You have done your due diligence. Took lessons, practiced all aspects of your game, and worked on your fitness. Practice sessions are great, expectations are high. However, your scores don’t reflect these improvements to your game.
What’s the difference then between playing well and scoring well? It is an intangible question in many respects. Closing the deal involves a rhythm that is difficult to learn, as it is one part physical and two parts mental.
Many books have been written about the “psychology of golf” and how important the mental game is. No one demonstrates that better than Tiger Woods. His ability to focus and grind is legendary. What can we learn from him?
First, there is no educational environment better than the school of hard knocks. You don’t know how you are going to react until you are under fire. Golf involves a delicate balance of movement that relies on timing. One little “hiccup” and your ball is behind enemy lines! However, the more you put yourself “out there” to face your personal challenges on the course, the more your body normalizes to the stress and you can perform as you do on the practice range.
Get out of your comfort zone as frequently as you can. Winning is a skill that is learned—you can’t do that if you don’t sign up for events.
My first tournament left me dead last in the field after the first day. My scores were so high that I overheard people talking about my pathetic play at the score board. EEK!
I don’t know if I had a false sense of ego or a short memory but I continued to play competitively and eventually won two junior state titles, one state title, two collegiate events, and even placed well in some professional events. Quite a ways from the 124 I shot in that first event years ago!
Distractions and worries about poor play affect the timing of even the most well honed golf swing. The results can be disastrous at times if you allow them to embed in your head. To go low you need to bring the same sense of calm confidence you have when practicing to the golf course.
Enjoy your golf this weekend . . . may you have many birdies and pars!
—Dee Forsberg
Comments