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I can hit practice pitch shots normally, but then get very quick with the real shot. I was wondering if anyone else has had this and what they did about it. I would even consider a beta blocker at this stage.

I have taken Beta Blockers for an actuall heart condition, and they do slow down your heart rate a lot, but they won't help anxiety.

Taking a couple of really deep breaths and exhale slowly before each shot - that will work way better.

I still do that and I've been playing for over 35 years. Anxiety is born of insecurity, lack of confidence, and confidence is built by practice. Practice doesn't just mean physical form, it means mental form, too. Go hit chip after chip with the mindset that this is the real thing, this shot counts...Harvey said to just use one ball...it creates the scenario for the mind that this one counts...then, when you do get over the real thing your mind will tell you that this one counts but it's no big deal because you've practiced and practiced this shot a million times and this time is no different, so just do it. Think of it like a poker hand...not every shot is gonna turn out like you like it, even if you hit it just the way you wanted. But if you do your part, make a disciplined stroke just the same way as you've practiced a million times, then you've done everything in your power to execute the shot and the result will usually reward you...the rest is up to the poker, er, golf gods. So, in other words, build your confidence at the practice green, take it straight to the course with you and make the shots without worrying ahead of time about the consequences...if you do your part the consequences will be rewarding most of the time. I have spent countless hours chipping and putting one ball.

Shade

And don't take drugs unless your doctor tells you to...even then you might want to get another opinion.

Shade

You could consider no longer making the practice swings. There may be considerable stress associated with that, even though you say you can execute them normally. For example, the practice session could go something like this: First practice swing comes out very nicely. You decide to make a second practice swing, planning to repeat the first one, just to make sure you have the shot grooved. However, the second practice swing comes out OK but wasn't as nice as the first one. You decide to make a third practice swing, and it comes out a little bit nicer than the second one, but still not as nice as the first one. After three practice swings you decide that you have to get on with it, and you set up for the real shot, not perfectly confident that you will be able to repeat the first practice swing (because you failed twice already)....

I play my pitch shots by feel. I take a really good look at the green, the spot where I wish to land the ball. I do not practice the swing. I take a waggle and I hit the ball. I more or less automatically decide how hard to hit the ball, just like I would if I had to throw the ball on the green. I do the same when I put.

For pitch shots, I really like the analogy of throwing the ball onto the green. Imagine how you would do that: Would you practice a nice underhanded throw without a ball in your hand three times before you did it? Or would you go ahead and just do it?

Try and play instinctivly,dont think to much,play by feel,if that means no practice swing go for it. Have been doing this myself for a while now and it does help.

Some of the problem is my technique and fundamentals, but most of my problem is between the ears. Thanks to each of you for the great advice.

I believe I will have to gain confidence through repeating good swings and improved fundamentals, and then just let it happen.

pause at the top and than hit the ball. I practice doing this lots of times to remind myself that as long as I don't rush the downswing,even on a chip or pitch shot,not that many things could go wrong..Think the problem with anxiety is that you tend to rush everything..remind yourself to go go slow and even take a longer backswing and just let the club drop on its natural path.It takes the "hit" part out of it..

also a good drill would be trying to finish the same length as your back swing.That also gives you better tempo.AND as the other poster mentioned,practice makes perfect.

I'm in the process of coming back from a pretty long layoff from the game...always kept putting and chipping in the yard and hitting short irons in a field but it's just not the same as the real thing...you keep some semblance of your swing but you lose a lot. So I'm having to re-learn a lot of things and the short game has been erratic, even spasmodic, at times. I'm not kidding, especially at first there were some virtually epilectic twitches that were embarrassing. But something (re)occurred to me the other day and everything clicked...so here's what I've been concentrating on: keep the sole of the club flat on the ground, keep the left wrist flat even on short shots, keep the hands quiet, and most of all use the big muscles to swing. When I quit using my wrists to swing the club and concentrated on keeping the triangle intact and swinging the whole setup with the shoulders/triceps/lats with a flat left wrist, man, everything fell into place - nothing was breaking down, no twitches, knew right where the bottom of the swing was...this all made accelerating through the shot a lot easier (more confidence) and suddenly I could lend more of my focus to how hard to hit the ball. So that would be my technical advice...keep the wrists quiet and swing the whole triangle with the big muscles and accelerate...that should stabilize things and build confidence.

Shade

Shade,

Any drills you used to take the hands out of the pitch swing? I just read Stan Utley's book and he says similar things to your advice. I enjoyed the book and I am ready to start practicing his approach at the short game area tomorrow. I just need to find the confidence and trust.

Keep your left arm straight and lock the wrists. This should keep your hands still. Also make sure you keep your head down on the ball.

Not really...I just feel like arms are fully extended with the elbows tight to the ribcage and the left wrist flat but cocked...then when I take it away I try to keep the legs quiet, the left hand relaxed and take everything back in one piece with the shoulders only. Also, very important, I only take it back as much as I need to really accelerate and go ahead and hit the ball...deceleration is the main killer of most pitch shots and that usually happens because we take the club back too far for the shot at hand. I must say it takes mental discipline to keep everything intact and quiet while swinging the whole setup with the shoulders...most of us want to use the hands for more than just holding the club...imo, on 90% of all golf shots that's all they should do. Quiet, firm (I don't like the work "locked") hands produce the best results. Let me know how you do with it, Andy.

Shade