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Clubs that induce fear

I seem to have a few clubs in my bag that intimidate me. They sit over there in the corner. smoking cigarettes and leer at me with a snarl. I timidly take them from their space and anxiously await the humiliation they'll torture me with. These clubs are my 4 iron, my 50 and 60 degree wedges.

Outside of my normal inconsistency in my swings, which is improving, my issues are all mental really. These few clubs, I think I can't hit so, I can't hit them...

That same par 3 with the pond, I played Sunday, where I stuck the green with a 7 wood, I played today with a 4 iron off the tee, I hit it fat and landed short and left of the pond. I was only 50 yards from the pin, but the pond was still between me and the pin. I took out my 60 degree wedge to fly the pond and proceeded to chip 2 ball in a row right into the water... I walked away from that hole at that point. I shook it off though and played some nice shots after that.

How do you get past that mental BS. The wedges I simply don't use enough. Should I be passing up opportunities to play 9 hole and just practice chipping in the back yard? The 4 Iron, I think I can overcome.

Danny

5 comments

5 Comments

danny

Apr 07, 2021

Hi @Cody McDowell,

It's funny, on the last hole yesterday, I duffed the tee shot and ended up about 105 from the pin. I said to myself, "oh, sand wedge, I love my sand wedge and my sand wedge loves me..." (I may have actually said this aloud! LOL) ... and what do you know... I stuck the green!

You are correct I think, and have articulated a very viable solution! I'm going to use this tip. I do think I've been able to overcome the water thoughts. Right now its certain clubs. For water carries, I usually figure out wat needs to be carried, and go a bit bigger so, even a mis hit should carry it. I'm also getting better at laying up and, taking my medicine when I get stuck behind trees. I'm now punching out through the easy path, back onto the fairway rather than trying to get yardage.

Not having many many years of playing this game, I don't have a ton of experience in course management. On that same note, never having this sort of ball flight, ever, I haven't really had much need for course management until now! LOL

I do wonder when I'm going to get past the mechanics of playing "golf Swing" I imagine it is a matter of time and confidence. Unfortunately, I still have to remind myself of certain swing mechanics and it takes me a little while to get into the groove. I just need to play more, I know it sounds awful but, I think that is my way forward!

Danny

Tom Saguto

Apr 07, 2021

Replying to

Great conversation, @danny and @Cody McDowell! Some very insightful and helpful stuff in there.

Danny, the only way to figure out how to stop playing "golf swing" and start playing "golf" is by...well...going out there and playing more golf!! 😎 There's a lot in that Fearless Golf book that can help you in this regard - "what's my target?", the "think box" vs. the "play box", etc. - but the bottom line is that you just have to go out there and do it. Then, someday (hopefully very soon) after enough on-course reps, it'll just happen. Rather than fearing that pond and pulling a "water ball" out of your bag, you'll briefly appreciate it's beauty as part of the scenery and then it will disappear from your mind as your focus switches to the target and the shot your going to play, neither of which have anything to do with that pretty little pond.

Yes - it is very important to practice and develop your wedge game - chipping, pitching, bunker play, and those less-than-full swing shots like the 50-yarder you mentioned. Find the technique(s) that work best for you in practice and then commit to them on the course. As for that dastardly 4-iron, I suppose you could pull it from your bag and replace it with a hybrid. However, I'd try a different tack first. How about going out on the course late in the day when there's not much traffic with just a 4, 7, PW, and putter in your bag (you can include your 60 for an added measure of torture)? Force the relationship so that you're teeing off with the 4 iron on all the par 4's & 5's, and just make your swing as if it were one of your preferred clubs. You'll probably need to use the 4 for some layups and approaches as well. Learn how to step on it to get more distance out of your irons and also how to dial it down, since many (most?) shots will be in-between yardages for your limited arsenal. It's a great way to practice as you play, and you may find that with the added attention your nemeses may start behaving a bit better for you.

Bottom line - golf is about the only sport I know of which is practiced in a different environment than where it is actually played, and this is oftentimes why "Ranger Rick" is challenged in trying to take his practice range "A" game to the course. My point is that if you want to play the course better, then play the course!

Dissertation over. Carry on.

danny

Apr 07, 2021

Replying to

@Tom Saguto I really do prefer practicing on the course, by playing a round rather than going to the driving range. As inconsistent as I am, still, a round on the course is way more enjoyable! Next time I go out on my own I will try that limited selection practice!

Tom Saguto

Apr 07, 2021

Replying to

@danny - Great! Let us know how that goes for you and if it serves to spice up that relationship with your 4 iron!

Cody McDowell

Apr 07, 2021

Danny, I’m crazy into speak things into existence so the way I get through water on a hole is simply don’t think about the water. Instead of thinking about a duff I think about great ball flight or envision the shot I want to hit. The water doesn’t exist in my mind. The same applies to bunkers or any obstacle. Think positive thoughts about the shot you want. Tom even mentions that eventually our mind should shift from a mechanical swing thought to just thinking about the actual shot itself. The water probably isn’t a part of that shot. At my home course 18 is a 300 yard par 4. Water covers 230-285 landing area. It’s a layup to a comfortable range and then it’s picking a small target. Aim small miss small and let the chips fall where they may. I use to struggle the few months playing this hole but now the only time I register the water is just being short of it. As far as having a club I don’t like that would be a 3 wood. I mostly don’t like it because I don’t get great yardage out of it. It’s getting better though. Again my approach is the same though. Positive thoughts and vibes only. Every time I hit my 3 wood I think about the best shot I ever hit with it. Then I just think they will happen this time. There is a book by Bob Rotella and he says this is Tom Watsons approach. It’s very interesting and helped me a ton. Positive thoughts and words and actions. Good vibes only and build on your success. Your success is inevitable Danny!