Hey everyone, thank you SOOOO much for watching ❤️ big thank you to Lee for his time and help me clamber over the 300k mark by subscribing to the channel if you haven’t already 😘
Honestly this is a really really good and helpful video! I appreciate the insight of your "inner life" on the golfcours! Bring on those videos, they are great!
“How will this play out in a video? How will I explain this?” Resonates soooo much with me Pete, it’s wild! Choosing to document our events puts us behind the 8ball from the jump and we need a strong mental game like no other haha. Absolutely love hearing this chat and the Statement/Question thing is brilliant. Can’t wait to see your standard of play rise in comps again(and hopefully I can follow suit 👊🏼)
This is probably one of the most important videos not only that you have done, but of any golf channel. I think this will help so many golfers who struggle with a card in hand! Keep it up!
Before every shot I have to take a deep breath and tell myself “80%”. I know that if I just trust the club and deliver it a solid 80% swing, the ball will go the distance. It is a good way to help you loosen your grip and forget the bad shot(s) before.
Exactly my thought also as I set up, for myself, swinging at 80% keeps me in control, if I try to swing faster, I tend to push/pull as I'm not in total control. :)
Without a doubt one of the premier golf channels on TH-cam. Thank you Pete. Last anti-slice video was gold. Has definitely helped me improve my swing path.
Strangely I will do the Eye technique when playing darts.. just stare at my target and zone out to everything else! Good to see you bounce back from what must have been a difficult time 👍 Nice Vid
I would tend to struggle with the mental aspects of golf. I put a lot of expectation on myself and this video is a life changer for me with a big competition coming up for me in just 3 days! One thing i do on the golf course to help this weakness is to not look at the scorecard. I would really recommend this as it really takes your mind off all expectations and I find it really easy to start playing well as I feel comfortable.
Pete, you and Shielsy have the best channels for us golfers! 🏌️♀️ Happy to be along for the ride! Golf tip that has helped- hitting chips from the skinny
In my experience one shot means nothing in relatuon to your next one 😂. But yeah, it's sometimes quite mindblowing how differently your body (and/or mind) can work within a 12 hour timespan.
I hear you Dave, i can play a saturday and hit a low 70s score then go out next day and into high 80s. I know its all mental but its almost ingrained into me if i have a good score on last round then next is going to be a train wreck!!! Trying so hard to break this cycle. Watching Peter and Rick is really helping giving me the props to play better golf.
Pete, can’t tell you enough how relatable this is, and how refreshing the content. I play great with clients or people I generally don’t know well (or while practicing) but with mates, I put pressure on myself to perform (ego), and blow up. As for the one swing thought that helps.....”Butter”...I just think of a knife through butter. My issues are always tight grip, swing too hard, and don’t get through the golf swing so block it out right as a result. Thinking about smooth and “finishing” the shot...hips through, etc. I find really helps...as cheesy as it is. Honestly this is one of the best golf videos I’ve seen, thanks for putting yourself out there and sharing these damn golf demons that many of us have. Cheers
Was told to imagine there’s a coin under your ball when putting and you need to visualise the coin coming into full view before looking at your putt. Helps you switch your mind off to the putt and trust your instinct.
One of the mental things that has helped me greatly is constantly reminding myself that I'm an amateur and that I shouldn't expect to par every hole and that I will have a double bogey (or worse) from time to time. Keeps things in perspective and actually more positive.
I love the video Pete. just what I needed. The best advice I've heard is that as amateur golfers we arent good enough to get angry and our families dont rely on us to win to bring home the dinner. It always helps to put stuff in perspective.
One of the best mental tips I've read (I think it's in 'Golf is not a game of perfect') is this - everyone knows you're supposed to visualise your shot, but it's usually quite a general thing - left side of fairway, towards that tree, land it on that part of the green, etc. Get really specific and focused on your visualisation. So it becomes more like - aiming for that footprint on the left side of the fairway, aiming for a line on that branch of that tree, landing on that blade of grass on the green, etc. Really zooming in and getting as specific as possible seems to get your brain far more engaged in the visualisation process. You may not land it on THAT blade of grass, but I'm finding that missing it still means I'm FAR more accurate than just 'somewhere over there'. Good luck with it Pete 👊
lol - saw that. I'm surprised I got this far into the comments before seeing a comment about it. Too funny - although to be fair, sometimes the nuances are a nuisance!!
The best thing for me lately mentally has been knowing the difference between ‘making a put’ and ‘holeing’ the put. It puts me in a much better frame of mind walking off the green after striking a good out that just barely didn’t go in.
When I start seeing my round fall apart, I start losing lots of distance. For example, I usually hit my drive 190 yards (I’m 13), but once on a bad round I was driving it 140.
Im just one year older than you and when I have a bad hole I try to completely forget about it and have the same confidence I would take If i had gotten, lets say a birdie or something.
It hasn't helped me on the golf course since I'm a high teens handicap but when I was a competitive skier in my younger years I used audiogenic training, basically getting into a deep state of relaxation and visualizing the perfect run over and over, teaching your body and mind to respond to commands. Golf wise I've taken about 5 strokes off my handicap by binge watching yours, Petes and Matts videos while in lockdown and literally playing the best golf of my life first time back on the course which has just continued to improve my game every outing.
A great reminder of one of the most important part of any sport. As an introvert, getting away from others for a bit between holes when I get off track is often needed to clear the head.
Finchy! Your attitude and lighthearted demeanor makes your channel unique and the growth has been unreal over the years. I have found myself emulating your preshot routine out on the course. Keep up the good work and keep grinding
"Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears" - Bobby Jones's quote resonates for me Pete and I'm glad you are tackling this. Your golf game deserves it. Keep up the great content.
This is one of the most genuine and amazing coach/golf/utube videos I have ever seen. These gems of information can be pulled from this video and used in every part of ones life. Bravo! I am shooting a 16 handicap right now and wondering how I can get better playing only once a week and after watching this video I think I can shave a couple more shots off and perform better at work!
My most successful swing thought ever is just imaging a line between my forehead and the ball, and focusing on keeping that distance from changing too much on takeaway and swing through. It has always yielded my striking at it's most pure.
I suffer from the same kind of 'competition nerves' and can really appreciate what you go through in a club golfer kind of way :-). Thanks for your frankness and honesty Pete! Keep up the good work and content!
Great lesson! With advancing age (I'm 65 years old) and multiple injuries, my entire game was suffering. I finally came to the conclusion that I'm not a young man anymore and have to change my approach to the game. This happened by quieting my mind. While standing behind the ball, I visualize what I want to do. Then after taking my grip, stance, etc., I turn off everything around me. I just focus on a spot on the ball. "Be the ball"!!!!! By focusing on my swing, then the ball, instead of worrying about the result, my distance has increased, my shot shape is improving, and the game is fun again! A bit of stretching before the round doesn"t hurt either.
Nice to see the importance of the mental side of the game being highlighted so succinctly.... visualisation of the hole from green to tee and positive shot visualisation shouldn’t be underestimated.
I’ve always had a problem taking my practice mentality to the course. The way I overcame this problem recently was to shorten the amount of time I allowed myself over the ball before taking the shot. It worked a treat! Love your channel Peter.
I play a mental trick with my mind. I focus my eyes on where I want the club to bottom out rather than the ball when hitting anything but a putt or chip. It took a leap of faith to do it and a bit of range time, but it really has helped visualize the swing path I want and it's helped me hit ball first more consistently. Great video. Thank you so much.
I listened to a lot of Dr. Bob Rotella's golf psychology discs and have always used the "aim for the smallest target to give you a bigger room for error" tip. So instead of aiming for the left side of the green, pick a branch on a tree behind the green that's in line with that left side and then commit to the shot. Massively helped both off the tee and on approach shots.
Best thing I have started doing lately. Between one hole and the next, to forget about the last hole, I always take time to appreciate the groundskeepers work. Just take a second to appreciate the garden...with a golf course in it.
After trying this approach at the weekend I can honestly say - what a difference! It’s hard to do as I’m constantly making statements but the more I tried the easier it was. This video is a real game changer for me!
One tip that has helped me was one you posted a few years ago. Once i’ve hit a bad shot I draw a line on the ground and once I’ve walked over that line... the frustration of the bad shot is gone! Start over with a clear mind for the next shot 🤙🏻
Tempo, Tempo, Tempo. When im hitting bad shots, I always remind my self to slow down by muttering Tempo, Tempo, Tempo to myself. This really forces me to slow down and make smoother swings which generally sort out any issues im having that day. Nothing worse than feeling out of control on the golf course, so slowing it down tends to give me a little more control. Then when I feel im swinging with a nice tempo, that translates to confidence and then I tend to play my best. Great Video Pete, thanks so much.
I usually get around 53/54 at my local 9 hole. Since watching your last driver video I got my best score of 43 yesterday . Couldn't believe it . Thanks a lot Pete !
My mental tip (/ cliché) - play one shot at a time - only reflect on the previous shot until it's time to hit the next, then it's archived 'til post-round. See each shot as an micro- learning opportunity. There are no bad shots - even the "worst" shot has a cause/effect, learn from it. Golf is imperfect and challenging, that's why we keep coming back.
So this just opened up my brain on tournament performance. I've struggled with the ego for sure and what Lee said makes alot of sense! Best video ever Pete and awesome to show that all golfers are vulnerable, keep up the great content!
Well done Pete! The fact that you shared one of the most embarrassing moments of your journey as well as how you overcame it is inspiring. I already try to use the quiet eye technique but will be asking myself questions before every shot this weekend. Cheers!
Followed you over from Golfholics. This is a great video. I don't think enough youtuber golfers talk enough about the mental aspects of the game, especially beyond the basics. Instead of the usual, "clear your mind of all negative thoughts," you and Lee presented great ideas on how to achieve such a state. The quiet eye is a great example. Utilizing this method actually clears the thoughts, whereas someone telling you to just clear your mind usually creates the thought in your head.
Peter, great to see your game coming together, keep it up. Something that has worked for me during competition to ease the nerves is I’ll meditate before leaving the house. I guarantee if you implemented this during your quest for the open you will lower that score even more. Best of luck!
Congratulations 🍾 on a much better round of golf 🏌️ ⛳️!! Pete you are a talented golfer 🏌🏿♀️ don’t get in your on way! Just rely on the process. You have the ability to make the Open one day. Really enjoy your channel 😎
I'm glad you've had the 'check up from the neck up', this will provide huge benefits for you in the forthcoming events. I'm 100% positive that you will win an event this year!
The one thought that has helped my golf game more than everything else is “you are not a pro”. That alone takes off so much of the pressure that I put on myself. Just that thought helped me get down to a 3 handicap. Just need to keep the mental game sharp and hopefully I can continue to improve.
This was fantastic!! Thanks for sharing intimately, from your weakness, and also letting us enjoy your successes. I hope you know that all of us subscribers/regular viewers are pulling for you and want to see you excel.
Recently, I played a frustrating 18 hole round. Shot 86 with 8 penalty strokes, including the first 3 on the 1st hole where I shot a 9 on a par 4. I shot over a triple bogey in one hole for the first time in a long time. While this was one of my worst rounds, it also made me had an epiphany: my mental game isn't as strong as I want it to be as well. You're not alone. For the longest time, I've been wanting to shoot in the 70s more consistently (I broke 80 a few times), but haven't been able to frequently do it, and it all ties to my attitude out on the course. It seemed like all I tried to focus on was achieving that goal without even asking myself how I was going to do it. Watching this video inspires me to unlock my potential to not only shoot my best scores, but to enjoy my presence on the course a lot more. I will work on my mental game and ask myself more questions in the process. Your video is well put together and very well done, and well done on the comeback! This video gave me more hope to play better golf more consistently. Thank you very much for posting this. Cheers from the states!
Gonna be honest, don’t get why Peter doesn’t get more attention. All of his videos are so quality in editing, dialogue, and content. Not throwing rick under the bridge but just for comparison, I’d give peter the edge. Keep up the great work finch!!!
Deep breaths on the tee and clearing my mind and visualising my shot before I hit the ball has helped me but ultimately my scores are coming down because I am enjoying playing golf so much now! And because I am enjoying my golf my scores are improving a lot and my handicap is coming down with it!! 🤙🏾😎and watching your videos and listening to your advice has played a massive part too I think you and Rick have helped me massively so thank you I will co tiniest watching your material so keep it up buddy..!! 🙌🏾👏🏾👌🏾
This was a great reminder. My mental game is a huge liability for me. I don't play competitively (aside from the once-a-year company tournament I play in), but I really struggle with consistency, and it's as much a mental issue as any sort of physical problem. When I'm focused and doing everything right, mentally, I'm pretty solid...like, having a solid shot to break 80. But it seems like at least once, every nine holes, I have a 'meltdown' hole where everything goes wrong and I wind up +3/+4 on the hole. I'll be watching this one again...and taking notes. Thanks! I wish there was more content like this out there...lots of stuff about what to hit from what distance or how to use this or that club...but I feel like the mental side of the game is overlooked a lot.
I find that really focussing on the club face and not just acknowledging its presence whilst getting the grip lodged into place is a great way to activate your concentration.
Great work Pete! Golf is won or lost in the mind. This is what made Tiger so good in his peak, every shot had his complete attention and focus on what he wanted to do in that moment. You don't even need to look at your score when you just relax, breath and focus on hitting a great shot, every shot! You then finish a round and see.... Bloody hell! That's my best score yet 😂
Keep up the good work Peter ... believe me when i saw it's very reassuring for many golfers who watch these sort of videos to see the honesty around golf rather than cherry picked highlights 👌🏽
This video was a game changer today. Looking forward to seeing if I can apply it during my city championship. I was amazed at how many times I visualized the ideal shot, didn’t pull it off but still ended up in great spots to score.
My brother, a scratch golfer when he was alive, would say or think "I love this shot" on everything tee to green regardless of what he was faced with. He taught me to do the same. He would say..you never get a result without going through the process...so LOVE the process and the results will surprise you. I am certainly not my brother with my 13 handicap, and have tried my entire life to break 80. 2 weeks ago I had many incidents shot 101. Refocused, and recommited to my brothers teaching which was all mental side. A week later, I shot a 1 over 73 with a threesome I was paired up with and did not know. I will never again purposefully focus on results. It brings too much emotional baggage with it. Great Video!
Pete, thank you for taking us on this journey and sharing, even if it wasn’t something stellar. That keeps it real, right? I don’t play competitive golf, but I always try to remain in the moment and concentrate on the current shot. If I start thinking how a couple of bad shots will mess up my round, I lose focus and play even worse.
I think it adds confidence to your weekly/weekend golfers to know that you have many of the same struggles as the rest. That you will have a massively bad hole/round but then make the needed adjustments to bring it back in line.
Great reminder of how easily the game seduces our ego. Best mental approach that I need to return to more regularly is The Inner Game of Golf. 40 year old publication but inner 1 and inner 2 are still as relevant today as they have ever been.
This is only my second year seriously playing golf so there is a lot for me to learn and improve on. Being an athlete (previous javelin) thrower I am very technical and analytical of my swing. I like to try and focus on certain ‘queues’ I will think about depending on what I may be focusing on and trying to improve on that day/week. Queues could be a certain feeling, making sure I’m following through in my swing, or focusing on the ball to help me make clean contact with any club. That and not letting bad shots negatively impact my attitude. Take it as a learning perspective,and I try to always remember the next shot is another opportunity to turn my game around. At the end of playing I like to also self reflect and focus on the positives that came out of that match. It has definitely helped and helps me enjoy being out and playing.
I've found that breathing deep and steady plus not adding my score up until the end usually keeps me in a good place. Plus having a good night's sleep really helps with the decision making. 👍
Posting this video shows your willingness to be vulnerable for the edification of your viewers. That makes you an excellent teacher, Peter. I’m grateful. I suspect I’ll come back to this video several times in the next few months. Thank you! Edit: funny Freudian slip on your Mastery/Ego slide. You meant to type “nuances”, but it wound up “nuisances”. Although, to be fair, in golf they can be one and the same at times.
Best mind trick I use on the course that helps is asking myself "where do I want to hit this shot?" and "Where is my miss?". Helps me commit to a positive shot instead of negative thoughts about trouble on a hole!
My brother was off +2 and I would tell him stories of my game that were so outcome focused. Simple things like “I was 2 over after 12 holes” or I needed to par the last two to beat my score” He put me in my head lace by saying “you sound like such an amateur club golfer” what a put down! I know focus on shot shape, wind, strike etc , All the stuff that’s good golf. If I focus on good golf I score well. If I focus on scoring well I play bad golf. My brothers awesome put down keeps me grounded.
For me, the most effective mental adjustment I have found was to simply breathe and follow my pre-shot routine. This has quieted my mind during all aspects of my game and allowed me to be more consistent.
Really top video. What has worked for me best over the years when I feel it going wrong is just to focus on the pace of my swing and nothing else. Seems to bring it back to some kind of normality.
Found this video super helpful in general! One thing that has helped me is visualizing what I think is the perfect elements of the swing, path and seeing the shot in my mind
Two of the best tips I ever got were from my Father-in-Law. He said to realize that I was not good enough to get mad about my game; and to lower my expectations. It puts things into perspective and I never forgot those tips. My birth Father told me to swing as hard as I can in case I hit it.
This is great Pete. Absolutely love these tips and will be focusing on the questions and particularly the quiet eye approach. Hoping that I can use this around the green to stop that silly deceleration. My best tip in return is Do Not add up your scores, neither stroke or stableford. It kills your back nine if you chase lost points from the turn and puts untold pressure on yourself to force an outcome.
The sharpie mark that I put on my golf balls is a smiley face around the logo. Two dots on top and the happy arc on the bottom. Every time I tee one up, I see a smile staring back at me and it reminds me to smile and not take myself too seriously. It's been amazing the number of times I've hit one into a horrible lie only to see the smile there telling me, "it's fine, you've got this." Stay positive y'all.
Great video Pete. I've done the same so many times over the last 40 years playing this game competitively. The difference between the two rounds (for me) - especially on the same day - is between the ears. I'm 51 years old, won tons of shit in Cheshire , played for the county as a junior (colt) and been hammered on the first 18 many times. The bounce back is the difference. Nothing left to lose gives you a huge advantage. Keep going man, love your vids.
Vision 54 were amazing and I love their process for not getting frustrated or over excited (both are bad for the adrenaline levels) at shots we hit. After I hit a shot I rate it on 2 scales- execution- did I execute the shot I planned on a scale of 1-10 and result on a scale of 1-10. I have found this process takes the heat out of the moment and gives a much more positive mindset.
i do a mental reset after each hole. i only just started taking golf seriously this year, but this is something that i apply in a lot of different aspects of life as well and keeps me sane and grounded so i dont fall apart after a setback. after taking an 11 on a hole i can usually turn bogey or double bogey on the next one if i basically treat each hole as a "new game" and clear the last hole from my mind completely. after i enter a score on a hole i forget about it and just move on to the next and start planning my shots on how im gonna try and make par.
one thing that has helped me with swing thoughts is just counting to 3 and than swinging as i get to 3. it helped me reduce the amount of thinking during my swing or thoughts going through my head that dont need to be there. it helped me get better contact on the ball too
Learning to visualize my shots prior to hitting them and feeling like I allow my subconscious mind to swing the club, especially on putts, has helped tremendously.
Honestly, 20 handicap started playing again after 5 years, just finding the humor in my bad shots. Enjoying the fact that at this point ive still got alot to work on and appreciating the fact im just out side playing golf with friends. Enjoy the bad shots and the good shots, and see whereeven my bad rounds are getting better and enjoying the process of getting better.
My golf mental tip: Practice awareness, especially when the nervous jitters begin. Close your eyes and recognize the beating of your heart, sometimes, I can hear it, feel the grass under my feet, birds or rustling, slowly expand your senses from closest to further away from you. This takes the focus away from what's causing the stress and relieves your mind. Then come back to the shot, such as what you described in the video, e.g. asking questions, etc.
Hey everyone, thank you SOOOO much for watching ❤️ big thank you to Lee for his time and help me clamber over the 300k mark by subscribing to the channel if you haven’t already 😘
Honestly this is a really really good and helpful video! I appreciate the insight of your "inner life" on the golfcours!
Bring on those videos, they are great!
Your videos are always at the top of my list Peter, love your content!
Couple years ago I shot 80-69 in a qualifier. It’s all mental.
Hi Pete 😀
Best thumbnail ever.
“How will this play out in a video? How will I explain this?” Resonates soooo much with me Pete, it’s wild! Choosing to document our events puts us behind the 8ball from the jump and we need a strong mental game like no other haha.
Absolutely love hearing this chat and the Statement/Question thing is brilliant.
Can’t wait to see your standard of play rise in comps again(and hopefully I can follow suit 👊🏼)
Sup Andrew..
Need to flip it as a question (like Lee said). Perhaps, how could I and others learn from this?
When I start to struggle I crack open a cold one. After a few you forget about how bad your playing
Word…..
The think box / play box concept from the book “every shot must have a purpose” has been really helpful to me
Really good stuff for sure...
@peter finch golf - asked myself “what would a perfect shot look like?” And shot 39 on a nine hole course. My best score by 4 shots.
Same here! Massive insights gained from Pia Nilsson. Her other book Be A Player is also highly recommended reading.
Don't look at the score card, don't think about what your end of round score may be. Let your game do the talking and don't be too serious!
Amazing, I think this is something almost all other youtube coaching videos have missed. I applaud you for the courage to show the vulnerable side.
love the quest for the open vids, mr. Finch
Thanks Charlie
Peter Finch Golf I’m loving the thumbnail 😂 takes a lot of balls to make fun of yourself with silly faces
Same
I just pick a target in fairway and concentrate and that target
This is probably one of the most important videos not only that you have done, but of any golf channel. I think this will help so many golfers who struggle with a card in hand! Keep it up!
Before every shot I have to take a deep breath and tell myself “80%”. I know that if I just trust the club and deliver it a solid 80% swing, the ball will go the distance. It is a good way to help you loosen your grip and forget the bad shot(s) before.
Great advice!! Especially as you go up the clubs, the harder we try and hit them! Forcing them to go far ends up going backwards.
Exactly my thought also as I set up, for myself, swinging at 80% keeps me in control, if I try to swing faster, I tend to push/pull as I'm not in total control. :)
Without a doubt one of the premier golf channels on TH-cam. Thank you Pete. Last anti-slice video was gold. Has definitely helped me improve my swing path.
Strangely I will do the Eye technique when playing darts.. just stare at my target and zone out to everything else! Good to see you bounce back from what must have been a difficult time 👍 Nice Vid
I would tend to struggle with the mental aspects of golf. I put a lot of expectation on myself and this video is a life changer for me with a big competition coming up for me in just 3 days! One thing i do on the golf course to help this weakness is to not look at the scorecard. I would really recommend this as it really takes your mind off all expectations and I find it really easy to start playing well as I feel comfortable.
I actually learned that “what does a perfect shot look like“ from another TH-cam channel. Really took the pressure off me.
Pete, you and Shielsy have the best channels for us golfers! 🏌️♀️ Happy to be along for the ride!
Golf tip that has helped- hitting chips from the skinny
In my experience, one round means nothing in relation to your next round. Years ago I scored 68 (-3), then the following week I scored 88 (+17). 😤
I shot a level, best round ever and then and plus 9 the next day 😂
In my experience one shot means nothing in relatuon to your next one 😂. But yeah, it's sometimes quite mindblowing how differently your body (and/or mind) can work within a 12 hour timespan.
I hear you Dave, i can play a saturday and hit a low 70s score then go out next day and into high 80s. I know its all mental but its almost ingrained into me if i have a good score on last round then next is going to be a train wreck!!! Trying so hard to break this cycle. Watching Peter and Rick is really helping giving me the props to play better golf.
Isn’t this the truest thing ever hahaha
My brother wondered why I went from an 84 to a 74 in a day. I told him my mindset changed. Love you Pete!
"There are only two types of player-those who keep their nerves under control and win championships, and those who do not" -Harry Vardon
Pete, can’t tell you enough how relatable this is, and how refreshing the content. I play great with clients or people I generally don’t know well (or while practicing) but with mates, I put pressure on myself to perform (ego), and blow up. As for the one swing thought that helps.....”Butter”...I just think of a knife through butter. My issues are always tight grip, swing too hard, and don’t get through the golf swing so block it out right as a result. Thinking about smooth and “finishing” the shot...hips through, etc. I find really helps...as cheesy as it is. Honestly this is one of the best golf videos I’ve seen, thanks for putting yourself out there and sharing these damn golf demons that many of us have. Cheers
Was told to imagine there’s a coin under your ball when putting and you need to visualise the coin coming into full view before looking at your putt. Helps you switch your mind off to the putt and trust your instinct.
One of the mental things that has helped me greatly is constantly reminding myself that I'm an amateur and that I shouldn't expect to par every hole and that I will have a double bogey (or worse) from time to time. Keeps things in perspective and actually more positive.
"The incident" - LMAO. I've had a few on the course as well :)
I love the video Pete. just what I needed. The best advice I've heard is that as amateur golfers we arent good enough to get angry and our families dont rely on us to win to bring home the dinner. It always helps to put stuff in perspective.
C'mon Pete, time to Master that Ego!
One of the best mental tips I've read (I think it's in 'Golf is not a game of perfect') is this - everyone knows you're supposed to visualise your shot, but it's usually quite a general thing - left side of fairway, towards that tree, land it on that part of the green, etc. Get really specific and focused on your visualisation. So it becomes more like - aiming for that footprint on the left side of the fairway, aiming for a line on that branch of that tree, landing on that blade of grass on the green, etc. Really zooming in and getting as specific as possible seems to get your brain far more engaged in the visualisation process. You may not land it on THAT blade of grass, but I'm finding that missing it still means I'm FAR more accurate than just 'somewhere over there'. Good luck with it Pete 👊
As Pete reads “nuances” of the game, the graphic reads “nuisances”...😂
lol - saw that. I'm surprised I got this far into the comments before seeing a comment about it. Too funny - although to be fair, sometimes the nuances are a nuisance!!
The best thing for me lately mentally has been knowing the difference between ‘making a put’ and ‘holeing’ the put. It puts me in a much better frame of mind walking off the green after striking a good out that just barely didn’t go in.
When I start seeing my round fall apart, I start losing lots of distance. For example, I usually hit my drive 190 yards (I’m 13), but once on a bad round I was driving it 140.
Pierce Murphy only 190?
@@connorwood3413 hes 13 bro
Im just one year older than you and when I have a bad hole I try to completely forget about it and have the same confidence I would take If i had gotten, lets say a birdie or something.
Stick in kid, stick in at the game and i wish you all the success in the world
Oscar Arzate when I was 13 I was at about 240
It hasn't helped me on the golf course since I'm a high teens handicap but when I was a competitive skier in my younger years I used audiogenic training, basically getting into a deep state of relaxation and visualizing the perfect run over and over, teaching your body and mind to respond to commands. Golf wise I've taken about 5 strokes off my handicap by binge watching yours, Petes and Matts videos while in lockdown and literally playing the best golf of my life first time back on the course which has just continued to improve my game every outing.
"Remember that this is a FUN game. Pressure might make diamonds, but it also makes coal."
A great reminder of one of the most important part of any sport. As an introvert, getting away from others for a bit between holes when I get off track is often needed to clear the head.
1:20" get yourself a drink"
Me: went down to the kitchen and made myselfe a drink( Neptunes Wrath)😄
Finchy! Your attitude and lighthearted demeanor makes your channel unique and the growth has been unreal over the years. I have found myself emulating your preshot routine out on the course. Keep up the good work and keep grinding
"Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears" - Bobby Jones's quote resonates for me Pete and I'm glad you are tackling this. Your golf game deserves it. Keep up the great content.
This is one of the most genuine and amazing coach/golf/utube videos I have ever seen. These gems of information can be pulled from this video and used in every part of ones life. Bravo! I am shooting a 16 handicap right now and wondering how I can get better playing only once a week and after watching this video I think I can shave a couple more shots off and perform better at work!
My most successful swing thought ever is just imaging a line between my forehead and the ball, and focusing on keeping that distance from changing too much on takeaway and swing through. It has always yielded my striking at it's most pure.
I suffer from the same kind of 'competition nerves' and can really appreciate what you go through in a club golfer kind of way :-). Thanks for your frankness and honesty Pete! Keep up the good work and content!
Exhale during my backswing. Relaxes me. Inhaling on backswing tenses up EVERYTHING!
Great lesson! With advancing age (I'm 65 years old) and multiple injuries, my entire game was suffering. I finally came to the conclusion that I'm not a young man anymore and have to change my approach to the game. This happened by quieting my mind. While standing behind the ball, I visualize what I want to do. Then after taking my grip, stance, etc., I turn off everything around me. I just focus on a spot on the ball. "Be the ball"!!!!! By focusing on my swing, then the ball, instead of worrying about the result, my distance has increased, my shot shape is improving, and the game is fun again! A bit of stretching before the round doesn"t hurt either.
Nice to see the importance of the
mental side of the game being highlighted so succinctly.... visualisation of the hole from green to tee and positive shot visualisation shouldn’t be underestimated.
Definitely asking what a good shot looks like and not rushing myself has helped!
Good on you not sugar coating everything. You are human!
I’ve always had a problem taking my practice mentality to the course. The way I overcame this problem recently was to shorten the amount of time I allowed myself over the ball before taking the shot. It worked a treat! Love your channel Peter.
I play a mental trick with my mind. I focus my eyes on where I want the club to bottom out rather than the ball when hitting anything but a putt or chip. It took a leap of faith to do it and a bit of range time, but it really has helped visualize the swing path I want and it's helped me hit ball first more consistently.
Great video. Thank you so much.
I listened to a lot of Dr. Bob Rotella's golf psychology discs and have always used the "aim for the smallest target to give you a bigger room for error" tip. So instead of aiming for the left side of the green, pick a branch on a tree behind the green that's in line with that left side and then commit to the shot. Massively helped both off the tee and on approach shots.
I just try to remind myself how lucky I am to be on the course and playing the sport I love. This helps me keep a positive mindset.
Best thing I have started doing lately. Between one hole and the next, to forget about the last hole, I always take time to appreciate the groundskeepers work. Just take a second to appreciate the garden...with a golf course in it.
when im over a putt i always take a deep breath in and out which i find clears the mind and relaxes me - really helps putting
After trying this approach at the weekend I can honestly say - what a difference! It’s hard to do as I’m constantly making statements but the more I tried the easier it was. This video is a real game changer for me!
One tip that has helped me was one you posted a few years ago. Once i’ve hit a bad shot I draw a line on the ground and once I’ve walked over that line... the frustration of the bad shot is gone! Start over with a clear mind for the next shot 🤙🏻
Tempo, Tempo, Tempo. When im hitting bad shots, I always remind my self to slow down by muttering Tempo, Tempo, Tempo to myself. This really forces me to slow down and make smoother swings which generally sort out any issues im having that day. Nothing worse than feeling out of control on the golf course, so slowing it down tends to give me a little more control. Then when I feel im swinging with a nice tempo, that translates to confidence and then I tend to play my best. Great Video Pete, thanks so much.
I usually get around 53/54 at my local 9 hole. Since watching your last driver video I got my best score of 43 yesterday . Couldn't believe it . Thanks a lot Pete !
Mr. Finch, this actually one of you're best videos in my view. Thanks
My mental tip (/ cliché) - play one shot at a time - only reflect on the previous shot until it's time to hit the next, then it's archived 'til post-round. See each shot as an micro- learning opportunity. There are no bad shots - even the "worst" shot has a cause/effect, learn from it. Golf is imperfect and challenging, that's why we keep coming back.
So this just opened up my brain on tournament performance. I've struggled with the ego for sure and what Lee said makes alot of sense! Best video ever Pete and awesome to show that all golfers are vulnerable, keep up the great content!
Well done Pete! The fact that you shared one of the most embarrassing moments of your journey as well as how you overcame it is inspiring. I already try to use the quiet eye technique but will be asking myself questions before every shot this weekend. Cheers!
Followed you over from Golfholics. This is a great video. I don't think enough youtuber golfers talk enough about the mental aspects of the game, especially beyond the basics. Instead of the usual, "clear your mind of all negative thoughts," you and Lee presented great ideas on how to achieve such a state. The quiet eye is a great example. Utilizing this method actually clears the thoughts, whereas someone telling you to just clear your mind usually creates the thought in your head.
Peter, great to see your game coming together, keep it up. Something that has worked for me during competition to ease the nerves is I’ll meditate before leaving the house. I guarantee if you implemented this during your quest for the open you will lower that score even more. Best of luck!
Congratulations 🍾 on a much better round of golf 🏌️ ⛳️!! Pete you are a talented golfer 🏌🏿♀️ don’t get in your on way! Just rely on the process. You have the ability to make the Open one day. Really enjoy your channel 😎
I'm glad you've had the 'check up from the neck up', this will provide huge benefits for you in the forthcoming events. I'm 100% positive that you will win an event this year!
Looking at a spot on the ball, and listening to my breath really helps me quiet my mind.
The one thought that has helped my golf game more than everything else is “you are not a pro”. That alone takes off so much of the pressure that I put on myself. Just that thought helped me get down to a 3 handicap. Just need to keep the mental game sharp and hopefully I can continue to improve.
This was fantastic!! Thanks for sharing intimately, from your weakness, and also letting us enjoy your successes. I hope you know that all of us subscribers/regular viewers are pulling for you and want to see you excel.
Recently, I played a frustrating 18 hole round. Shot 86 with 8 penalty strokes, including the first 3 on the 1st hole where I shot a 9 on a par 4. I shot over a triple bogey in one hole for the first time in a long time.
While this was one of my worst rounds, it also made me had an epiphany: my mental game isn't as strong as I want it to be as well. You're not alone.
For the longest time, I've been wanting to shoot in the 70s more consistently (I broke 80 a few times), but haven't been able to frequently do it, and it all ties to my attitude out on the course. It seemed like all I tried to focus on was achieving that goal without even asking myself how I was going to do it. Watching this video inspires me to unlock my potential to not only shoot my best scores, but to enjoy my presence on the course a lot more. I will work on my mental game and ask myself more questions in the process.
Your video is well put together and very well done, and well done on the comeback! This video gave me more hope to play better golf more consistently. Thank you very much for posting this. Cheers from the states!
Gonna be honest, don’t get why Peter doesn’t get more attention. All of his videos are so quality in editing, dialogue, and content. Not throwing rick under the bridge but just for comparison, I’d give peter the edge. Keep up the great work finch!!!
Deep breaths on the tee and clearing my mind and visualising my shot before I hit the ball has helped me but ultimately my scores are coming down because I am enjoying playing golf so much now! And because I am enjoying my golf my scores are improving a lot and my handicap is coming down with it!! 🤙🏾😎and watching your videos and listening to your advice has played a massive part too I think you and Rick have helped me massively so thank you I will co tiniest watching your material so keep it up buddy..!! 🙌🏾👏🏾👌🏾
This was a great reminder. My mental game is a huge liability for me. I don't play competitively (aside from the once-a-year company tournament I play in), but I really struggle with consistency, and it's as much a mental issue as any sort of physical problem. When I'm focused and doing everything right, mentally, I'm pretty solid...like, having a solid shot to break 80. But it seems like at least once, every nine holes, I have a 'meltdown' hole where everything goes wrong and I wind up +3/+4 on the hole.
I'll be watching this one again...and taking notes. Thanks! I wish there was more content like this out there...lots of stuff about what to hit from what distance or how to use this or that club...but I feel like the mental side of the game is overlooked a lot.
I find that really focussing on the club face and not just acknowledging its presence whilst getting the grip lodged into place is a great way to activate your concentration.
Great work Pete!
Golf is won or lost in the mind. This is what made Tiger so good in his peak, every shot had his complete attention and focus on what he wanted to do in that moment.
You don't even need to look at your score when you just relax, breath and focus on hitting a great shot, every shot!
You then finish a round and see.... Bloody hell! That's my best score yet 😂
Keep up the good work Peter ... believe me when i saw it's very reassuring for many golfers who watch these sort of videos to see the honesty around golf rather than cherry picked highlights 👌🏽
This video was a game changer today. Looking forward to seeing if I can apply it during my city championship. I was amazed at how many times I visualized the ideal shot, didn’t pull it off but still ended up in great spots to score.
Loving your persistence Pete. Please continue to film and be as transparent as you have been. Kr
My brother, a scratch golfer when he was alive, would say or think "I love this shot" on everything tee to green regardless of what he was faced with. He taught me to do the same. He would say..you never get a result without going through the process...so LOVE the process and the results will surprise you. I am certainly not my brother with my 13 handicap, and have tried my entire life to break 80. 2 weeks ago I had many incidents shot 101. Refocused, and recommited to my brothers teaching which was all mental side. A week later, I shot a 1 over 73 with a threesome I was paired up with and did not know. I will never again purposefully focus on results. It brings too much emotional baggage with it. Great Video!
Definitely the best mental tool I use is making sure I place my full attention on where I want to go, and have high energy when hitting the shot👍🏼
Pete, thank you for taking us on this journey and sharing, even if it wasn’t something stellar. That keeps it real, right? I don’t play competitive golf, but I always try to remain in the moment and concentrate on the current shot. If I start thinking how a couple of bad shots will mess up my round, I lose focus and play even worse.
Quest for the Open videos are some of my favourites. Like seeing the progress over time
one of the things that has really helped me was playing the hole backwards in my mind and visualizing each shot to get there
Thanks Peter-I think one of the best mental game tips is the Quiet Eye approach you tried out. Really helps you get out of your own way.
Great to see your mental game getting closer to your physical game Peter. When they meet you'll succeed in your quest for the open.
Hey Pete, I find that taking a deep breath before I make my swing on every shot calms the body down and keeps the mind still.
I think it adds confidence to your weekly/weekend golfers to know that you have many of the same struggles as the rest. That you will have a massively bad hole/round but then make the needed adjustments to bring it back in line.
Great reminder of how easily the game seduces our ego. Best mental approach that I need to return to more regularly is The Inner Game of Golf. 40 year old publication but inner 1 and inner 2 are still as relevant today as they have ever been.
Well done Peter. Your mental game has let you down so much in the past. Great to see tangible improvements. Keep in that quiet space.
This is only my second year seriously playing golf so there is a lot for me to learn and improve on. Being an athlete (previous javelin) thrower I am very technical and analytical of my swing. I like to try and focus on certain ‘queues’ I will think about depending on what I may be focusing on and trying to improve on that day/week. Queues could be a certain feeling, making sure I’m following through in my swing, or focusing on the ball to help me make clean contact with any club. That and not letting bad shots negatively impact my attitude. Take it as a learning perspective,and I try to always remember the next shot is another opportunity to turn my game around. At the end of playing I like to also self reflect and focus on the positives that came out of that match. It has definitely helped and helps me enjoy being out and playing.
I've found that breathing deep and steady plus not adding my score up until the end usually keeps me in a good place. Plus having a good night's sleep really helps with the decision making. 👍
Posting this video shows your willingness to be vulnerable for the edification of your viewers. That makes you an excellent teacher, Peter. I’m grateful. I suspect I’ll come back to this video several times in the next few months. Thank you!
Edit: funny Freudian slip on your Mastery/Ego slide. You meant to type “nuances”, but it wound up “nuisances”. Although, to be fair, in golf they can be one and the same at times.
Best mind trick I use on the course that helps is asking myself "where do I want to hit this shot?" and "Where is my miss?". Helps me commit to a positive shot instead of negative thoughts about trouble on a hole!
My brother was off +2 and I would tell him stories of my game that were so outcome focused. Simple things like “I was 2 over after 12 holes” or I needed to par the last two to beat my score”
He put me in my head lace by saying “you sound like such an amateur club golfer” what a put down!
I know focus on shot shape, wind, strike etc , All the stuff that’s good golf.
If I focus on good golf I score well. If I focus on scoring well I play bad golf.
My brothers awesome put down keeps me grounded.
For me, the most effective mental adjustment I have found was to simply breathe and follow my pre-shot routine. This has quieted my mind during all aspects of my game and allowed me to be more consistent.
Really top video. What has worked for me best over the years when I feel it going wrong is just to focus on the pace of my swing and nothing else. Seems to bring it back to some kind of normality.
I have actually done the quiet eye trick for over a month now and it’s helped me immensely with my short game!!
Found this video super helpful in general!
One thing that has helped me is visualizing what I think is the perfect elements of the swing, path and seeing the shot in my mind
Two of the best tips I ever got were from my Father-in-Law. He said to realize that I was not good enough to get mad about my game; and to lower my expectations. It puts things into perspective and I never forgot those tips. My birth Father told me to swing as hard as I can in case I hit it.
This is great Pete. Absolutely love these tips and will be focusing on the questions and particularly the quiet eye approach. Hoping that I can use this around the green to stop that silly deceleration. My best tip in return is Do Not add up your scores, neither stroke or stableford. It kills your back nine if you chase lost points from the turn and puts untold pressure on yourself to force an outcome.
The sharpie mark that I put on my golf balls is a smiley face around the logo. Two dots on top and the happy arc on the bottom. Every time I tee one up, I see a smile staring back at me and it reminds me to smile and not take myself too seriously. It's been amazing the number of times I've hit one into a horrible lie only to see the smile there telling me, "it's fine, you've got this." Stay positive y'all.
Great video Pete.
I've done the same so many times over the last 40 years playing this game competitively.
The difference between the two rounds (for me) - especially on the same day - is between the ears.
I'm 51 years old, won tons of shit in Cheshire , played for the county as a junior (colt) and been hammered on the first 18 many times. The bounce back is the difference.
Nothing left to lose gives you a huge advantage.
Keep going man, love your vids.
Vision 54 were amazing and I love their process for not getting frustrated or over excited (both are bad for the adrenaline levels) at shots we hit.
After I hit a shot I rate it on 2 scales- execution- did I execute the shot I planned on a scale of 1-10 and result on a scale of 1-10. I have found this process takes the heat out of the moment and gives a much more positive mindset.
i do a mental reset after each hole. i only just started taking golf seriously this year, but this is something that i apply in a lot of different aspects of life as well and keeps me sane and grounded so i dont fall apart after a setback. after taking an 11 on a hole i can usually turn bogey or double bogey on the next one if i basically treat each hole as a "new game" and clear the last hole from my mind completely. after i enter a score on a hole i forget about it and just move on to the next and start planning my shots on how im gonna try and make par.
one thing that has helped me with swing thoughts is just counting to 3 and than swinging as i get to 3. it helped me reduce the amount of thinking during my swing or thoughts going through my head that dont need to be there. it helped me get better contact on the ball too
Learning to visualize my shots prior to hitting them and feeling like I allow my subconscious mind to swing the club, especially on putts, has helped tremendously.
Honestly, 20 handicap started playing again after 5 years, just finding the humor in my bad shots. Enjoying the fact that at this point ive still got alot to work on and appreciating the fact im just out side playing golf with friends. Enjoy the bad shots and the good shots, and see whereeven my bad rounds are getting better and enjoying the process of getting better.
My golf mental tip: Practice awareness, especially when the nervous jitters begin. Close your eyes and recognize the beating of your heart, sometimes, I can hear it, feel the grass under my feet, birds or rustling, slowly expand your senses from closest to further away from you. This takes the focus away from what's causing the stress and relieves your mind. Then come back to the shot, such as what you described in the video, e.g. asking questions, etc.