Survey: Most Important Part of the Game

[Youngun5]

In order to be successful what one aspect of golf is the most important.
Ex. I say putting because if you really want to shoot low you are going to have to make putts because lets face it, even the best wedge players can't knock it close every single time. Plus you won't believe the difference in your score by having several one putts,

[grazo]

agreed, putting is the most important aspect, closely followed by the short game...

...it's just so happens that these also tend to be the most boring aspect as well!

:ausflag:

[Youngun5]

yeah, go figure

[Rockford35]

Both important, but not the most important.

The mental aspect of the game is the most important part of a good golf game. You need the right approach in order to score well.

Take the best players in the world. Vijay, Ernie, Tiger, Davis, Phil, Sorenstam, Irwin, Stadler, Monty, Langer. All have great mental approaches to the game. When that aspect of their game suffers, they usually have the tenacity to get it back on track. If not, they don't win. It's as simple as that.

There is no single aspect of your game that is more important.

Period.

Both Harvey Penick and Ben Hogan both said that during a match play event, you could often tell who would win based on their mental approach. You'd see a player walk to the tee, grab a 3 wood and tee up without even looking down the fairway. That player had the advantage over the other who would debate in their minds over the driver or 3 wood.

He who knows their game wins. It's as simple as that.

I've struggled with my mental game at times. More often than not, it's what gets me into trouble. But, when I'm on my game, confident and swinging well, i can beat anyone. This may not be a reality as such, but it's that mental focus that brings your whole game together as a collective and ultimately brings your scores down.

R35

[Youngun5]

very good point rock, although i was going for more of the physical aspects of doing something, like driving, fairway woods, hitting greens, but we must make an execption, I totally agree that its gotta be working upstairs for anything to happen

[Rockford35]

Mental. The putting. Putting makes up for alot of strokes. 2 putts on every green is 36 strokes. For most guys, that's 1/3 or more of your strokes (shooting in the 90's).

Drive for show, putt for dough.

Pretty simple, eh?

R35

[Loop]

The most important aspect is....



















.... having fun :canada: :yellow:

[bdcrowe]

Rock stole my thunder. I don't think you can say that you're looking more for physical part, because that part is 99% dependent on the mental part . When you're mental game is healthy, the putts, wedges, irons, woods, driver all kinda go on auto-pilot and take care of themselves. Now... When I find out how to get there, I'll let you guys know.

[Rockford35]

Crowe,

Here's your thunder back. It's broken anyways.

R35

[DaveE]

Mental is #1, & bd is right about the 99%. It's been a few decades since I was in high school but I still remember my track coach pounding that into our heads. I was a distance runner so it was tough for me to buy into the idea that mental strength was more important considering that I was running 10 to 15 miles a day.

Eventually I "got it". If you go into a race or round believing you can win then you can. However, if you think the other guy is better than you then he is and no amount of physical preparation or talent will allow you to win.
Not to say that practice & talent aren't important, but by themselves they're not enough.

I've been in a pretty big slump for about a month and I know it's my brain keeping me there. Thankfully, I also know that slumps come & go so eventually I'll get my head on straight again. uke:

[bdcrowe]

Thanks, but you can get more use outa the thunder than me. My wife just puts it in the cureo and let's me take it out about once a week anyhow.

Dave, I know the feeling. Slumps are a slip in your confidence that feed themselves. I've been in one for about 2 1/2 months. What makes them worse is you start monkeying with your swing, trying to fix it and next thing you have a bad mental game and a monkey's swing. I calmed down last week, quit with the worry and used some logic of results to just weaken my grip back to my normal and shot an 81 this weekend. I'm on the mend, I think.

Hmmm. That may be the name of my 1st submission for sling... "Leave the Monkey on your Back, but Keep Him Outa Your Swing".

[jc@bg]

Judging by my actions, equipment is the most important part of the game--especially *new* equipment. :thumbup:

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by jc@bg

Judging by my actions, equipment is the most important part of the game--especially *new* equipment. :thumbup:

That can't be right or I would be scratch by now.

[buddha33]

How come nobody's mentioned the mental aspect of the game?

Mental toughness/focus is imperative to success in most things; especially golf.

I know from my practice sessions that I have much to work on mentally. I become easily fatigued psychologically. Instead of taking the time go through each shot with proper swing thoughts, set-up, and review, I get lazy and start hammering shot after shot. I need to remember to slow down. Until then, I think I'm stunting my progress.

The same goes for playing rounds. After the turn, I notice my focus on each shot has dramatically decreased from when I started the day. Vijay would be disappointed. :sobbash: