Playing Through - Stud or Dud?

General Discussion
#1

This afternoon I was offered a chance to play through a slower foursome … and was initially gonna decline but then was thinking I would like to finish the round and get back home…

…so put a ball down and, of course, pulled the tee shot low-left and heading hard for the trees … where I got a really lucky “tree wedge” that knocked it back into the fairway and let me continue on with only a small amount of humiliation :wink: …

So today I was a play thru dud …

Curious if others are able to maintain their composure - and swing tempo! - and hit a good playing through shot…??

#2

I tend to hit okay drives when playing through (or at least as okay as I ever do). I think the key is still following your full routine, not trying to just step up and smack one as fast as possible to get out of there. Gotta make it mentally like any other shot.

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#3

60/40 good enough shot. Usually the times when you need the good one based on the circumstances the 40 shows up

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#4

I must be a show horse. I play some of my best golf while playing through.

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#5

Of course, but … I can’t seem to stop myself from rushing…

#6

Yep “good enough” … just get the d*** ball in play!

#7

Nice!!
(I’m jealous.)

But actually that’s a good mental image to try to have - look good for the crowd :peacock:

#8

Tangent discussion. At least for me, it seems like “playing through” isn’t happening all that often during these COVID times. Full tee sheets with a bit wider group spacing means the pace of play has kinda been what it is (slow sometimes, but nobody so far behind the group in front of them that it will do any good to try to play through). Only done it once the past few months during a twilight round.

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#9

Ha, I’ve gone both routes… topped one in the water and hit a beautiful draw over their heads and 50 yards past them… (two different times).

Definitely take the time to slow down… rushing will just make things go slower as you will make more mistakes.

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#10

Even worse is when the group in front invite you to join them and your whole game falls apart.

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#11

I tend to feel a little rushed and play similar to my normal which isn’t great but faster than a 3 or 4some.

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#12

Had this exact thing happen earlier in the season. Went out solo and was playing the round of my life (+1 thru 6). Twosome ahead of my invited me to play up with them, two double bogeys later with a salvaged par on the last hole on the side there goes my round

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#13

That’s rough… :frowning:

What is it that we allow to get into our heads that displaces what was our calm, relaxed and flowing game?
(Well, I guess if we could figure that out then we wouldn’t be having this discussion :crazy_face::crazy_face:!)

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#14

All in the brain. Inputs get into it, cause emotional responses, generating thoughts, those emotions-to-thoughts swirl around a bunch, and then we get reactions.

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#15

My golf coach takes me out on the course and purposefully makes me get to spot where we have to play through. He likes to add that extra little bit of pressure on me. It’s interesting that it’s even a thing that we get nervous or in a hurry. I usually just try and treat it like any other shot, but I know people are watching me, so it does add pressure. It’s good training for me with the pursuit of tournament golf.

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#16

Probably more effective than standing near the clubhouse and yelling “Hey everybody, come check out this drive!” That also probably wouldn’t be the best for social distancing…

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#17

Certainly not COVID approved

#18

I don’t know anyone that likes to play through, it’s mentally tough, I always feel rushed. I play a lot by myself or in twosomes and if it’s a busy day with lots of foursomes, then I slow my pace to match up. I’d rather spend the time chipping and putting on the previous hole rather than plow through other groups as long as its not turning into a chain reaction and everything is backing up. (I don’t practice around the green if the group behind is ready!). I always feel like it’s rude when I play as a single to try to play through other groups. But every situation is a little different. I also think groups need to stay on pace with the group in front. Depending on the course and how busy it is, and if I’m under a time constraint, I’ll play holes out of order, skip past the group instead of playing through and then circle back to play that hole later. Obviously not practical all the time and depends on what is going on on the course.

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#19

Probably about 75% good and 25% not so good when playing through.

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#20

I never really look to play through if it’s a group that seems to be doing there best to keep up. Only time I did it lately was a group of friends who weren’t bad golfers, but were obviously looking to enjoy as much time out there as they could.
I play super twilight at my home course once or twice a week and especially now finishing up the full 18 isn’t going to happen, so I have a set point where it’s convenient to skip either two or three holes and make it back through to 18.

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