This is a desperate question from a desperate disc golfer. I have absolutely and completely lost my mental game. I'm a player that has gone from playing ~950 golf over a three month period between July 6 to October 7. I've done nothing but increase my time spent with discs (putting, driving, field work like mad, in the garage daily in the worst winter months).... but from October until now my tournament rating has been (14 rounds + last 4 doubled) ~885.

The problem isn't my game. It isn't that I've lost my putting game, or my driving game. I haven't lost any technical skills. I cash every weekend at doubles, at small events like the Michigan Intercollegiates I'm lights out, I took a local pro to task today in skins and just the other week took another local pro in a tag match one on one.

But when it comes down to a tournament? Everything collapses. I have no game between the ears. I had one for a time. I could lower my head, take some deep breaths, and just bring it all together... but I've lost it and I need any resources anybody can give me. It would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks for any help, sorry for being longwinded, I'm just incredibly frustrated right now.

Have fun.

If it's really not your game, stop playing am, start playing pro! Sounds like I am just BS'n you, but I'm not! It is really hard to win when you know you should. Also, you play to the level of your competition, a lot of times! If nothing else, you will get to play with the best the game has to offer! Besides, do you really need any more discs? :)

This isn't the right forum. Oops... my bad, heh. I just noticed this...

As for playing Pro... I can't afford to play tournaments. The TDs pay for me since I do all the local club stuff online, promotions, results, I've started talking to businesses about sponsorships, etc. But if I jump pro they won't do it. :(

Zen Golf
By Dr. Joseph Parent.
Read it

I had the same problem for the past year and a half. I was on the up and up rating wise, rating hit about 922 and then the off season came. The next season I saw my rating drop down to 901. I have just recently started to turn it around (I hope). I have taken a whole new perspective on the game and it has helped tremendously.

The Zen Golf is a pretty good read or listen. I have it on CD and listen to it every now and again.

Golf is not a game of perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella.

Goes over everything from your best rounds to your worst.

It's kinda simple.

Let's say you can make 80% of your putts from 20 feet. You miss one. The next hole you have the same putt. Statistics say this should go in. Tell yourself that. It really works.

Let's say you are on fire and can't miss. One could argue that the previous example would say you should miss one. However, in this case - you are on fire - you are denying statistics.

plus Dr. Bob has my favorite quote dealing with golf...

"there is no such thing as a hot round because it is impossible to play outside your own skill level. All a "hot" round is is you playing to your full potentional"


That REALLY helps esp. when you shoot like a 10 on course and then shoot 3. You have to focus on the positive of shooting 10 rather than the negative of shooting 3.

There's really nothing anyone can tell you except stay positive. I know easier said than done, but what works for me is simply taking my strokes and moving on. The next hole will be better. If you make a mistake, take a few minutes, evaluate how you threw your shot, and make a mental note on how to correct that mistake. Whatever holes you have the worst luck on, take a stack of discs and practice those holes only until you feel comfortable to make a consistent shot. Remember, you cant control other peoples games. Focus on your game only, and focus on one hole at a time. Dont think to yourself, just get the 4 or 5 and go get the birdie next hole. Say to yourself go for the birdie or the par, and keep up the birdies and pars. It's all about staying positive because when you truly think about, you're getting frustrated over perhaps one of the stupidest games invented. I love disc golf with a passion, but sometime I laugh when I think to myself "I'm throwing a piece of plastic into a metal bucket. Why am I so [censored] off now?" and it makes me laugh when I realize this.

I'll second the Zen Golf book. You can get a cheap used copy on Amazon. Read it, grasshopper.

I also have benefited from Zen Golf. Particularly the section that explains how the brain works based on images. I have heard many great players tell me that the most important part of any shot is to see the line before you throw. This book helped me understand why it is so critical to visualize the shot you intend to throw before you throw it. The body will produce the image as long as nothing else is interfering, such as self-doubt or mental chatter...

zen golf is for suckers like the sinistral duecer

Let's say you can make 80% of your putts from 20 feet. You miss one. The next hole you have the same putt. Statistics say this should go in. Tell yourself that. It really works.

Let's say you are on fire and can't miss. One could argue that the previous example would say you should miss one. However, in this case - you are on fire - you are denying statistics.

Most important is to do anything to give yourself more confidence. I can't help but feel, though, that this is a terrible mind game to play with yourself when you have a putt to make! Just play within your game and focus on the shot at hand. Step up, breathe and ask yourself HOW AM I GOING TO GET THIS DONE then give it your best shot. I would recommend not being so focused on the RESULTS and more on the process. btw, who cares what your rating is if you're having fun?!

zen golf is for suckers like the sinistral duecer



Zen is for people who want to be sucessful at golf in pressure situations such as tournaments. IGNCE does not care if he sucks at golf in pressure situations like tournaments...

Be the ball... :D

Seriously, trust your practice.
Turn your brain off, and throw what you know.

im clutch like chauncey billups beesan

and you know this.......man

I fail to see the comparison...

i see your playing with lehman has disolved your ability to understand even the simplest things

im sorry

There is a book called "Mind Over Golf" that is a very good read. I don't remember the author, it's been a while since I've read it, but it has many good tips and techniques that can help you understand your game (and the game of Golf) better.

Once you understand and accept who is the real culprit of your bad shots/rounds, you are on your way to fixing the problem.

Apparently I need to focus on golf books other than the one written by Rick Reilly... Thanks for the advice guys. Too bad I can't find any on books.google.com but I'll check a library next, heh...

Golf is a game where you must beat the course. The players on the course(tournaments), or the lack of players on the course(casual/doubles/league) shouldn't matter, you still need to beat the course.

You can't help what the guy on your card is going to shoot, all you can do is try to manage the course to the best of your ability and hope he didn't do it better.

Simply look at it as you vs. the course, instead of you vs. the field.

If that fails then a small dose of Xanax should do the trick. :D

Golf is not a game of perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella.



The above book is an excellent recommendation by MTL. Another good read by Dr. Bob Rotella is "Golf is a Game of Confidence". This book not only deals with the mental game, it reveals the thinking of top professionals in the sport. There are 18 chapters dedicated to 18 different PGA players who share and discuss strategy, shot making, etc.

Golf is an amazing game. You'll often shoot the same score, but you'll never play the same game twice.
Relax....have fun....and just play the course. :)

I had a similar stuggle. In 2001 my rating got up to 948, but then dropped to a low of 914 in 2003. What worked for me was to allow myself to suck and be OK with that.

I created a bigger purpose for myself on the course than shooting a particular score. I began to judge my round first on my sportsmanship. I began to root for my fellow competitors to play well and stopped trying to beat them. The most important thing for me was to try and carry an attitude of gratitude with me on the course for having the opportunity to be playing in the tournament. After all I could be working, in jail, in a hospital, or pushing up daisies. My rating has crept back up to 956, I'm more interested in enjoying a round of golf with great guys, and have a lot of fun being out there. I'm never going to make a living playing disc golf tournaments. Why would I want to give up my weekend and spend money to drive myself crazy about my score?

Another book recommendation: The Inner Game of Golf by Timothy Gallway (also wrote The Inner Game of Tennis)

Golf is a game where you must beat the course. The players on the course(tournaments), or the lack of players on the course(casual/doubles/league) shouldn't matter, you still need to beat the course.

You can't help what the guy on your card is going to shoot, all you can do is try to manage the course to the best of your ability and hope he didn't do it better.

Simply look at it as you vs. the course, instead of you vs. the field.





Not many people get this. It is difficult NOT to think/worry/obcess about what the others on your card are doing.

"What disc is he using?", "Why didn't I take that route?"

It's hard to just play YOUR game. I usually play with guys. I can't throw like they throw, so I play my game all the time. I still beat them on occasion. :D

Golf is a game where you must beat the course. The players on the course(tournaments), or the lack of players on the course(casual/doubles/league) shouldn't matter, you still need to beat the course.

You can't help what the guy on your card is going to shoot, all you can do is try to manage the course to the best of your ability and hope he didn't do it better.

Simply look at it as you vs. the course, instead of you vs. the field.


This is so very, VERY true!

nanook

Golf is a game where you must beat the course. The players on the course(tournaments), or the lack of players on the course(casual/doubles/league) shouldn't matter, you still need to beat the course.

You can't help what the guy on your card is going to shoot, all you can do is try to manage the course to the best of your ability and hope he didn't do it better.

Simply look at it as you vs. the course, instead of you vs. the field.


This is so very, VERY true!

nanook



Simply not true.

I know I can add extra tension and pressure to my copmetition by carefully timed dollar bets...

"Dollar on this putt..."

"Dollar says you cant hit that gap..."

Are you kidding...

The trick is to not focus too much on working the competition.

Because you still have to have the scores to back up your act..... :D

Ugh... I played with a guy up in Wisconsin that was all about that. "Working" the guys he was playing against, believing that by leaning one way or the other he could influence where they shank, looking at a guy and silently calling him names to affect his psyche...

Yeah, it bugged me even to be his partner in doubles. Heh.

I def. believe that it is good to pump yourself up from time to time based on "I need this to tie" or whatnot...

However, when it comes down to it, if you are down one stroke on the last hole and you pin it and the guy ahead of you does the same, then you did all you could do.

In the end, all you can do is throw as good as you can. If you play as best as you can and someone beats you then shake thier hand.

The only person you should ever worry about is yourself. Don't EVER set a goal to win or finish 5 within the lead or cash or whatever. Just say you want to play good and accomplish that - things will fall the way they are supposed to fall. I would rather play good and miss cash then play bad and win b/c your finish in the field is more than likely more of a representation of how the field played rather than how you played. Hell, I just averaged 997 in a B Tier and got 6th. 6th!! 997 could threaten to win most weekends. You think I'm upset - hell no.

I created a bigger purpose for myself on the course than shooting a particular score. I began to judge my round first on my sportsmanship. I began to root for my fellow competitors to play well and stopped trying to beat them. The most important thing for me was to try and carry an attitude of gratitude with me on the course for having the opportunity to be playing in the tournament.


The MOST refreshing post I've read here in a loooong time! Thank you!! :cool:

Ugh... I played with a guy up in Wisconsin that was all about that. "Working" the guys he was playing against, believing that by leaning one way or the other he could influence where they shank, looking at a guy and silently calling him names to affect his psyche...

Yeah, it bugged me even to be his partner in doubles. Heh.



I'm not talking about, a certain strategy or anything based on distracting your opponent, all I said was that there IS that element to consider.

It happens one way or another, either I call the dollar bet, during the round, or you think about a certain putt affecting the $5 bet you made before the round... :D

All you need to think about during a tourney or when your about to putt is this..........

Team W L GB
Cleveland 27 16 -
Detroit 27 17 �

GO TRIBE!

I hate you. :) In the most pleasant way, of course.


GO TIGERS!

Update:

Team W L PCT GB
Detroit 28 17
Cleveland 27 17

also pistons 2 cavs 0

sideshow bob can continue to try and flop, i find it hilarious

Update:
Lebron posterized Rasheed "Big Mouth" Wallace with a thunderous dunk and the Cavs narrowed the series to 2-1 in favour of detroit. Also, I've never seen Chauncey so befuddled, I thought he was supposed to be a good point guard?

The Indians Swept the Tigers!!

Team W L GB
Cleveland 31 18 -
Detroit 29 21 2.5

Go TRIBE! Go CAVS!

Congratulations on pounding on our B-Team. You'll get whats coming to you in the playoffs after we've taken the Wild Card. And yes, this is regular season surrender. When you've got your number three starter, and your two most significant bullpen members on the DL, its pretty **** difficult to win.

Crazy that somehow Chad Durbin almost won his fifth straight today, too bad that [censored] makeshift bullpen blew it. As for Pistons-Cavs... if you think we're losing to the Cavs, you're nuts. We're ice cold and still up 2-1? I'll be scared in the finals, right now I'm not worried. Cavs can't handle the Palace crowd, the atmosphere... even if it goes to 2-2, not frightened a bit.

Feels a bit like deja vu, how did it turn out last time? :)

It's also very deja vu'ish because of the comparisons of Lebron to Jordan, and the history with Jordan losing to the Pistons 4 years in a row before finally beating them and winning his first Championship. Maybe Lebron will buck that trend, and win on his second try. He's definitely focused.

If it's only happening in sanctioned tournaments (when it matters), then it sounds to me like a serious case of TournamentHead. I caught a bad case of it in Tulsa a few years back, and it's VERY contagious. It looks like it may have spread to your region of the US, maybe even further. Good luck, this thing is resistant to any known antibiotic. I believe I had to start having FUN again to get rid of my case. :D