actually pretty philosophical when my bad shot happens, its usually a knifed chip or lob shot. I know I practise them, I try hard not to let the hands get ahead of the ball and yip it, but equally I know it might happen. Especially under pressure it is more likely to happen. But that's why I have a handicap. I can usually put these things aside and get on with it. I'm still not sure why, but I seem to think more poorly on the closing holes. It could be pressure too. But I might second guess myself, and go closer at the flag, or take something off the club in my hand etc etc, rather than going with my first instinct.

I suppose the fact that I am aware of the types of decisions that cause this means it might be easier to resolve.

seanmc1980

cant believe it, i came on here to start a thrend on this exact same subject!!!
playing at the weekend, all going great, 28 points after 12 hole.
Drives all down the middle, putting well, hitting greens and taking my putts ( did drop 3 easy 4 footers on the front 9 but they we're not playing on my mind)
Stood up and the 13 snap hook into ****, ball lost. take a 6 no points. take no points on the next 2 holes. i get back to normal for last 3 holes get 7 points finish with 35 pts. no cut, no prizes.
this happens me all the time, every time i play with some new they cant believe i'm off 12 (should be single figure) but i constantly mess up like i said above.
i'm going to try break the round down into six and try forget about my score next weekend see how it goes

newport2

I read somewhere years ago that four words you should NEVER say on a golf course are:

"If I can just........"

This was so bang on with my approach. I don't know how many times I was in great shape after 14/15 holes and would say to myself "now if I can just finish with 1 over for the last three holes then I'll have shot xy". Then I would inevitably make a balls of the last three holes!

Staying in the moment is the only way to go, but it's hard and will never be fully mastered! I use the 6 sets of 3 holes sometimes and finds it helps.

golfnut1

Some good suggestion already.

Something else that might help is to make sure you have a strategy planned out before you play and stick to it.
This ensures you have a plan for every hole that is thought out with your own abilities in mind and with a cool and clear head as to how to score best.
Something like on the first, tee up on right of tee and hit a fade to take out OB on right out of play, if I have 150 left aim for middle of green and give yourself a chance at bird but be happy with par. You will know best what holes require more course management than others or what particular holes cause you most trouble.
Even when it doesn't go according to plan you next shot should be get yourself back in to position and back to the strategy.
This allows you to plot your way around a course with out any rush of blood to the head or silly decisions when your too caught up in the game.
Remember if this strategy was the best idea off the course its still the best strategy on the course so don't let the score dictate the shots you play.

k.p.h

Bounce Back

Hole to hole, Round to round.

It's what good golfers do..

matt-dublin

i would put it down to dehydration and hunger imo.

ive recently started drinking a minimum of 1.5 litres of water during a round and ive found my stamina and concentration lasts all the way to 18.

also having a good high carb breakfast and mid round snack usually helps.

k.p.h

Beer/Spirits/Ale/Stout consumed in the previous 48hrs also have a negative effect.

matt-dublin

k.p.h wrote: »

Beer/Spirits/Ale/Stout consumed in the previous 48hrs also have a negative effect.

means were gettind old, also it doesnt have to be a large quantity either ive noticed

newport2

k.p.h wrote: »

Beer/Spirits/Ale/Stout consumed in the previous 48hrs also have a negative effect.

Not if you top it up every few holes

TheDoc

k.p.h wrote: »

Beer/Spirits/Ale/Stout consumed in the previous 48hrs also have a negative effect.

I remember I used to wake up after a nights drinking feeling fresh and playing good golf.

I remember getting home from a Debs at 7am, mate picking me up at 8am to tee of for 9am in a junior medal. Won the medal.

If I tried to golf now after a nights drinking I'd probably collapse into a lake

BoardsMember

I'm usually really good after a nights drinking, until I start sobering up...then the shakes come, and by the end I'd be taking divots with the putter and be in a complete state.

BoardsMember

Would dioralyte in water be a good solution (sorry, could not stop myself) to dehydration?

mags1962

No mention of any adverse affects from Cider?

GreeBo

Tiring at the end of a round leads to mental and physical mistakes certainly.
I have a banana and drink 500ml every 6 holes. ~(or 2 bananas and 1litre+ a round)

As far as staying in the moment I never know my scores until the end of the round. There is no point in my opinion, you have no idea how anyone else is doing so cant know if you need to "go for it" or not.
I'm always trying to have my best score for the round, I have a plan so I stick to it no matter what.
Knowing what score Im on after 15 holes never helps, even though I dont know my score I will always know if its a good score or not, but never know how good or how bad, just keep plugging away until the end. Changing my plan to try and score better also rarely works out.

Works for me anyway.

SnowDrifts

GreeBo wrote: »

As far as staying in the moment I never know my scores until the end of the round. There is no point in my opinion, you have no idea how anyone else is doing so cant know if you need to "go for it" or not.
I'm always trying to have my best score for the round, I have a plan so I stick to it no matter what.
Knowing what score Im on after 15 holes never helps, even though I dont know my score I will always know if its a good score or not, but never know how good or how bad, just keep plugging away until the end. Changing my plan to try and score better also rarely works out.

Works for me anyway.

Completely agree with this. Only problem that used to happen me is when the person marking your card says "Your going along very well, three more 2-pointers will see you in the prizes".

Now, at the start of each round, I just say I don't want to know my score at any point to the card maker.

Rikand

BoardsMember wrote: »

I'm usually really good after a nights drinking, until I start sobering up...then the shakes come, and by the end I'd be taking divots with the putter and be in a complete state.

this exactly - and the more i've had to drink, the longer the good golf lasts for!

charlieIRL

i have 2 problem's during a round - one where i fall apart mid round and hit a few slices with my driver and poor recovery shots thus scratching holes. Frustration also creeps in a bit!!! Secondly if i add my score up after the front 9 i'm bound to scratch the 10th!

newport2

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Completely agree with this. Only problem that used to happen me is when the person marking your card says "Your going along very well, three more 2-pointers will see you in the prizes".

Now, at the start of each round, I just say I don't want to know my score at any point to the card maker.

We have a rule amongst our mates not to say this. Along with, "You're putting really well today" or "driving the ball great today", because as soon as someone says it the person 3 putts or hits a snap-hook! No comments until round is complete.

Niall09

How do you guys not have an idea of how you are doing? I find it impossible not to count my score!

My problem is always a terrible first 5 or 6 holes, OR a terrible closing few holes. The middle 9 or so i'm always under par or level for.

Mr. Larson

Niall09 wrote: »

How do you guys not have an idea of how you are doing? I find it impossible not to count my score.

I think the lower you go the harder it is. If you walk on to the 10th after 9 straight pars or 8 pars and a bogey it's hard not to know.

Mr. Larson

Jabberwocky wrote: »

Niall09 wrote: »

How do you guys not have an idea of how you are doing? I find it impossible not to count my score.

I think the lower you go the harder it is. If you walk on to the 10th after 9 straight pars or 8 pars and a bogey it's hard not to know.

Conversely, if you're off 14 and had a scratch, a couple of doubles, 2 birds and a few pars & bogeys it's easy enough not to know you've turned in 20pts.

matt-dublin

Niall09 wrote: »

How do you guys not have an idea of how you are doing? I find it impossible not to count my score!

My problem is always a terrible first 5 or 6 holes, OR a terrible closing few holes. The middle 9 or so i'm always under par or level for.

I generally try and forget about what ive done and try and concentrate on what im doing.

GreeBo

Jabberwocky wrote: »

I think the lower you go the harder it is. If you walk on to the 10th after 9 straight pars or 8 pars and a bogey it's hard not to know.

I think it just depends on your mental approach.
Im single figures and still wouldnt be able to tell you if I was just over or just under nett par during a round. Obviously if I have had straight pars then its a little easier, but thats rare enough to be a non issue for me

Mr. Larson

GreeBo wrote: »

Jabberwocky wrote: »

I think the lower you go the harder it is. If you walk on to the 10th after 9 straight pars or 8 pars and a bogey it's hard not to know.

I think it just depends on your mental approach.
Im single figures and still wouldnt be able to tell you if I was just over or just under nett par during a round. Obviously if I have had straight pars then its a little easier, but thats rare enough to be a non issue for me

Yeah the straight pars thing is a bit of an exaggeration for the sake of effect maybe. That's a good ability you have there. Any tips? Generally I will know that a good front 9 is +2 or +3 and I'll just know I'm a couple over, can't seem to not know. I don't consciously track my score. You do know what you're putting for on each hole, right? Like, a putt for Par/Bogey?

GreeBo

Jabberwocky wrote: »

Yeah the straight pars thing is a bit of an exaggeration for the sake of effect maybe. That's a good ability you have there. Any tips? Generally I will know that a good front 9 is +2 or +3 and I'll just know I'm a couple over, can't seem to not know. I don't consciously track my score. You do know what you're putting for on each hole, right? Like, a putt for Par/Bogey?

Yeah I always know what Im having on each hole but then I completely forget about it. Sometimes I will find myself wondering how I am doing but then I just catch myself and start to think about something else. It takes a little bit of work, especially if its a big event and you kinda know you are doing well but, to me at least, knowing I am going well and knowing exactly how well I am going is the difference.
I think its a natural extension of taking each shot on its own merits and not trying to have a par because you just had a bogey for example, the holes you have finished are baggage that you dont want or need.

Ive never thought about it too much to be honest

Nedser101

How on earth can you forget your score, me personally would be still thinking about a missed put on 2 nd ,while making a putt on the 9 th aargh !

matt-dublin

Nedser101 wrote: »

How on earth can you forget your score, me personally would be still thinking about a missed put on 2 nd ,while making a putt on the 9 th aargh !

this is exactly what you shouldn't be doing, you should alays put a bad shot straight out of your head and forget about it and concentrate on the task at hand