1. Concentrate on every shot.
2. Enjoy the round.

When I meet both goals, I play my best.

(Thanks and credit to Dr. Bob Rotella)

WW

I have to agree with Wade’s comment about concentrating. What makes the game so tough is that you have to focus on each and every shot. And if your concentration is broken before you hit the ball, step off and start your pre-shot routine again.

The other comment I’d add is to know when to take your medicine. We all like to think we can pull off great shots from the rough, trees or bunkers, but sometimes the smart play is to get the ball back in play, forgo the birdie chance and scramble to save par, bogey at worst.

And, as Wade also said - have fun.

I def need to work on resetting. Sometimes I try to compensate, for an uncomfortable setup, throughout the swing and end up with a bad shot when I told myself in my head something didn't feel right. Can be difficult to get out of your own way.

I always seem to enjoy.. but it really guts me when I'm 1 over through 9 and then all the sudden in 2 holes I'm 6 over after a lost ball or some other error. The occasional snap hook or the high fadey one off the tee because I leaned back by mistake will ruin a round being 3 off the tee. It can be difficult to dial the temper back in at times. I think one of my biggest issues is focusing on a specific shot shape or game plan when I'm just trying to maintain composure after blowing a great round with 1 or 2 bad shots. At that point I just want to bash the ball lol

Hard to do but focus totally on the next hole. The past is the past, stay in the present. Those after-a-double or triple shots are sometimes hard to forget. If you work on it, it will work for you. If you watch the pros, which we are not, they will make a double and then a couple of birdies in a row, maybe even more. They seem to always be looking forward. =)

Positive thoughts!

I agree with Wade that every shot deserves the same level of concentration. And, yes, enjoying the round, day, course is a bonus as well.

With respect to avoiding the big numbers. You should take a look at how those come about? Are you trying to recover the missed shot immediately right after? Are you short siding yourself around the green? The trick is to manage the game where you take double or triple out of play entirely. Take what the course is giving you.

Is the risk worth the reward? Are you hitting 3 metal from 260 over water or a heavily protected green on a par 5? Same with going for a short par 4 (think 17 at TPC Scottsdale)

Golf is 18 holes so unless the big number happens late in the round to turn low 70's into mid to high 70's stay patient and plod along.

Before a shot, you can ask yourself "where the miss is" can help. True we don't to think about missing a shot but understanding what the hole is giving you relative to your strengths frees you up.

I definitely need to focus on getting back into position rather than the hero shot but if I already ruined a decent round with a couple bad holes I tend to play more hero shots rather than the smart play. Usually compounds the bad score lol

All I’d add is not to attach too much importance to any one shot. Once it’s gone it’s gone and it can’t be changed. Have a clear intention over each shot.
Some people advocate splitting the round into six groups of three holes and playing these as mini rounds. Gives you the chance to wipe the slate clean if there’s been a blow up.

Def easier said than done especially when the stakes are high and know you may have just lost your match. But I will say this past championship that I ended up winning.. I ended up 5 putting (2 tier green that was lightning and I left first one short and rolled back to my feet, putted it up to proper level and got 2 more lip outs) I thought I was out of it. Ended up hitting 1 putt on next 2 holes for pars and a 2 putt birdie on 18 to win the trophy. So putting a 5 putt behind me was hard. I almost passed out I was so shocked it had happened after being only like 2 over for the round lol

For me... it's about not compounding the mistake. When I make a bad shot, do I try for a hero shot or do I take my medicine and chip out and take the bogey instead of making it a double or a triple because I tried something that was unadvisable?

I have found limiting my mistake, taking the medicine, and then limiting it to a bogey helps my overall score.

Sometimes my brain thinks the hero shot is the smart shot.. or the same amount of risk. Under a tree if I punch forward or sideways it's the same. Sometimes threading the needle you will still bang off another tree.

What I really hate it hitting the safe shot knowing I gotta take some off and just hit it smooth.. and then you chunk or thin and it ends up ruined anyway lol

If you have certain holes that always seem to "get" you (I think we all have those holes at our local courses that for whatever reason we just don't play well) try to think of a different strategy. Maybe instead of bombing driver, think what's the longest club you're comfortable leaving into the green and hit a tee shot that gets you there. I also find planning out tee shots before the round can sometimes help. It's easy to have a bad hole and then step up to the next tee and try to hit driver as far as you can when maybe that's not the best play. If you have a plan going into the round and can make yourself stick to it, you may be able to avoid emotional decisions that can lead to more bad holes.

I will say to just play devils advocate.. I didn't beat it unless I play it the way I should\know I can (driver, wedge, 1 putt) ... Iron iron wedge putt or any combination of a par or even a lucky birdie to me isn't beating the hole lol

I want to hammer it into submission. Gotta make the game interesting lol because that hole knows I'm gonna come back anyway.

Maybe lessons and tell them you need help with course management. Maybe you don't need to bomb it on every par 4. Some holes with dog legs I might even go 7i and a 8i just to stay in the fairway no point in trying to cut the corner to hit the green and lose a ball.

I have started using more long irons off tees.. but love crushing driver. I mainly need to keep my front shoulder down so it doesn't flare up and the high cut ruins the hole. I just forget sometimes that it's a focus point.