Icing the kicker...

Follow Thread

By Hotsauce

  • 0 Likes
  • 4 Replies
  1. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

     

    I'm sure this is 100% mental, in the cabeza, but when I'm playing behind a slow, slow group, I tend to get the s_anks.

    Case in point:  I played a new course this weekend and the front 9 was breezing by.   We had to wait on the par 3's for a minute or two, but nothing major.  I shot a 2 over 38, and we finished the front 9 in about 1hr and 45min.  We came to the 10th tee with no wait, and like clock work, I went fairway, green, and drained my birdie putt.  I was thinking this was going to be the round of a lifetime, with the back 9 having the majority of the shorter and higher handicapped holes.  I got to the 11th tee and it looked like grand central station.  

    There were two groups sitting on the tee, and Mr. and Mrs. Havercamp (Caddyshack) were hitting chili-dippers across the green.  It was a long and arduous back 9 that took 3 1/2 hours to complete... I ended up shooting an 84 , with a 46 on the back.  My short game was fine (16 putts), but my tee shots and approach shots were horrendous.  It seemed like there was a 15 to 20 minute wait on nearly every shot until the group moved out of harm's way or cleared the green.  I tried to stay loose, by smacking some tees or acorns around, but nothing worked.

    It was like when a team takes a timeout to ice the kicker.  Needless to say I got iced. 

    If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it.

  2. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    So I talked to a friend of mine and an former D1 golfer and he gave me this gem-

    Develop a pre-shot routine, and practice the wait.  I went to the driving range with my Ipod and would hit one shot, and wait through an entire song (short 2-4min song) before I hit the next one.  It didn't go so well, but now I think the problem is I don't have a good, sold pre shot routine.

    I'm working on developing a quick routine (I hate standing over the ball and toiling over a shot) that can improve my consistency when I'm forced to get out of "the zone" and wait.

    Who's got a good pre-shot routine?

  3. Iziah T

    Iziah T
    Plainfield, NJ

    I feel your painnn when it comes to long waits on the golf course. It is oh so true that you need a strong preshot routine to fight effects of a slow group in front of you. The problem is if your preshot routine is lacking then you will really feel the wait (at least your score card will). My advice is that you go with your natural tempo. If you naturally have a quick or slow routine stick with it. Your only hurting yourself by trying to go against your natual clockwork. Instead there are two things that you should remember. 1. Spend your time behind or beside the ball concentrating on your target. 99.9% of your pre shot thought should be target oriented on th course. Look at your alignment, compared to your target, forget about any swing thoughts. 2. Once youve spent most of your time seting up to the target your a block away from home. Take one practice swing put the club next to the ball and do the practice swing again(except make sure the ball gets in the way). It is important to waist no time between your practice swing and your shot. Remember the less time you have to make mistakes the less mistakes youll make!! Good Luck.. 

  4. sas

    sas
    geneva, 0

    i juggle with my sand wedge it keeps me moving my wrist and my arm so that my muscles don't cool down.

  5. Quintin H

    Quintin H
    Morehead, KY

    Long waits, oh the horror.

    Instead of hitting as soon as the group in front is safe...........

    Don't get out your club, don't think about the shot, relax........

    When they get to the green stretch a little and continue to wait.

    When they finish the hole, begin.

    Now you have no more waiting until the next hole, and the wait should be shorter.

    However some of these slow groups like to hit their tee shots, then go into the woods looking for balls until the group behind gets to the tee box........then you need to go have a talk with them.

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up

Find a golf store near me