Dealing with slow play

[alangbaker]

One of the things that made my recent personal best even sweeter was that it happened in round that took 5 hours to play.

We had waits on almost every tee and at one point, we were the third group to arrive at a par 5 that was particularly reachable that day (downwind).

Until not too long ago, that was a situation *guaranteed* to make me hit a lot of bad shots. I'd get up to my ball, assess the shot, pick a club...

...and then stand there taking too many practice swings and thinking about it over and over; paralysis.

Now, it's different. When play is slow, I get to the tee (or if in the fairway, find my ball), and I turn off golf. I don't start thinking about my shot until I have only a minute or so until my turn to play -- unless I can just assess something simple like whether to go straight ahead or pitch it out sideways.

But I *never* actually as much as picture the shot. I wait until I'm in that one minute zone which I'd take if this were a completely open course and *then* I pull on my glove...

...and that tells me it's time to play again.

Until then, I'll chat with the group or enjoy the day some other way. If I'm waiting a long time at the tee, I'll pull out a wedge and practice chipping. It keeps your chipping sharp, but it also helps you to keep your rhythm. Somehow, hitting the next drive is easier after hitting a dozen nice easy chips.

[JPsuff]

Originally Posted by alangbaker

One of the things that made my recent personal best even sweeter was that it happened in round that took 5 hours to play.

We had waits on almost every tee and at one point, we were the third group to arrive at a par 5 that was particularly reachable that day (downwind).

Until not too long ago, that was a situation *guaranteed* to make me hit a lot of bad shots. I'd get up to my ball, assess the shot, pick a club...

...and then stand there taking too many practice swings and thinking about it over and over; paralysis.

Now, it's different. When play is slow, I get to the tee (or if in the fairway, find my ball), and I turn off golf. I don't start thinking about my shot until I have only a minute or so until my turn to play -- unless I can just assess something simple like whether to go straight ahead or pitch it out sideways.

But I *never* actually as much as picture the shot. I wait until I'm in that one minute zone which I'd take if this were a completely open course and *then* I pull on my glove...

...and that tells me it's time to play again.

Until then, I'll chat with the group or enjoy the day some other way. If I'm waiting a long time at the tee, I'll pull out a wedge and practice chipping. It keeps your chipping sharp, but it also helps you to keep your rhythm. Somehow, hitting the next drive is easier after hitting a dozen nice easy chips.

That's exactly how I look at it and that's why I have "issues" with the "Hurry up and hit" crowd. I've said many times that I actually prefer it when I have a short wait on the next tee. It gives me a chance to relax a bit and I do the same thing as you suggest; chat, chip, maybe take care of a little golf bag housekeeping.

One thing I would add to what you've posted is this: If you're waiting, whether on the tee or in the fairway, DO NOT take a club out of the bag until you're ready to begin your preshot. Waiting somewhere and holding the club you're going to hit while you're waiting is almost a guarantee of messing up the next shot. While you're holding that club, you're subconsciously thinking about it, the shot, the lie, the stakes, the score and when it finally comes time to hit your shot, you have so many things going through your mind (most of them negative) that the odds on hitting the shot you'd like to hit are approaching negative numbers.

Leave the club in the bag until it's time to use it. Then, when you have a clear picture of what you are going to do, take out the necessary club, go through your normal preshot and then hit the ball.


-JP

[alangbaker]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

That's exactly how I look at it and that's why I have "issues" with the "Hurry up and hit" crowd. I've said many times that I actually prefer it when I have a short wait on the next tee. It gives me a chance to relax a bit and I do the same thing as you suggest; chat, chip, maybe take care of a little golf bag housekeeping.

One thing I would add to what you've posted is this: If you're waiting, whether on the tee or in the fairway, DO NOT take a club out of the bag until you're ready to begin your preshot. Waiting somewhere and holding the club you're going to hit while you're waiting is almost a guarantee of messing up the next shot. While you're holding that club, you're subconsciously thinking about it, the shot, the lie, the stakes, the score and when it finally comes time to hit your shot, you have so many things going through your mind (most of them negative) that the odds on hitting the shot you'd like to hit are approaching negative numbers.

Leave the club in the bag until it's time to use it. Then, when you have a clear picture of what you are going to do, take out the necessary club, go through your normal preshot and then hit the ball.

Absolutely!

I didn't say it, but it is definitely part of what I do...

...or more importantly, don't do.

[PA PLAYA]

I'd be lying if I said that having to wait on every shot doesn't affect me.

However, I'm trying to improve my coping techniques. When you're accustomed to playing 4-hr rounds, and you've grown to enjoy that pace, obviously it's not quite that easy to readjust to a different playing momentum. Easier said than done.

So I can either learn to deal with it positively and try to not allow it to determine how I play, or I can stew on it and allow it to make the game miserable. Doesn't mean that I endorse slow play, but I know that it's a product of the game and likewise part of the many challenges that face us occasionally.

It is indeed a game of patience.

[JPsuff]

Originally Posted by PA PLAYA

I'd be lying if I said that having to wait on every shot doesn't affect me.

However, I'm trying to improve my coping techniques. When you're accustomed to playing 4-hr rounds, and you've grown to enjoy that pace, obviously it's not quite that easy to readjust to a different playing momentum. Easier said than done.

So I can either learn to deal with it positively and try to not allow it to determine how I play, or I can stew on it and allow it to make the game miserable. Doesn't mean that I endorse slow play, but I know that it's a product of the game and likewise part of the many challenges that face us occasionally.

It is indeed a game of patience.

This is why I abhor "either/or" situations or attitudes. I'm not suggesting that you, PLAYA, fall into any particular category, but many people do and that becomes problematic when a situation is not to their liking.
I have played very fast rounds and I've enjoyed them and done quite well from a scoring point of view. But I can say the same for slow rounds as well and that's my point; it isn't about slow rounds or fast rounds, but rather it's about adaptability.

I think that to be a consistent player, one needs the ability to adjust not only their game to changing conditions, but their mind as well. I have seen far too many people who firmly believe in the "Four Hour Round", come completely unglued and unable to play even a decent game when the play slows to a more typical (at least around here) "weekend" pace. The really good players are the ones who are able to adapt their psyches to such situations and play well in spite of them.

This is what I thought that Alan was referring to in his post; that being able to occupy one's time constructively while being forced to wait will do far more good than the usual whining and complaining so often heard in such situations. When I see that there are two groups backed up on a tee, I begin planning how I'll spend my wait time. I'll decide to practice 8-iron chips, or perhaps I'll decide to clean the grooves of my wedges, or any number of things. If I get caught up in the usual, "For cryin' out loud, what's takin' them so long?" nonsense, all I'll end up doing is creating tension and tension has no place in a good round of golf.

Patience may indeed be a virtue, but it can also be a rather effective strategy as well.


-JP