Mentally broken after first tourney

[gabetjh]

I just started playing probably around 3 months ago. 1st round is a short wooded course which does not have permanent baskets but i managed to do a few practice rounds before the tourney. 2nd round is a course that has permanent baskets and I play in that course probably 4-5 times a week.

During the 1st round tourney i had my PB and did pretty well. However during my 2nd round tourney i had so many OBs and missed putts. I usually average around +8/+9 but i had +14 where i ended up on the last place in the tourney. After the 1st OB i just brushed it off and thought it was just bad luck and continued playing. After the 2nd and 3rd OB i just gave up and wanted to end the round ASAP. Missed 3 putts in circle 1 where my discs just kept hitting the base of the basket. I was mentally broken after that round.

After a couple of days I just kept thinking about the holes and the OB scenarios kept playing in my head. Was pretty depressed at myself after spending so much time practicing.

How can i strengthen my mental game during my future tourneys? How can i overcome what i am feeling right now? Maybe tourneys arent for me and i should just stick to recreational play.

 

[Armus Patheticus]

Pretty funny stuff

 

[Brodysseus]

I recommend Armus Patheticus's favorite book:

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella

 

[Hampstead]

In this journey through life, it's best to pack lite. Keep the emotional baggage to a minimum. Don't carry problems that you don't need. Have the memory of a goldfish.

 

[txmxer]

Either you want to compete or you don't. If you want to compete, you will get better at competing by entering tournaments. You know if you played well according to your standards. It will come if you keep at it.

Playing in things like a weekly mini (single round event) is a great way to get over competition anxiety.

Being a few strokes off your game is no big deal.

 

[gabetjh]

Pretty funny stuff

i do think its funny too not sure why im so affected by it.

I recommend Armus Patheticus's favorite book:

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella

this book popped up numerous of times when researching about mental disc golf. will definitely check it out.

In this journey through life, it's best to pack lite. Keep the emotional baggage to a minimum. Don't carry problems that you don't need. Have the memory of a goldfish.

thank you for your insight. i believe this should be reflected in my daily lifestyle as well.

 

[ThrowaEnvy]

Practicing the mental game is definitely a good reason to play league or skins. It's not unheard of to have a meltdown under pressure, haha. Just laugh it off.. 3 months is a good start but next time don't expect so much.

I don't entirely remember my first tournament buts its important what you take away. I remember it was substandard round for me, don't remember any of the crap. I remember I played with Kristy Lee (semi pro) who was always competitive and standoffish.. (1 chick: per 100 dudes don't blame her haha) but she was super cool and totally awesome to play with, totally said hi any time after that as I moved up the semi pro circuit. I remember it was a good round with some good folks, I remember I hit a late second round ace (don't remember which hole) to get paid, I totally remember my first solo bird on 14 amazing throw in from 150' with a red Evo magic. Don't dwell on the crap it weighs you down.

One shot at a time, there's nothing wrong with par.

I prefer to have someone else keep my score card and I don't want to know until I'm done.

Of course that being said my positive attitude as refined as it is is not infallible... I was playing the provincials a few years back, open ball golf course, gusts of 80km/h+ Gale force winds. Like seriously trees cracking, limbs flying not the kind of weather to go wandering in the bush know whut I mean?

I tried everything but couldn't catch a break... sandtraps, water hazards, oh yeah add it on I found em all!!!! stiff headwinds that turned my drive into a roller that ended up 20' in front of me, HEINOUS conditions... tried to keep up but I was playing with one of the guys that would be top 3. I took a beating and he kept advancing, I even had dust or tree residue blow in my eyes that I couldn't get out. Hooboy, I tanked like a lead duck doing the backstroke, I think I played the second course Ace Running but I didn't hit, heck I wouldn't be surprised if I DNF'd I don't remember anything good about that round. I remember the crap in my eye...... I do remember being mad that I let it get to me though. If I did DNF that was smart, I hope I went home to a sandwich and a fire.

 

[autocrosscrx]

Around 5 or so shots off what you average really isn't that bad. Especially since you can account for the shots with OB's and putts.

If you follow the pros, it isn't uncommon for someone out of the top 4-5 players in the world to have a couple of OB's, miss a couple of putts and be 5 or so shots off their peers.

Stay the course.

 

[Meillo]

Keep it easy. What you experienced is common for your situation. Just keep going, avoid big expectations, play hole by hole, and if things don't go your way, don't try to be extra good to counter the bad luck, but instead play simple and safe. Your scores will become better automatically; forcing things only adds a lot of frustration, which is the opposite of having fun ... and that's what you should have: fun!

 

[biscoe]

It happens to everyone. Calvin Heimburg is possibly the most even keeled of any of the top players yet we saw him effectively mentally check out during the last round of Worlds. For the vast majority of us the mental game takes practice like anything else. Selective memory is a key- focus on the fact that you played well the first round, not that you played poorly the second.

 

[Dthunderchicken]

How can i strengthen my mental game during my future tourneys? How can i overcome what i am feeling right now? Maybe tourneys arent for me and i should just stick to recreational play.

Don't even try to win. Just relax, enjoy the comradery and learn how the tourney game is played differently from the rec game. Once you get your tourney legs under you then try to tear up the competition.

 

[azplaya25]

Around 5 or so shots off what you average really isn't that bad. Especially since you can account for the shots with OB's and putts.

If you follow the pros, it isn't uncommon for someone out of the top 4-5 players in the world to have a couple of OB's, miss a couple of putts and be 5 or so shots off their peers.

Stay the course.

This…my pb at my home course is 3 under, my tournament best after playing 5 tourneys there is 5 over lol. When I've shot my pb I've been playing with friends and felt relaxed and confident. I haven't figured out how to bottle that up and take it into tournaments. One piece of advice is to play your game, and don't worry about how other people are attacking each hole. Before each throw, figure out what shot you can confidently throw, then figure out the best landing zone for that shot. I had a bad habit of just throwing as hard as I could during my first couple of tournaments, and my scores and body suffered. Much better to throw controlled shots that avoid disasters. At the Am level, good course management and waiting for others to blow up is a winning strategy

 

[acrosley]

Gotta ask yourself what you really want out of this hobby. Absolutely nothing wrong with just going to the course and playing casually with no intentions to compete.

If you do want to compete though the best way to toughen up mentally is to just keep exposing yourself to pressure. Only way to do that is to keep grinding tournaments or leagues. 2 rounds is a really small sample size so chin up lad!

 

[R-Ogre]

I play better in tourneys.

 

[biscoe]

I play better in tourneys.

Me too. Easier to maintain concentration.

 

[R-Ogre]

Me too. Easier to maintain concentration.

Probably some of that, probably some of I'm playing smart golf and not going for hero shots or "I wonder how that lane would work out". Also I'm not a heavy drinker, but it's not uncommon that I'm sipping a brewski during casual or league rounds. I won't have a beer even at the lunch break during a tournament.

 

[BillFleming]

I just started playing probably around 3 months ago. 1st round is a short wooded course which does not have permanent baskets but i managed to do a few practice rounds before the tourney. 2nd round is a course that has permanent baskets and I play in that course probably 4-5 times a week.

During the 1st round tourney i had my PB and did pretty well. However during my 2nd round tourney i had so many OBs and missed putts. I usually average around +8/+9 but i had +14 where i ended up on the last place in the tourney. After the 1st OB i just brushed it off and thought it was just bad luck and continued playing. After the 2nd and 3rd OB i just gave up and wanted to end the round ASAP. Missed 3 putts in circle 1 where my discs just kept hitting the base of the basket. I was mentally broken after that round.

After a couple of days I just kept thinking about the holes and the OB scenarios kept playing in my head. Was pretty depressed at myself after spending so much time practicing.

How can i strengthen my mental game during my future tourneys? How can i overcome what i am feeling right now? Maybe tourneys arent for me and i should just stick to recreational play.

The things I'm not seeing in your post that, to me, are important to know.

1. Were the rounds the same day or different days?
2. If they were on the same day....do you normally play two rounds in one day?
If they were different days....do you normally play two days in a row?

When I started playing tourneys, I found I really sucked the second round, even if it was the same course. Then I realized that I was getting tired/sore since I normally didn't play two rounds in one day or even two consecutive rounds. Now I try to get in two rounds in one day at least once a month so I stay used to it.

 

[Dthunderchicken]

I play better in tourneys.

As do I. I think it's a matter of having something on the line. Even a casual betting round brings out a better game in me. But I still enjoy very casual rounds much more. I like being able to throw doubles on any given shot.

 

[Plastic Thunder]

So my son met Ezra Robinson down in Atlanta at Little Mulberry. Nice course by the way. Anyhow back to the story. Ezra is solid pro throwing for Prodigy and mentioned this to my son when the subject of a bad throw came up. "The throw is done, you can't change it, let it go. Move on."

Now for some perspective in you moment of pain, image you are in first place the world is watching.... You pump the brakes because you smell victory and a mild mannered guy from Northern Virginia takes up the challenge you placed before him and well....... You know the rest..... Image that ride back to the house.

I play MA60, I look at the field, the ratings and common courses we have played if I don't know some of the players. I then get a feel of what is likely to happen. I played the Sneaky Pete this weekend and based on my research I thought 3rd was realistic if everyone played well. I finished 4th.

The open course at Cedar Rock was great, shot the lowest round of the field even with a triple on the 750ft hole 8. I was 3 under before that hole with 4 holes to play. That one hole cost me my 3rd place finish because I got greedy. Threw a weak drive, figured I could still birdie the hole and screw the second throw, then figured I go for broke and park the third shot. Nope, O.B. and then a weak up shot and 2 putts. It's the easiest par 4 on the course for a lefty. My victory for that event was the low round on the long course for the MA60 field. My point is this, set realistic goals and then see how you measure up.

I just started playing probably around 3 months ago. 1st round is a short wooded course which does not have permanent baskets but i managed to do a few practice rounds before the tourney. 2nd round is a course that has permanent baskets and I play in that course probably 4-5 times a week.

During the 1st round tourney i had my PB and did pretty well. However during my 2nd round tourney i had so many OBs and missed putts. I usually average around +8/+9 but i had +14 where i ended up on the last place in the tourney. After the 1st OB i just brushed it off and thought it was just bad luck and continued playing. After the 2nd and 3rd OB i just gave up and wanted to end the round ASAP. Missed 3 putts in circle 1 where my discs just kept hitting the base of the basket. I was mentally broken after that round.

After a couple of days I just kept thinking about the holes and the OB scenarios kept playing in my head. Was pretty depressed at myself after spending so much time practicing.

How can i strengthen my mental game during my future tourneys? How can i overcome what i am feeling right now? Maybe tourneys arent for me and i should just stick to recreational play.

 

[ballgolfconvert]

I think you need to play casual rounds as if they were tourney rounds. If you play a bunch of rounds where it doesn't really matter if you concentrate, then it will be hard to concentrate when it matters. If the round doesn't matter I throw multiple discs and don't keep score. I truly don't enjoy playing unless something is on the line, so I tend to over perform in tourneys vs. guys who play a bunch of "loose rounds.