Focusing??? - Disc Golf

Darr · #1 May 3rd, 2009, 09:29 PM

How do you focus your mind during a round of disc golf?? I find that the only thing standing in my way of course domination is my own HEAD! Not being able to keep my head in the game is my major fault. As soon as I have a couple terrible kicks I can't seem to re-focus myself to my "happy place".
The bottom line is I have fun when playing good, and am MISERABLE when I play bad.

common knowledge to anybody who knows me.

So I am hoping for some help in this department, here are my questions.

1. Do you have a method for staying focused and keeping a positive attitude through multiple bad shots?

2. What do you tell yourself to "move on" from bad play and finish strong

Thanks in advance for the help.

"Over the Hill" Bob · #2 May 3rd, 2009, 09:57 PM

Not sure I can really help here other than to say look "forward" not "back". Have a lousy hole? Start thinking of how you are going to play the next one. But like I say, I'm not the best for answering your question. I have difficulty even getting into game mode. It seems every round, even in competition is like a casual round.

I've known you now for almost two years and yeppers, I've seen the good, the bad, and the UGLY. I've got to say though that I'm very proud of the way you carried yourself at GNO. The Darr-Pro was more for attitude than low score. Good on you!

Bob

sands.steven · #3 May 3rd, 2009, 11:02 PM

I have been playing the head game a while. I agree that this can be your alli and enemy. I really try to take each shot on one at a time. When I am in a rut I try to make each shot as smart and as well thought out as I can. You have thirty seconds and use it .... Breathe Deep !!!!!! I focus on MY game ....sometimes I even close my eyes when others are releasing their throws to think about my game.... I dont need the stress, its not my throw...

In short,

Play YOUR game
Breathe
One shot at a time !

-Steve

Bruce · #4 May 3rd, 2009, 11:04 PM

I once heard a quote and I tend to think of it when I have a bad shot. "Once the disc leaves your hand, sit back and enjoy the show, because it is no longer in your control" Or something along those lines anyways. All of it is emotions Darr, the good and bad. One thing I've really focused on is not getting overly excited when I pull something out of my ass or make that log put that really shouldn't have gone in. In doing so, the bad side of my mental game improved. Just staying more....even keel as it were.

snap7times · #5 May 3rd, 2009, 11:52 PM

One shot at a time, dont look past the shot you at now, focus on the line, where you want to put it, adjust at each shot, learn your disc pattern, why it flew the way it did, adapt each shot to your technique, sometimes it's best to lay up and take the 3 than to risk a 35 foot biridie. If you scared of 20-30 footers, what are the chances of you making the 35? Be smart, take the holes you can get, and accept par's and bogey's instead of going all out... classic example. Today in the 3rd round of the Masters Cup AM weekend. I'm sitting 4 strokes behind the leader on my card. We start out very good. After 4 holes, he is -2 and I am -1. This is from guys who havent gotten any better than +13 between the two of us. He starts to get cocky cuz he slammed a couple 20-35 footers and was like I'm going for it every time. On hole 8, after another couple awesome upshots and save-par putts, he feeling high and mighty. He makes a good drive off the tee, is less than 60 feet from pin but out of bounds right behind basket, common sense says lay up and take the par, he goes for it, 20 feet past, miss the come pack par, gets a 4 instead of an easy 3. Next hole, great drive off tee, 40 feet from pin, cliff behind basket, goes for it, rolls down hill, throw back hits treee, another throw up, gets a 5 instead of an easy 3. Next hole makes a 35 foot save-par putt, back in motion, gets a tough 25 foot birdie on next hole. Then the next one throws an okok drive, 2nd shot gets reckless instead of throw it straight and try for par than to park the upshot. Ends up with a 4. Goes from -2 to 1 up in 5 holes with 4 score changes, that could have been avoided three times. Then next hole is under 200 feet, the refrigarator hole, parks the drive about 40 feet away on bottom of hill, goes for it, goes over to other side, now throw back lay up for 4 instead of a easy par 3. Next hole his drive on the famous I-5 is just a bit past the opening to the hole and about 40 feet out in the feild, a 4 would be easy at this point, upshot forced into the trees, 3rd shot forced again another 60 feet up, 4th shot too hard past the basket from 60 feet out and now 25 feet away, miss the putt and get a 6! The decision making got worse after that and at least 4-5 more opportunites to get a par on tough holes become 4's and 5's because it's go for it go for it instead of being smart and taking the par's and bogey's if they are tough holes, work on control and strategy and the scores go down... He went from -2 after 7 holes to +18 for 28 holes.... I was -1, was +6 with 3 holes left to go and made only one mental mistake costing me a 5, the other two were just good drives, bad lie behind trees, took the 4's and got a +10, a 12 stroke improvement from Friday, its knowing the course, making placement shots so that you are able to connect good shot after good shot instead of gogogogogo..... ok i better stop before I write a book...

Jeff Hemmerling · #6 May 4th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snap7times

..... ok i better stop before I write a book...

You already did!

Sam · #7 May 4th, 2009, 09:10 AM

There is only one shot - the one you are about to make. The shots that happened before are gone and nothing short of an eraser is going to change that. The shots that haven't happened yet don't really matter because you can't get to them until you have dealt with the shot you are about to take. So... it is the ONLY shot that matters. And once it is gone, it is gone.

Do not let past misfortune create present or future misfortune.

NWDiscer · #8 May 4th, 2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

There is only one shot - the one you are about to make. The shots that happened before are gone and nothing short of an eraser is going to change that. The shots that haven't happened yet don't really matter because you can't get to them until you have dealt with the shot you are about to take. So... it is the ONLY shot that matters. And once it is gone, it is gone.

Do not let past misfortune create present or future misfortune.

?Legend of Bagger Vance?

Sam · #9 May 4th, 2009, 09:21 AM

Is it?! I just whipped that out as I say something very similar to myself on a near-daily basis. I have seen that movie, though, and enjoyed it so it is possible that I stole some of it from there.

NWDiscer · #10 May 4th, 2009, 09:24 AM

for some reason that scene in the trees after he has the flashback it just popped into head.

i wont say it is complete but bits and pieces im pretty sure came from that.

Sam · #11 May 4th, 2009, 09:54 AM

This?

"Put your eyes on Bobby Jones... Look at his practice swing, almost like he's searchin for something... Then he finds it... Watch how he settle hisself right into th emiddle of it, feel that focus... He got a lot of shots he could choose from... Duffs and tops and skulls, there's only ONE shot that's in perfect harmony with the feild... One shot that's his, authentic shot, and that shot is gonna choose him... There's a perfect shot out there tryin' to find each and every one of us... All we got to do is get ourselves out of its way, to let it choose us... Can't see that flag as some dragon you got to slay... You got to look with soft eyes... See the place where the tides and the seasons and the turnin' of the Earth, all come together... where everything that is, becomes one... You got to seek that place with your soul Junuh... Seek it with your hands don't think about it... Feel it... Your hands is wiser than your head ever gonna be... Now I can't take you there Junuh... Just hopes I can help you find a way... Just you... that ball... that flag... and all you are..."

Sam · #12 May 4th, 2009, 09:56 AM

Or maybe this?

"Inside each and every one of us is our one true, authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learning... something that's got to be remembered."

NWDiscer · #13 May 4th, 2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

This?

"Put your eyes on Bobby Jones... Look at his practice swing, almost like he's searchin for something... Then he finds it... Watch how he settle hisself right into th emiddle of it, feel that focus... He got a lot of shots he could choose from... Duffs and tops and skulls, there's only ONE shot that's in perfect harmony with the feild... One shot that's his, authentic shot, and that shot is gonna choose him... There's a perfect shot out there tryin' to find each and every one of us... All we got to do is get ourselves out of its way, to let it choose us... Can't see that flag as some dragon you got to slay... You got to look with soft eyes... See the place where the tides and the seasons and the turnin' of the Earth, all come together... where everything that is, becomes one... You got to seek that place with your soul Junuh... Seek it with your hands don't think about it... Feel it... Your hands is wiser than your head ever gonna be... Now I can't take you there Junuh... Just hopes I can help you find a way... Just you... that ball... that flag... and all you are..."

nope not that 1 but that is a good 1 also.
Thats on the 1st tee of the 3rd round...........

NWDiscer · #14 May 4th, 2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

Or maybe this?

"Inside each and every one of us is our one true, authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learning... something that's got to be remembered."

i wanna say this is on the 1st tee also.

in the woods he is telling him about how he has to let his PAST "all of his company was killed" go.......it is done and over, then he threads that shot thru about a 1 foot gap 50yards in front of him. it was during the last round

Ol' Bob · #15 May 4th, 2009, 04:53 PM

Play more. If you play enough, you'll learn to 'move on' easier. The important thing about the shot you just made is what it can tell you about your next one. I mean, if you pulled too hard and slipped your grip, or yanked it, that's good to know. You'll back off that perfect amount and get the next one done better. If your footing could have been better, you'll plant solid on net one. If you're making the same mistakes repeatedly, because you're being a dummy, you'll get smarter. Some days are better than others. Enough days will teach you that.

I'm very round-score-conscious. A bad first few holes used to sink me. Now I find myself enjoying recoveries. I still have to work on killing a good round on the 18th.

Bruce · #16 May 4th, 2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

There is only one shot - the one you are about to make. The shots that happened before are gone and nothing short of an eraser is going to change that.

It's not nice bringing Brill into this conversation, Sam.

NWDiscer · #17 May 4th, 2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

there is only one shot - the one you are about to make. The shots that happened before are gone and nothing short of an eraser is going to change that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce

it's not nice bringing brill into this conversation, sam.

OH SNAP.......

smobro · #18 May 4th, 2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWDiscer

OH SNAP.......

Pat I gotta say your game is sick! We have been carded up together lots of times the last couple years and I have only seen you improve. The problem is you play with one of the top players in the state and set your expectations to the Kid's level of play. While I believe you are completely capable of being a top player some day, give yourself some credit for how good you already are. Set some tournament goals that are reasonable and you will likely exceed them. Most athletes never play in competition as well as they play in casual. I think you have excelled far past what you realize. keep hammering away at it and practice with intention. Gilmore taught me that every shot in practice is equally as important as every shot in a tournament. You don't have a head problem anymore. Once you recognize that, you will be slaying the intermediate field. You got game Dawg.

Joshua Olmsted · #19 May 4th, 2009, 10:47 PM

Wow, head game, I hear you, that's always been one of the biggest problems in my game. I've even seen it turn great rounds into average ones by simply letting my mind run away from me. J-Man might be able to recall a Sunday a ways back where I started off -4 at Pier through 7 holes, only to overthink the score and my own game and finish at +3, thoroughly disappointed. Many of my strongest rounds have been solo rounds at Pier with no one around where I practically jog from hole to hole, rarely stopping to think to much. My best tournament rounds simply come when I just try to think less in general, or keep my mind away from the game except for when I'm standing right over the disc. One odd strategy I picked up for tournament putting ion the shorter distances is when I'm feeling nervous I would pace out the distance to the basket and remind myself "this is just a 21 foot putt, you're great at these, and think to the many 21 foot practice putts I've made. Just trying to keep everything in perspective is my only advice, see each shot as its own entity separate from all the rest.

Now if only I could do that during all my pressure packed middle of the intermediate field rounds I play maybe I'd win one some day

Brody Cannon · #20 May 5th, 2009, 06:50 AM

My advice if you want to be really focused is start by NOT drinking or smoking pot. Also, listen to a catchy song before your round and get it stuck in your head. I always sing in my head or listen to music to help get my mind off a bad shot.