Short Term Memory Is A Good Thing In Golf

My virtual swing coach Mike Southern usually does a swing analysis of the winner of the tournament from the previous weekend. The latest installment featured D.A. points, winner of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

This post was very informative about his swing but it also gave me a little lesson about a certain mentality that I should bring to the course. Mike ended his post with this thought.

"You don't have to be perfect to get it close, just solid."

This statement reminded me that I do not have to perfect with every shot. And when I am not perfect, I have to remember that I still have a chance to get it up and down to save par. Sometimes after shots where I miss the green, I psyche myself out by thinking, "now I have to scramble to save par and hopefully not make bogey."

This way of thinking is too negative. My thoughts should be, make a good swing on my next shot. If I make a solid chip, or a solid sand shot, that will put me in great position for a par. Michael Breed shared this on the latest episode of The Golf Fix. He said, "If don't, then don't." If we are standing over the ball and we are thinking, I don't want to hit it into the bunker, then don't take the shot. Clear your head of the negativity first and then hit the shot.

I'm starting to understand more and more that golf is a game of perspective. And that perspective can have a positive or negative effect on the outcome of my game. As amateurs we have different beliefs from the pros. We believe that if we end up in the bunker, there's a chance we might leave it in the bunker, and then we do.

Professional, however, have a different way of thinking. They may get a little upset as well, but they know how to release the negativity very quickly. We always here that golfers should have short term memories. Any negative thoughts from our last bad shot will transfer into our next shot if we do not learn to just let it go.

We do not have to be perfect, we just have to build a solid game. D.A. points had a solid day in his short game because he put himself in position to do so. That stemmed for having a solid day off the tee. With his shots into the green, he left himself with shots that were up and around the green. And from there he had the confidence to get up and down. He never let his mistakes effect what he did next.

So I'll continue to work on building a more solid and well rounded game. That will come from practice and remembering that I do not have to be perfect. No one can be perfect at the game of golf. It's impossible, so there is no reason to beat myself up if I miss a green. All I have is the next shot and that is all I need to concern myself with. Have a great round and always hit your target.

Photo found here.

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