Lately on the course i have been getting so frustrated with myself. My handicap has dropped alot and im now into A grade, so i have to play pretty good to score well now. I have been hitting some poor shots lately (lots of them) and just not playing how i know i can. Im getting really pissed off on the course lately and throwing little dummy spits. I belted a ball today from the side of the green with my putter. I felt like an idiot after wards. I dont want to be known as an angry person within the club thats for sure. Any thoughts as to what i should do to try and get over my anger. I really want to get over it, but sometimes i get pissed off. Like today when i missed an easy 3 footer for par…...

i know how you feel chris. i’ve too got very annoyed sometimes throughout the round. i have tried two things.

1) get enough sleep the night before your round. so you are not cranky
2) try to play with some mates and play some variety games and not really worry about scoring too much. this will get you enjoying golf again.

i found that as my handicap was dropping i was expecting too much when i went to the course and got mad at every missed fairway, green and putt.

even the best players have a shocker every once in a while. look at the run michael campbell is going through.

if you hit a bad shot just try not to let it bother you. i used to still be mad at myself 9 holes later about that missed putt on the 2nd. you have to just let it go.

Go find a coach (NOT Michael Campbells).

mayb Dave_1 can help
he’s apparently a ‘guru’ of sorts in metnal skills in sports, sports instructions etc

Perhaps by focusing on the BIG picture rather than let the tiny stuff upset you in a persistent way
it’s quite normal to get upset by what appears to b stupid mistakes etc but the trick is to re-group from these
I saw a docu once on some golf psychology

it was recommended that between shots you should relax have fun and enjoyable walk
but as you approach your ball say within 5-10m you start to prep yourself mentally and physically
start thinking of the shot and visualising
and stop the empty chatter…
then do your usual routine for the shot and go ahead
after the shot, if it’s a good shot, appreciate it and take in the positive energy from it and enjoy.
but if it’s a bad shot, let off some steam appropriately
give yourself time for that but a fixed time span say 20-20 steps or a 10 -20 m walk onwards from that shot
within this time try to extinguish those negative feelings…
and once that 10-20m walk forwards is up regroup, refocus and let your emotions b back to enjoyment or at least natural level…
mentally tell yourself that that my next shot is going to b good as I have done it …

and keep on doing this thru out the round…despite lousy shots…and keep on building that on and down time mental skill

and soon it will b second nature

Chris – Don’t worry anymore about being known as a grumpy arse in the club, you probably already are. I am no low end ‘A’ Grader, but if getting down on yourself that bad about a few errant shots is the result, I think I’ll stay where I am. Geezuz, we all have bad days. (Me probably more than most on this forum)

I figure whilst you remain pissed about the previous bad shot, the chances of the next one being good aren’t that great. Think about what you believe you did wrong, oh for about 3 seconds and move on. You ain’t going to get that shot back. Think about the good shot your’e going to play next. If you stop enjoying yourself, what are you playing for

Ky – You must be a real joy to have a round with.

When you have a shocker, force your whole face to smile. Lift your eyebrows, open your eyes, smile and laugh. It relaxes you and releases tension. you would be surprised how much tension is created just by scowling.

give it a go. I find it works.

I like spence’s suggestion, a bit of levity normally does relieve the stress somewhat.

This isn’t really a mental aspect of dealing with frustration, but one thing that I notice pretty much every single time I do it (and scores reflect it) is if I forget to eat properly before-hand, and at least once throughout the 18 holes, my concentration level drops. This causes errors and if you’re having a bad day, the bad shots seem to just start coming one after the other.
Personal preference: salami and cheese rolls :)

spot on Bunny.
those pizza buns from the bakers are good in the bag too, heavy on carbs and doesnt matter if they get warm in the bag. And every time someone whips one out, someone else always says Awwww I could kill one of those.

Hi Chris,
I know exactly how you feel, I got so angry and upset i had to start taking drugs for anxiety and depression.. if that’s any reason not to get upset.
A pro had offered to take me on and i started thinking i had to shoot par every week. I started falling apart as a golfer and he had no idea how to help me.
It doesn’t help when people say don’t let it bother you because in actual fact you will think about it more.
I looked as every shot as a journey, one shot not any more important than the last or the next, this worked for me but i’m not suggesting it will work for you, each to their own.
It’s like when someone says don’t think about a purple elephant.. you’ll probably think about a purple elephant.. same goes for try not to get angry.. you’ll get angry.
At the end of the day realise good players don’t get good from one round or one shot.. it’s the journey that they complete to get where they are. Forget the last shot and move on or you’ll just impart the anger you’ve built up on the next shot and make it worse.
And most importantly stay in the moment. If you start thinking “if i par this hole i might have a chance at 42 points” or “i’m only one over par”.. it’s unnecessary pressure.. if your good enough it will happen, be patient and give 100% focus and commitment to the shot your about to play, not the hole three more down the stretch or the triple bogey on the hole before.
I lost from 4up with 5 to play in last years club championship because i was thinking about what i was going to do with the trophy, STAY IN THE MOMENT!!
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions, that’s if you can make any sense of what i’ve written.
I’ve come along way and love to help others from experiencing twhat i’ve been through

Cheers

Chris
I hope this helps

Lately on the course i have been getting so frustrated with myself. My handicap has dropped alot and im now into A grade, so i have to play pretty good to score well now. I have been hitting some poor shots lately (lots of them) and just not playing how i know i can. Im getting really pissed off on the course lately and throwing little dummy spits. I belted a ball today from the side of the green with my putter. I felt like an idiot after wards. I dont want to be known as an angry person within the club thats for sure. Any thoughts as to what i should do to try and get over my anger. I really want to get over it, but sometimes i get pissed off. Like today when i missed an easy 3 footer for par……

Aspiring club ho!

Hi Chris, your problem is more common than you think. Many golfers who drop their handicaps quickly tend to expect too much from themselves all the time. There is normally a period after a big h’cap drop that the golfer struggles with their game until they start to relax and enjoy their game again. After all you took the game up for fun didn’t you???

The other suggestions regarding eating patterns is very good. You must eat and drink to help maintain mental alertness and keep your body hydrated.

saw a quote the other day

when you start golf your kind of enjoy because you dont take it seriously

then you slowly become good and when you become good it frustartes you no end!!

or something like that!!

I started as a hacker now Im off 11 I’m rapt..got to keep it in perspective

Nobody has a great day every time that they go out on the golf course. My attitude is to try and concentrate as best i can, but if perchance I am having a bad day, be it luck, lack of sleep, bad swing, whatever – don’t worry about it. Just accept that today is not your day, but your day will come.

On that day just focus on enjoying the walk, the company, the beautiful australian outdoors. amazingly you will find that you probably hit a few good shots, perhaps luckily win a NTP or have a birdie where you didn’t expect it – and walk off the course with a smile and some positive thoughts for next weeks round.

Life’s too short to worry about a missed putt.

Well…from my experience… I was once a frustrated golfer when i was a 15-20yr/old. It is that time of your golfing career for whatever reason that you what to be number one or just get better. You may just want to get to 15 or to 4 or whatever or try your luck for some cash. It is a journey fellas. The majority of the posters here just want to get their handicap down and shoot that great round and that is cool. You may play off 15 and are 7 over coming down the last and blow it and have a quad. You have stuffed up your round and feel frustration. It is a learning experience plain and simple.
Chill out, relax, observe and it is ok to eat too many burgers and pizzas.

Don’t forget the Beer aswell Tai

Throw a club, it’ll make you feel better.

This suggestion works for me. Put on a big cheesy grin. I know it sounds stupid… just try it

... meant to quote spence

Yeah thanks heaps for the help guys. Its something i have to work at, but its something i know i have to improve on to become a low marker.

Chris,

the fact that you have passion is a good thing, don’t get upset because you have that passion.

What you need to do is create a system that will work for you when you hit a bad shot.

What works for me is to give the shot a mark out of 10. This allows you a neutral reaction.

You also need to realise that Chris the person is different from Chris the golfer. Just because you have a bad day on the course, it does not make you a bad person.

I would recommend Pia Nilsson’s book “Every shot must have a purpose” which deals very well with this area.

Cheers Styles, thanks for the comments .

Styles made a brillant point
rate your bad shots and so that way you tend to view things from an objective stand point
In fact I will take on board this tip too, thanks.
passion is always good if channeled correctly

Golf and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.

~Jimmy DeMaret

actually both depends on how you DO IT too !!

Throw a club, it’ll make you feel better.

A star that shines twice as bright burns twice as fast. – In memory of Greg Moore

LOL!

Hahaha…throw a club, it’ll make you feel better! Funnily enough, it could work.