Hi Guys:

I had a golfer not to long ago e mail with a problem
he’s been having in his game, with his scoring game.

I probably get this one question more frequently than
any other from golfers like Steve and if you too
are also having this difficulty, then here are some
ideas for you on how to overcome it.

When you have a good score going and are playing close
to your handicap, do you have holes where you blow up
and your score balloons up?

This is in my opinion the most frustrating and confusing
part of the game. You’re doing all right and even enjoying
yourself and then out of nowhere you screw it up big time.
And have to sign your score card and its a bad score yet
you played better than that and you know it.

I know how you feel and am disappointed myself to say the
least when I have a couple of bad holes when playing well
and it ends up costing me my score for the day. It also
bothers me too when it doesn’t really reflect the type of
round I had going or was capable of scoring for the day.

So I thought I would address this issue here and see if I
can provide some insight into how to address this problem
for the betterment of your game.

To me, this is more a mental game issue as it relates to a
particular phenomena that happens when your playing well
and you brake out of your normal game habits and play more
to your real potential.

We all love this when it happens and it is a confidence
booster and we all of the sudden think we can start
taking chances and hitting shots we don’t really have.

It’s great to feel more confident but what you probably
don’t know or realize at the time is that you changed
your strategy and started getting more agggressive on shots
you don’t have the skills and control factor and the result
is is that now you get yourself more in trouble and have
to face a series of shots that can alter the fate of your
round and its score (and your morale).

That’s right! One of two shots done wrong can put you in
a worst spot and now you are faced with a shot you aren’t
sure how to hit like a lob shot over a trap or hitting
over a tree. All of a sudden matters get worse and you
throw shots away and usually its in these stretches of
holes where you “lose it all”.

So what I recommend is this: the golf philsophy is to
keep the ball in play and when you don’t, get right back
in play. Don’t attempt to hit the “hero” shot but get
back in the game, the fairway and make the next shot count.
Reestablish control both mentally and physically and get
back to your game plan of shots you can hit comfortably.

Golfers make the mistake of playing aggressivley and
conservatively at the wrong time. Stick to what works
for you and only gamble on playing aggressively when
the hole is wide open, you feel confident and you won’t
be penalize for a bad shot too severly.

I also suggest you start out your round the first six
holes or so conservatively. This can make a real difference
with your score and allows you to warm up and see what you
have for the day. Do I have my “A” or “B” or “C” game today.
and play these conservatively.

Here’s an exercise you can do which is from my first book:
“The Ultimate Game of Golf” Course, Part 3: Strategy section,
which some of you have. p. 247, “The Two Ball Drill”. This is
one of my favorite drills. www.allboutgolf.us/books

This drill teaches you that you can score just as well without
your driver using a three wood or hybrid off the tee. It also
teaches you that when you play more conservatively, a number of
advantages come your way, i.e. like being in the fairway and
in position to hit to the green or being below the hole so
you can putt uphill to the hole.

Let me know if this info is helpful. I would love to hear how
you are doing with your game. Drop me an e mail at
bciscogolf@sbcglobal.net or call me at 323-255-3935.

Best, Bob Cisco