Playing better/worse than you think

[tongzilla]

Why do most of us have a bad day when we think we're going to play very well, and vice versa?

And sometimes, if you prepare a lot before a round, you end up playing worse, and if you don't prepare at all, you play very well.

[Doral 2006, pgatour.com]

"Davis Love III was told his tee time was 11:14 a.m., but it sounded to him like 11:40 a.m. He was in the fitness trailer when he saw the tee times, rushed out the door and went to the first tee without warming up. "I hit driver and 1-iron to 20 feet and made eagle," Love said with a laugh. He shot 67 and was at 12-under 204."

[bts]

Why do most of us have a bad day when we think we're going to play very well, and vice versa?

And sometimes, if you prepare a lot before a round, you end up playing worse, and if you don't prepare at all, you play very well.

[Doral 2006, pgatour.com]

"Davis Love III was told his tee time was 11:14 a.m., but it sounded to him like 11:40 a.m. He was in the fitness trailer when he saw the tee times, rushed out the door and went to the first tee without warming up. "I hit driver and 1-iron to 20 feet and made eagle," Love said with a laugh. He shot 67 and was at 12-under 204."

"Expecting the result" keeps people away from "stay in the present/moment", making the swing.

[Matt]

I've found - and perhaps it's obvious - that I need to warmup as I usually do in order to play my best. For me, that means not doing much in terms of warming up! My best golf is played when I go from the trunk to the first tee. Maybe a few practice putts if I have time, but otherwise just a few practice swings and I'm off. This is rooted in my years of high school golf where you'd show up to after-school practice and be teeing off within 2 minutes - I hardly had to time to make sure my shoes were tied.

The problem with this arises when I played competitions. At the State Amateur, for example, they've got the range stocked with Pro V1s and since the tournament is a "big deal" I always warmed up. Looking back I think it took me out of my routine (I had both good and bad rounds during my State Ams) because I'd be there hitting drivers and trying to get them flying just how I like. That leads to anxiety and nervousness, at least for me.

I like being a bit rushed on the course too. I enjoy playing fast, to the tune of 45 mins per 9 holes with a cart. I was able to do this regularly at the country club I worked at. Otherwise when walking we'd have 3-4 players, hit when ready, start walking after you hit, talking at all times, etc. That style of game lets me play my best because it fits my personality. When big tournaments rolled around and people are marking one-foot putts like it's the U.S. Open and suddenly forgetting how to take a drop from a water hazard, I used to (and still kind of do) get irritated quickly. Playing within your style is a huge factor.

[EdZ]

Just because the ball is still on the ground doesn't always mean it is a good idea to take a long time to hit a shot, or in this case, to warm up.

A lot like free throw shots.

It is a worthwhile experiement to play more like a 'jump shot'.

See the shot, step in, fire.

Too much time warming up, or too much time for each shot, and you give up the benefits of reacting to a target.

The human mind/body is much better when it can react.

There is, of course, a balance between properly preparing, and rushing. I suspect in the case of Davis Love, he is clearly already 'prepared' - and was able to get into 'reacting to his target'.

"Give up control to gain control" - Geroge Knudson

"Go to the movies" - Jack Nicklaus

"My instincts never let me down" - Tiger Woods

(note, I may be off on the exact Tiger quote)

[birdie_man]

What's that "go to the movies" quote all about?

[powerdraw]

What's that "go to the movies" quote all about?

if i remember it correctly, correct me if im wrong, it was about playing the movie of the next shot at hand in your head...seems thats why Jack took so much time to prepare over a shot."

[EdZ]

if i remember it correctly, correct me if im wrong, it was about playing the movie of the next shot at hand in your head...seems thats why Jack took so much time to prepare over a shot."

Yes - and not just the ball flight, but the entire event.

"see yourself" doing the entire pre-shot, making the swing, holding your finish and watching the result

As a big fan of Jack's motion, I often will see his pattern first, followed by myself doing the same.

Or visualizing Tiger in 2000.... and then myself doing the same motion.