[JDorfler]

What do you say to yourself on certain shots to take some of the pressure off? For instance;

3 iron or fairway wood shot: Dang, this club is small and short.

Lob Wedge or chip: I've got way more green to play with than I need.

Drive: Easy, this whole is short and wide.

Long putts: Putting is easier than chipping.

Approach shots: That green is HUGE!

Mid length putts: That hole is way bigger than the ball.

I would like to see what you guys whisper in your mind's ear to get the butterflies out.

[banistr]

Ummm, I dont have little voices talking to me....

[mjc694]

when i want to psyche myself up, and prep for a shot......i try to be more pragmatic. i dont worry about how long, or wide a fair way is.....i remind myself to swing smoothly, and to get my personal swing thought issues right. concentrating on the basics takes some of the pressure off.

[JDorfler]

I remember a little thing I was told by my Chaplain in the Army when I was young, and real stupid.

"Remember, son, it's okay to talk to yourself, it's okay to answer, but if you find yourself asking yourself 'Huh?' It's time to pack it in."

[Seve424]

"Don't hook it"

[Almost]

See...See your future, Be...Be The Ball

[scotton]

"Please oh please don't chunk it. Or hook it. Or thin it. Why does my grip feel weird? Did I lock my car?" This is just what flashes through my mind while I'm in the impact zone. My pre-shot thoughts get a little ugly.

[tarheel]

i tell myself "keep your eyes on the ball"

[stryper]

Let it happen.

By the time I say this, I already know what "it" is, now I'm just telling myself to stay out of the way.

[withdrew]

"I am Tiger Woods."

[Navyplayer]

"It's allll in the Hipsss.. It's allllll in the Hipssss".... Then I yip my putt.

[JDorfler]

A lot of these are really good.

[rjs]

i tend to use tunnel vision to help me with the shot, the less i see around me the better. i concentrate on the ball and the hole nothing else.

[golfho]

I say - goodbye ball, it was nice knowing you.

[lutherham]

"What is My Target" - Then visualize the shot. Have you ever hit a perfect golf shot? Remember that. Don't worry about all of the bad ones you've hit, because there are plenty more to come. When you're driving a car, do you constantly think about crashing? You just do what you've been doing for years. On important shots/holes in tournament play when the nerves appear I ask myself "Why am I playing the game". I'd highly recommend reading Fearless Golf. Changed the direction fo my game.

Cheers.

[woohoo4me]

scotton, on Feb 6 2008, 07:24 AM, said:

"Please oh please don't chunk it. Or hook it. Or thin it. Why does my grip feel weird? Did I lock my car?" This is just what flashes through my mind while I'm in the impact zone. My pre-shot thoughts get a little ugly.

I am so happy I'm not the only one who stands over a putt thinking, "Did I make the right decision on that thing at work yesterday? I wonder what's for dinner.......That drive on #3 really sucked......what was that song by that guy about the thing?"

Oh well, now you know just one of the reasons my index is what it is........

Woo

[withdrew]

"You're so cool..."

[BallSpinner]

[Easy Chair]

I do the math, pick a point 3 feet in front of the ball in-line with the target, think of Ms Johansson naked and hit it over that point... job done

[Matt10]

"Breathe in on backswing...breathe out on downswing". Simple and effective - it's amazing how many players don't stop to take a breath before they hit, or during the swing.

[jdub123]

"this shot is not life threatening."

works real well.

[hbear]

I always liked "Nice and smooth."

Or when under pressure I normally say something like "Right down the middle just like you always do...." if faced with a tough driving hole. Or a simple "back of the cup" when putting those short 3 footers. Or "knock it down" when I have a wedge in my hand, refering to knocking down the flagstick.

I mostly do my self talk in competitive rounds....always using positive words, that illustrate a positive picture in my mind.

[KDMullins]

The same thing I say to myself before I do anything important..."Don't F@$K it up."

[BallSpinner]

I'm very surprised at the number of people listing negative swing thoughts.
(i.e. "Don't ______________ .")


Don't golf pschologists say that the brain only hears the negative portion of that? For example, "Don't leave it short" gets processed as "leave it short."

[bsatour]

Believe.

[Matt10]

BallSpinner, on Feb 6 2008, 03:25 PM, said:

I'm very surprised at the number of people listing negative swing thoughts.
(i.e. "Don't ______________ .")


Don't golf pschologists say that the brain only hears the negative portion of that? For example, "Don't leave it short" gets processed as "leave it short."

I agree and have seen this in most golf psych books/cds. Using negative words results in negative action - or tensing up the majority of the time.

We're all guilty of it though.

[BallSpinner]

Matt10, on Feb 6 2008, 01:52 PM, said:

We're all guilty of it though.

I wish I could say that's not true, but I do it all the time.

[fish]

"SMOOTH IT OUT THERE" I use this one on occasion

"naaaanaaaaaanaaaaaaanaaaaa" when putting. chevy chase in caddyshack

" Be the ball billy"

" Do you take drugs danny"

Just a few mental things that I repeat in my head when playing.



Eric/fish

[burndiesel]

Go through my A.R.C.
Analyse
Rehearse
Commit

Then before i hit i remind myself of the 10 2 letter words:
"If it is to be it is up to me"

[stryper]

BallSpinner, on Feb 6 2008, 04:25 PM, said:

I'm very surprised at the number of people listing negative swing thoughts.
(i.e. "Don't ______________ .")


Don't golf pschologists say that the brain only hears the negative portion of that? For example, "Don't leave it short" gets processed as "leave it short."

Actually, just the opposite...the (subconscious) brain doesn't hear any of it; it simply sees the image described in the thinking. And since there is no image for the word don't, the brain interprets the command "don't go OB right," for example, as, "OB right," and visualizes exactly what it thinks you are wanting it to do. And then it does a fine job of accomplishing just that.

[BallSpinner]

stryper, on Feb 6 2008, 03:03 PM, said:

BallSpinner, on Feb 6 2008, 04:25 PM, said:

I'm very surprised at the number of people listing negative swing thoughts.
(i.e. "Don't ______________ .")


Don't golf pschologists say that the brain only hears the negative portion of that? For example, "Don't leave it short" gets processed as "leave it short."

Actually, just the opposite...the (subconscious) brain doesn't hear any of it; it simply sees the image described in the thinking. And since there is no image for the word don't, the brain interprets the command "don't go OB right," for example, as, "OB right," and visualizes exactly what it thinks you are wanting it to do. And then it does a fine job of accomplishing just that.

AHHHHHH! That makes perfect sense! Thank you!

Any recommendations for "erasing" an image if it pops into your head?

[pro11ace]

Usually something that is in the opposite way of confidence LOL. A good one over a putt i made up is, "trust your putt"

[withdrew]

I recite Ezekiel 25:17

[Navyplayer]

"27-9"......."Swing... Set... Through...."

It somtimes goes with me from the golf course to the bedroom.... dont' ask me why....

[stryper]

BallSpinner, on Feb 6 2008, 06:07 PM, said:

stryper, on Feb 6 2008, 03:03 PM, said:

BallSpinner, on Feb 6 2008, 04:25 PM, said:

I'm very surprised at the number of people listing negative swing thoughts.
(i.e. "Don't ______________ .")


Don't golf pschologists say that the brain only hears the negative portion of that? For example, "Don't leave it short" gets processed as "leave it short."

Actually, just the opposite...the (subconscious) brain doesn't hear any of it; it simply sees the image described in the thinking. And since there is no image for the word don't, the brain interprets the command "don't go OB right," for example, as, "OB right," and visualizes exactly what it thinks you are wanting it to do. And then it does a fine job of accomplishing just that.

AHHHHHH! That makes perfect sense! Thank you!

Any recommendations for "erasing" an image if it pops into your head?

It probably won't go away completely, but try to treat it as insignificant. Immediately shrug it off, as if it's not worth your time (which it's not), and deliberately picture what you want to happen. It also helps to attach a positive emotional feel to the "new" vision--i.e., really like what you now see.

[e-dog9]

I've always been found of my states motto "With God All things are possible"

And when that does not work "Mother F8cker" is always good, but it has to be timed so that the backswing is "mother" and the downswing is "f8cker"

[hbear]

BallSpinner, on Feb 6 2008, 04:07 PM, said:

AHHHHHH! That makes perfect sense! Thank you!

Any recommendations for "erasing" an image if it pops into your head?

Just think of something positive and move on...it's not worth your time OR your energy.

Bob Rotella always preaches focus on the "process" because in reality it's all you can control.
Once the ball leaves your clubface the ball is at the mercy of the elements and other factors you cannot control.

When you focus on the process, it also tends to push out any negative thoughts.

Another good trick is to attach some emotional reaction to a good/great shot.
Most often if we hit a really good shot, we dont' take note....however if we hit a bad one, we attach a strong emotion like anger or whatever to it.
Funny thing is the mind remembers things that have strong emotions attached to them, so don't be afraid to give yourself a boost/fist pump/pat on the back for a well executed shot. (even if it's only in your head). And should you hit a bad one, move on like it wasn't a big deal.

[IANative]

On full swing shots, right before take away, I ask the ball, "Hey Carl, mind if I play through?"

On pitches, chips and putts, since they're more about feel than routine, I try to empty my mind, visualize the shot, and just "feel" it.

[scotton]

For iron shots, I usually think "Good, solid contact" or "Pinch the ball".
For driver I think "Nice and smooth".
For wedges I think "Let's get this close".
Chipping and putting is usually a mental image of squirrels scampering through my head like the three stooges.
Guess what I'm having trouble with?

And if you stand over the ball and feel a hook coming, back completely off the shot or the hook will come. Oh yes, it will come.