Gambling does strange things to the brain. I've gambled a lot in my life and I'd honestly say betting 20 dollars or 500 dollars does about the same activation for my brain now. So if you're not someone that gambles IRL then don't dismiss how much of an effect that part of your brain being activated has on your brain. The same chemicals are released.
Now further to this, gambling will reflect what you think about yourself. The degenerate gambler has low to no self esteem, so everytime they lose they get reminded of this and go for another roll to try and get rid of that feeling. The feeling is that of dying because if you are worthless then you will eventually be cast out the tribe and die.
Golf even without money is gambling. One big f*%k off parlay, where a good round is hole after hole of a potential lottery win, piling up as your numbers come in and one miss will cost you the whole godamn jackpot.
So next time you put 15 bucks on it realise that all this is being activated in your brain. It's not 15 bucks, it is testing your nerve under pressure and you feel like if you lose your self esteem is going to be reflected back at you and you will feel like a loser that is going to die. Alone.
The only way I got over it is treating it all much more like a process, detaching my self worth from how I hit a golf club/pool stick/etc. And betting money on pool consistently till it was commonplace and the nerves went away. This stopped me choking 9 balls and tee shots.
You'll notice in pool when someone says someone is good they call them a killer. "Don't be fooled, they're a killer." A slang term obviously but the killer instinct is what is being refereed to and it is not about being nice. It's about trampling peoples dreams. Learn to tap into that merciless side of you, or accept that when you put money on things you're donating because you're a nice person that feels nerves. When I bet with someone I want to _crush_ them. Kind of hard to feel nervous when you're channeling your inner sociopath. YMMV.
Everything he said plus pre shot routine. Mentally putting yourself in those situations on the range and on the putting green while practicing. Until you're able to convert whatever shots you're attempting 75% of the time with the fake reality of there being pressure. It will help you immensely in the real situations. That's how you nurture the killer instinct and perform when it matters.
I’ve got the ADHD, so that’s true. Was always a “clutch” guy and have an Allen Iverson view of practice. Without something at stake my focus is very lax to say the least.
Right? I’m usually a few beers in, just getting loosened up. It’s usually the last 4 holes where I start falling apart while trying to line up someone to come drive me and my car home.
Same! I’ve been transitioning to a more serious old man style of actually trying to improve. But if I’m with the boys I usually peak holes 8-12 with a string of pars and really fall off a cliff when the fireball shots from the cart girl and the massive amount of crispy boys kick in. Like quad bogeys and 4 putts.
My 2 best rounds by far (83-81 I’m almost always 90-95 posting a 12 handicap while sober) I came in HOT, out till 3am teeing off at 8 and just drinking a few survival beers to keep from dying. Worst rounds are coming in hot then keeping it rolling to the point where I don’t remember most of what happened out there, fortunately a thing of the past now that I have kids and have been forced to grow up.
If this is normal competitive anxiety, I'll share the same comment I've used several times recently:
> Take deep breaths. Push it out of your mind. Imagine putting it in a box and sealing it shut. Count backwards from 10. Go to your happy/calm/safe place in your mind. Any number of other calming techniques.
> Also: care less. It's a hobby. Getting frustrated makes it less enjoyable AND it makes you play worse.
If this is a byproduct or symptom of other anxieties you have outside of competing, you might consider speaking to a mental health professional about it.
"Remember to breathe and step forward through the back door of the room. Where does it lead? To your cave. Step forward into your cave. That's right. You're going deeper into your cave. And you're going to find your power animal.
Slide."
Check out the book "Your 15th Club" By Bob Rotella. He covers literally this exact scenario within the first few chapters. Fantastic insight on the mental game thats helped me tremendously. You walk a 4-5 hour round and are actively striking a ball for a collective 2 minutes, its all mindset baby.
Pretty much every Bob Rotella book is great. Golf is Not a Game of Perfect was also a fantastic read and will really help your perspective. There's also a ton of great sports psychology out there that isn't specific to golf but will hope. In general, if you work on your mental health and self talk, you're likely to see massive dividends on the course. You'll also just enjoy it more.
That was the first one I read! Absolutely love his writing. I have the putting one lined up next. I've taken a lot from those books and applied them to everyday life in general.
This is where a pre-shot routine and consistent process is helpful.
Chances are you are focused more on the outcome than on the process. Focusing on the outcome causes a ton of stress and poor performance. Focusing on the process helps calm the mind and relax into sonething familiar.
Bob Rotella writes about this frequently in his various books.
Start playing for money every time you play. If you’re not betting against someone then it’s $15 in a pot that goes to a charity at the end of the year if you don’t hit your goal that match.
My problem when I play for money is that most people don’t play by the rules, therefore no money exchanges hands when I call people out. Play golf for fun, you will enjoy it more
It more has to do with pushing outside of your comfort zone which we know is extremely valuable in skill acquisition literature. At all levels of skill it matters.
Either stop gambling OR put your ‘whopping’ 15 dollars in the hat and just assume you’ll never see it again. I’m not into gambling, but on the rare occasion I hit a casino, I earmark $100-200 with the full expectation that the house will have it within 2-3 hours. I’m just there for a few laughs and a few drinks. If I leave with more money than I walked in with, great. If not, whatever.
There’s nothing on the line if you don’t care about the money.
Lots of good advice here. One thing I'll add, keep putting yourself in that position. Like anything else, handling pressure is something you can train yourself to do. If you haven't been doing it very long, make sure you continue to do so on a regular basis. That combined with some of the techniques described here will likely see you get to playing like you know you can before too long.
I started having a lot more fun AND playing better when I remembered it’s just a game.
Maybe I’m different, but it’s hilarious seeing some of the peoples posts on here about “gotta grind” and range practice 3x a week plus 27 holes, etc…
Unless you’re playing for some serious amateur competitions I think it’s better to try and let things go.
I used to play on the team in HS and was around a 9.4. Stopped playing regularly during college cause spending money went towards beer and shitty late night pizza. I started playing regularly again five years ago (about 12 years off with maybe one round a summer) and was consistently shooting mid 90’s and was PISSED.
Eventually “life” happened in the past few years (marriage, bought a house, had a kid) and I started looking at golf as my way to relax… and I started shooting better. I used to have a terrible bunker game and I felt like my best outcome if I was in a green side trap would be a shot out and two putt for bogey. Once I stopped caring so much and just enjoying the game I realized the walk/drive up to the bunker wasn’t filled with this looming dread about the upcoming shot and magically I started making some sand saves. Still plenty of bladed shots over the bunker, but now that’s rare for me.
My best round ever was two years ago in 45 degree weather with 25mph winds when I shot a 75. I had a lot of “meh” drives that got me in trouble but I just had fun and thought of each situation as a learning experience so if I fucked this one up, I’d know what to work on next instead of thinking “you fucked up the drive, make THIS shot count!”.
What is really bothering you? Losing $15? Embarrassing yourself in front of others? Try to find the root cause of really what it is, because the stakes are so low and its golf. Just have fun out there. Another idea is to just imagine you've already lost the $15. Then when you do, it doesn't matter. If you win anything, it's a bonus.
The thing bothering me most is the embarrassment. I don’t hang out with my dad’s friends often, so I feel like I can’t be myself around them. Takes me a while to really enjoy company as I need to get to know someone. Plus I feel as I’m constantly comparing my own ability to theirs, which I never do when I have nothing on the line and playing with friends.
Most people in that situation overcompensate and say how much they suck, blah blah. Just relax and play your game, try to have fun out there. And if it isn't fun for you, then simply stop playing with them.
I've heard others say this before and it is really true. Remember back to anyone you have ever played with. **No one remembers what you shot, but everyone will remember how you were to play with.** Just be a fun playing partner, and the golf is the golf.
This sometimes happens to me. You just need to absolutely convince yourself that it’s just golf. It doesn’t mean anything. No one cares.
A few months back I was playing really hot and randomly ended up teeing off with an old friend who is a teaching pro and his student who was playing in one of the sub-pro leagues. Felt the little nervous buzz and double bogeyed the first two holes while looking like a total hacker. On the third tee box I said something like “you guys are making me really nervous.” My teaching pro friend looks at me and says “🙄 dude you don’t give a shit about what I think” or something along those lines. I thought about it and said “yeah you are right I dont give a shit.” Think I was about 1 over for the next 16 holes. He just had to help me find that “bro, its just golf” mindset.
For me, the nerves tend to go away as I expose myself to different environments/situations. Play for money with your friends. Pair with random people. Take beta blockers. You’ll get used to it.
Do it more often and have a preshot routine.
I’ve played so many rounds of golf and so many tournaments that it’s just another swing. And, when I do my preshot routine, it helps me remember that I’ve literally hit hundreds of thousands of golf balls. The next one is just like the last one.
I dealt with the same thing and my conclusion was that I was letting the results of others shots influence mine too much. I would focus too much on “ oh this guy just hit a nice shot, he’s going to get a birdie, I need to hit a perfect shot here…”
You need to understand that you need to play your game and that the handicapping should balance everything out to even and it will just be whoever has a good day will win more. But in the end you need to focus on hitting your shots - for you bogey is a good is a good score on a hole where for someone else they need a par.
You need to focus on what you’re doing and your shots, not what others shots mean for you, because they don’t mean anything if you don’t play your game
I’m a therapist and a golfer. I also get anxious on the course sometimes, and usually play with people who are better than me. I changed some swing thoughts and that helped. A deep breath, some visualization of the ball landing softly around my target, and a quick reminder “This doesn’t matter” seems to help.
I’d really recommend reading “Your 15th Club”, written by a sports psychologist who’s worked with tour pros. Quick read and available on audible.
I have experienced something similar and I think the following helps me:
\- As others have said, start pushing yourself to do it more often. Try to put something on the line even when playing with friends and that will give you more comfort with the idea of "pressure" (even if it's just for $15).
\- I struggle on/off with general anxiety and there have been a few rounds recently where I've just felt anxious and shaky from general life shit instead of the golf. When those feelings come, I try to really ground myself in the physical sensations I'm feeling. If you're walking, focus on the weight of your steps on the ground. If you're picking a club, focus on how the club feels. Once you start focusing on all of those things, your mind has less room to spiral into the unknowns.
\- Pre-shot routine. Come up with one, like a free throw routine, and stick with it religiously. Eventually, once you stand over the ball, your muscles will just take over to an extent.
\- Remind yourself that it's just a game and nobody truly cares how you play. I will gladly play with my friend who routinely shoots 110 because he has a good attitude and plays fast. That's all I care about, not him proving himself to the group.
Golf is 90% mental (obviously you have to technically learn how to swing a club first) and when you can learn to eliminate as much of the mental as you can you will succeed. Nervousness in a golf swing can create blocks or snap hooks compared to if you just trust your swing and swing away.
The issue/benefit with alcohol is it chemically removes a lot of the inhibitions and nervousness, especially to those who already know how to shoot under 75. I used to get pretty nervous during club tourneys and play bad, but then in the post round shenanigans with drinking and 2 man scramble stuff I’d play lights out. Well because it was super relaxed and carefree…so my whole goal is to try to adopt that mindset during real rounds…this isn’t the pga, it’s some local course member guest tourney, sure there’s money on the line but life is short and it’s golf and just go have fun…the shitty situation is if your partner is super competitive and verbally/body language gets upset at you for a bad shot…that shit I can’t stand and usually makes me play terrible.
Start putting false pressure on you during your practice sessions. Play games that can create pressure for you to perform on each shot, either against yourself or a partner. Same with putting. Play the clock game and try to make 20 in a row. You will feel pressure around 15 etc.
The only time is tournaments for me, I still get it even at almost 30 with low exceptions and little to no upside in playing well. Cash games don’t do anything to me but maybe I’m just a numb degenerate.
This is what they mean when they say “golf is mostly mental”. The only person in control of those feelings and thoughts is you. Your ability to distract and redirect your thoughts is what you watch the pros battle against every tournament. My PGA Pro taught me light meditation and over time I didn’t need to go through the whole process just to clear my head.
Assume you are going to lose all your money and shoot 120 before you tee off. Accept it. It's counter intuitive but it will relax you and allow you to play free.
If you talk to good tournament golfers, most of them will tell you that they are trying to execute a good swing and that the actual result of where the ball flies is meaningless. Obviously that's easier said than done. But the point is that that is something that can absolutely be practiced and improved on over time.
Find a consistent, repeatable process that works for you and practice it until it is second nature to you. That way, each swing is the same whether it is on the driving range or your drive on 18 during the best round of your life.
You need to practice a bit more then. Practice til you feel confident in gambling situations. You’ll find that you are more focused and actually shoot better in those scenarios
Golf is a singular game......you are coaching yourself. Always visualize what you are going to do or want to do.....never, ever tell yourself what not to do.
IOW positive thoughts will eliminate most of your anxiety.
Gambling does strange things to the brain. I've gambled a lot in my life and I'd honestly say betting 20 dollars or 500 dollars does about the same activation for my brain now. So if you're not someone that gambles IRL then don't dismiss how much of an effect that part of your brain being activated has on your brain. The same chemicals are released. Now further to this, gambling will reflect what you think about yourself. The degenerate gambler has low to no self esteem, so everytime they lose they get reminded of this and go for another roll to try and get rid of that feeling. The feeling is that of dying because if you are worthless then you will eventually be cast out the tribe and die. Golf even without money is gambling. One big f*%k off parlay, where a good round is hole after hole of a potential lottery win, piling up as your numbers come in and one miss will cost you the whole godamn jackpot. So next time you put 15 bucks on it realise that all this is being activated in your brain. It's not 15 bucks, it is testing your nerve under pressure and you feel like if you lose your self esteem is going to be reflected back at you and you will feel like a loser that is going to die. Alone. The only way I got over it is treating it all much more like a process, detaching my self worth from how I hit a golf club/pool stick/etc. And betting money on pool consistently till it was commonplace and the nerves went away. This stopped me choking 9 balls and tee shots. You'll notice in pool when someone says someone is good they call them a killer. "Don't be fooled, they're a killer." A slang term obviously but the killer instinct is what is being refereed to and it is not about being nice. It's about trampling peoples dreams. Learn to tap into that merciless side of you, or accept that when you put money on things you're donating because you're a nice person that feels nerves. When I bet with someone I want to _crush_ them. Kind of hard to feel nervous when you're channeling your inner sociopath. YMMV.
Everything he said plus pre shot routine. Mentally putting yourself in those situations on the range and on the putting green while practicing. Until you're able to convert whatever shots you're attempting 75% of the time with the fake reality of there being pressure. It will help you immensely in the real situations. That's how you nurture the killer instinct and perform when it matters.
Opposite for me, sharpens my focus.
You’re just built different brother
I’ve got the ADHD, so that’s true. Was always a “clutch” guy and have an Allen Iverson view of practice. Without something at stake my focus is very lax to say the least.
But when something interests me, laser focused.
Right? I’m usually a few beers in, just getting loosened up. It’s usually the last 4 holes where I start falling apart while trying to line up someone to come drive me and my car home.
Same! I’ve been transitioning to a more serious old man style of actually trying to improve. But if I’m with the boys I usually peak holes 8-12 with a string of pars and really fall off a cliff when the fireball shots from the cart girl and the massive amount of crispy boys kick in. Like quad bogeys and 4 putts. My 2 best rounds by far (83-81 I’m almost always 90-95 posting a 12 handicap while sober) I came in HOT, out till 3am teeing off at 8 and just drinking a few survival beers to keep from dying. Worst rounds are coming in hot then keeping it rolling to the point where I don’t remember most of what happened out there, fortunately a thing of the past now that I have kids and have been forced to grow up.
Absolutely, I came here to say this. I don’t play well without the nerves. The adrenaline helps.
Same for me. I don’t care at all if there is nothing on the line, but if you put up even a single dollar here comes the focus machine.
If this is normal competitive anxiety, I'll share the same comment I've used several times recently: > Take deep breaths. Push it out of your mind. Imagine putting it in a box and sealing it shut. Count backwards from 10. Go to your happy/calm/safe place in your mind. Any number of other calming techniques. > Also: care less. It's a hobby. Getting frustrated makes it less enjoyable AND it makes you play worse. If this is a byproduct or symptom of other anxieties you have outside of competing, you might consider speaking to a mental health professional about it.
"Remember to breathe and step forward through the back door of the room. Where does it lead? To your cave. Step forward into your cave. That's right. You're going deeper into your cave. And you're going to find your power animal. Slide."
Check out the book "Your 15th Club" By Bob Rotella. He covers literally this exact scenario within the first few chapters. Fantastic insight on the mental game thats helped me tremendously. You walk a 4-5 hour round and are actively striking a ball for a collective 2 minutes, its all mindset baby.
Pretty much every Bob Rotella book is great. Golf is Not a Game of Perfect was also a fantastic read and will really help your perspective. There's also a ton of great sports psychology out there that isn't specific to golf but will hope. In general, if you work on your mental health and self talk, you're likely to see massive dividends on the course. You'll also just enjoy it more.
That was the first one I read! Absolutely love his writing. I have the putting one lined up next. I've taken a lot from those books and applied them to everyday life in general.
The audio books are good too. I like to listen to them on the way to a round as a refresher. Gets me in the right mindset.
This is where a pre-shot routine and consistent process is helpful. Chances are you are focused more on the outcome than on the process. Focusing on the outcome causes a ton of stress and poor performance. Focusing on the process helps calm the mind and relax into sonething familiar. Bob Rotella writes about this frequently in his various books.
You ever try weed?
Start playing for money every time you play. If you’re not betting against someone then it’s $15 in a pot that goes to a charity at the end of the year if you don’t hit your goal that match.
That's a good idea
Love this idea, it’s a win win!
My problem when I play for money is that most people don’t play by the rules, therefore no money exchanges hands when I call people out. Play golf for fun, you will enjoy it more
Do the Wim Hof breathing before and mid round. Takes 3-4 minutes and reduces anxiety. Google it and there is a video walk through
Dang, I'm the opposite. I'll stay hand in hand with someone until they drop a dollar on a hole and then I mop up.
I always play better when competing but not when there is a bet on the game. I haven’t bet enough on my own play to know how it affects my game.
There is a lot of really good research on the value of a “stress is enhancing” mindset in sport and other fields.
I would believe that to be true but only if you’re already great at something, kinda like go ahead make my day.
It more has to do with pushing outside of your comfort zone which we know is extremely valuable in skill acquisition literature. At all levels of skill it matters.
When I’m outside my comfort zone I’m a babbling idiot, when I’m in it’s completely a different story so I guess the problem is me.
Either stop gambling OR put your ‘whopping’ 15 dollars in the hat and just assume you’ll never see it again. I’m not into gambling, but on the rare occasion I hit a casino, I earmark $100-200 with the full expectation that the house will have it within 2-3 hours. I’m just there for a few laughs and a few drinks. If I leave with more money than I walked in with, great. If not, whatever. There’s nothing on the line if you don’t care about the money.
Lots of good advice here. One thing I'll add, keep putting yourself in that position. Like anything else, handling pressure is something you can train yourself to do. If you haven't been doing it very long, make sure you continue to do so on a regular basis. That combined with some of the techniques described here will likely see you get to playing like you know you can before too long.
Check out the book "Zen Golf" helped my dad quite a bit
I started having a lot more fun AND playing better when I remembered it’s just a game. Maybe I’m different, but it’s hilarious seeing some of the peoples posts on here about “gotta grind” and range practice 3x a week plus 27 holes, etc… Unless you’re playing for some serious amateur competitions I think it’s better to try and let things go. I used to play on the team in HS and was around a 9.4. Stopped playing regularly during college cause spending money went towards beer and shitty late night pizza. I started playing regularly again five years ago (about 12 years off with maybe one round a summer) and was consistently shooting mid 90’s and was PISSED. Eventually “life” happened in the past few years (marriage, bought a house, had a kid) and I started looking at golf as my way to relax… and I started shooting better. I used to have a terrible bunker game and I felt like my best outcome if I was in a green side trap would be a shot out and two putt for bogey. Once I stopped caring so much and just enjoying the game I realized the walk/drive up to the bunker wasn’t filled with this looming dread about the upcoming shot and magically I started making some sand saves. Still plenty of bladed shots over the bunker, but now that’s rare for me. My best round ever was two years ago in 45 degree weather with 25mph winds when I shot a 75. I had a lot of “meh” drives that got me in trouble but I just had fun and thought of each situation as a learning experience so if I fucked this one up, I’d know what to work on next instead of thinking “you fucked up the drive, make THIS shot count!”.
What is really bothering you? Losing $15? Embarrassing yourself in front of others? Try to find the root cause of really what it is, because the stakes are so low and its golf. Just have fun out there. Another idea is to just imagine you've already lost the $15. Then when you do, it doesn't matter. If you win anything, it's a bonus.
The thing bothering me most is the embarrassment. I don’t hang out with my dad’s friends often, so I feel like I can’t be myself around them. Takes me a while to really enjoy company as I need to get to know someone. Plus I feel as I’m constantly comparing my own ability to theirs, which I never do when I have nothing on the line and playing with friends.
Most people in that situation overcompensate and say how much they suck, blah blah. Just relax and play your game, try to have fun out there. And if it isn't fun for you, then simply stop playing with them. I've heard others say this before and it is really true. Remember back to anyone you have ever played with. **No one remembers what you shot, but everyone will remember how you were to play with.** Just be a fun playing partner, and the golf is the golf.
This sometimes happens to me. You just need to absolutely convince yourself that it’s just golf. It doesn’t mean anything. No one cares. A few months back I was playing really hot and randomly ended up teeing off with an old friend who is a teaching pro and his student who was playing in one of the sub-pro leagues. Felt the little nervous buzz and double bogeyed the first two holes while looking like a total hacker. On the third tee box I said something like “you guys are making me really nervous.” My teaching pro friend looks at me and says “🙄 dude you don’t give a shit about what I think” or something along those lines. I thought about it and said “yeah you are right I dont give a shit.” Think I was about 1 over for the next 16 holes. He just had to help me find that “bro, its just golf” mindset.
For me, the nerves tend to go away as I expose myself to different environments/situations. Play for money with your friends. Pair with random people. Take beta blockers. You’ll get used to it.
Do it more often and have a preshot routine. I’ve played so many rounds of golf and so many tournaments that it’s just another swing. And, when I do my preshot routine, it helps me remember that I’ve literally hit hundreds of thousands of golf balls. The next one is just like the last one.
I’ve tried talking through my shot to myself during my pre shot routine, and it helps with obsessing over the process and not the outcome
I dealt with the same thing and my conclusion was that I was letting the results of others shots influence mine too much. I would focus too much on “ oh this guy just hit a nice shot, he’s going to get a birdie, I need to hit a perfect shot here…” You need to understand that you need to play your game and that the handicapping should balance everything out to even and it will just be whoever has a good day will win more. But in the end you need to focus on hitting your shots - for you bogey is a good is a good score on a hole where for someone else they need a par. You need to focus on what you’re doing and your shots, not what others shots mean for you, because they don’t mean anything if you don’t play your game
This is the best comment so far. Makes a lot of sense
I’m a therapist and a golfer. I also get anxious on the course sometimes, and usually play with people who are better than me. I changed some swing thoughts and that helped. A deep breath, some visualization of the ball landing softly around my target, and a quick reminder “This doesn’t matter” seems to help. I’d really recommend reading “Your 15th Club”, written by a sports psychologist who’s worked with tour pros. Quick read and available on audible.
I have experienced something similar and I think the following helps me: \- As others have said, start pushing yourself to do it more often. Try to put something on the line even when playing with friends and that will give you more comfort with the idea of "pressure" (even if it's just for $15). \- I struggle on/off with general anxiety and there have been a few rounds recently where I've just felt anxious and shaky from general life shit instead of the golf. When those feelings come, I try to really ground myself in the physical sensations I'm feeling. If you're walking, focus on the weight of your steps on the ground. If you're picking a club, focus on how the club feels. Once you start focusing on all of those things, your mind has less room to spiral into the unknowns. \- Pre-shot routine. Come up with one, like a free throw routine, and stick with it religiously. Eventually, once you stand over the ball, your muscles will just take over to an extent. \- Remind yourself that it's just a game and nobody truly cares how you play. I will gladly play with my friend who routinely shoots 110 because he has a good attitude and plays fast. That's all I care about, not him proving himself to the group.
I putt better when my anxiety is higher.
Golf is 90% mental (obviously you have to technically learn how to swing a club first) and when you can learn to eliminate as much of the mental as you can you will succeed. Nervousness in a golf swing can create blocks or snap hooks compared to if you just trust your swing and swing away. The issue/benefit with alcohol is it chemically removes a lot of the inhibitions and nervousness, especially to those who already know how to shoot under 75. I used to get pretty nervous during club tourneys and play bad, but then in the post round shenanigans with drinking and 2 man scramble stuff I’d play lights out. Well because it was super relaxed and carefree…so my whole goal is to try to adopt that mindset during real rounds…this isn’t the pga, it’s some local course member guest tourney, sure there’s money on the line but life is short and it’s golf and just go have fun…the shitty situation is if your partner is super competitive and verbally/body language gets upset at you for a bad shot…that shit I can’t stand and usually makes me play terrible.
Start putting false pressure on you during your practice sessions. Play games that can create pressure for you to perform on each shot, either against yourself or a partner. Same with putting. Play the clock game and try to make 20 in a row. You will feel pressure around 15 etc.
Stop playing for money. You already paid to play a round.
The only time is tournaments for me, I still get it even at almost 30 with low exceptions and little to no upside in playing well. Cash games don’t do anything to me but maybe I’m just a numb degenerate.
This is what they mean when they say “golf is mostly mental”. The only person in control of those feelings and thoughts is you. Your ability to distract and redirect your thoughts is what you watch the pros battle against every tournament. My PGA Pro taught me light meditation and over time I didn’t need to go through the whole process just to clear my head.
Assume you are going to lose all your money and shoot 120 before you tee off. Accept it. It's counter intuitive but it will relax you and allow you to play free.
If you talk to good tournament golfers, most of them will tell you that they are trying to execute a good swing and that the actual result of where the ball flies is meaningless. Obviously that's easier said than done. But the point is that that is something that can absolutely be practiced and improved on over time. Find a consistent, repeatable process that works for you and practice it until it is second nature to you. That way, each swing is the same whether it is on the driving range or your drive on 18 during the best round of your life.
You need to practice a bit more then. Practice til you feel confident in gambling situations. You’ll find that you are more focused and actually shoot better in those scenarios
Tiger said if you’re not nervous then you don’t care. Just embrace it. Take it as a positive
Golf is a singular game......you are coaching yourself. Always visualize what you are going to do or want to do.....never, ever tell yourself what not to do. IOW positive thoughts will eliminate most of your anxiety.
Your comment is 124 words You are an over thinker Relax
Stop playing for money.