golfrewind.com

After struggling with my short game on about 5 holes yesterday (all within 20yrds, took 4 shots to get down each time) I mentioned that I thought I was getting too mechanical, my playing partner said I looked like I am freezing over the ball and thinking about something.

I need to get out of this habit as it is costing me shots (at least 5 yesterday) and thats the difference of shooting 2 over my handicap as yesterday, or shooting what could/should have been at least 3 under.

I cannot personally think what I am freezing over but I guess mechanics. I need to get into the habit of seeing and doing. I can do it on the practice /putting chipping green, but seem to take forever on the course? I guess I need to care less about the result?

Any thoughts or tips for me?

The Sequence I like is to draw an imaginary line behind the ball. Behind the line you gauge the wind the lie the shot shape and make a club selection. Then once all that is done and you have pictured the shot you want to make you step over the line committed to the shot. No more thought just commitment. Tiger has often said that under the most pressure when he had to make a shot he doesnt even rememeber makeing the shot. His mind lets go of his body. I think its sort of like Zen Golf.

I myself use a swing trigger that is a part of my pre shot routine. A pre shot routine has two seperate parts. The part where I am behind the ball making choices, this is where you need to be analytical. Then we take our address, and go into the second part, the check list. There you check your grip, your placement of the feet, the squaring of our bodies, and the setting the club face on our desired target or landing area. Then if a player can just trust he has done all the check list, he can commit to the shot, and just attempt to exicute his plan. In other words, just swing. At this point, either you can hit the shot or not, but you did all you could, so just accept the outcome. So if you have a swing trigger at the end of your second phase of you own pre shot rotine, then instead of freezing over the ball you just swing and trust your body will do what you have spent so long to teach it to do. Trust in what you have trained yourself to do. Just swing. No thoughts, as you checked everthing already, just swing away, and then take what you get. No freezing, no thinking, just you being you. Hit the ball.

What exactly do you do when you practice this shot? It seems to be working for you at the practice area. You need to look at what you're doing in practice, and do the same thing on the course. Also might help to practice while thinking you're are on the course so your practice and on course game will be the same one.

Try telling yourselft when you are practicing your putting, that the putt is for $50,000 and first place in some golf tourniment. Get used to making putts with money and stuff on the line. Then when you are on the course tell yourself the putt is for a beer, not $50,000. That should help you relax on the course and sink more of those putts.

Try this for putting, but make sure you make it a habit:

Take two practice swings, and then get to your ball and just hit it. Do not stand over it thinking of all the things that could or could not happen, do that during your two practices swings. But when you get to the ball JUST HIT IT!

Good Luck!

Pick your line when putting,take 2 practice strokes one more look the hit the putt. Pitching ,pick the landing area 2 practice swings then play the shot,trust your first instinct its usually right. Dont think it only breeds doubt and 'paralysis by analysis'

Golf is like any sport. You need to be in the reactionary part of your brain to play really play I mean...

The problem is the ball is not moving, like in baseball, and with all the gurus planting swing thoughts in your mind, no wonder you freeze. Hard to 'feel' the shot when you think.

Like a basketball player who is driving to the basket, and a defender gets in his way. What does he do? He improvises. He doesnt do a customary lay in.

The same is true about golf. There is "No right way" or "wrong way" to make a shot, or chip in your case. Depends on the lie, the distance to the flag, the contour of the land. Will you fly the ball there, and check the shot, roll it like a putt, or hop it in there?

So feel is the most important thing. How do you 'feel' - you will be able to get off a good shot, will determine the type of shot you play. Get off the thoughts, and get on the 'feel' and you will do great.

Eric Larson
Professional Golfer

I know what you mean. Nothing makes me angrier than hitting an easy chip fat and have it go 3 yds and basically have the same shot again.

For me 2 things help ...

Find a way to not think about it too much.

Always accelerate through a short game shot, and trust that you are playing the right shot. Often my brain gets in the way on a short shot, and thinks I am swinging too hard, resulting in deceleration through contact and a horrible result. No matter what make sure you are accelerating at impact.


Sometimes singing a favorite song in my head helps to distract my brain. You know you can hit the shots ... you do it in practice all the time. You just need to find some way to turn off your thinking brain and just do it.