Happy Monday Golfers;

This week’s blog topic is “Getting Distracted On The Course.” Do you find yourself getting distracted on the golf course easily? Are you noticing every movement and noise happening around you? Giving your playing partner a dirty stare as you heard them rustling around in their pocket as you were getting ready to pull the trigger? Let’s look at why you may be distracted and ways to help improve your focus.

The Power Of Visualization

When we get distracted easily, we most likely haven’t got a good mental routine prior to pulling the trigger. When Jack Nicklaus played his best, he referred to going to the movies which was his way of explaining the visuals and images of the shot he was trying to execute. Jack was fully invested in the shot at hand with a real clear intention. Players at this level have to deal with extreme pressure and large crowds which for sure come with unnecessary noise.

Asking The Right Questions

If you are not sure how to create a better routine then I would start by asking good questions as you prepare for the shot. This approach can help create clarity and a clear picture of what shot you are trying to execute. Good examples on an approach shot may look like: – What’s the lie like and how may it affect my ball? – How far is it to carry the greenside trap? – How far is it to the back of the green? – What direction is the wind and how may it affect my ball? – What club should I take and where is my start line? Feel free to ask some more questions or make your own up, but ensure they are questions that provoke clarity and focus to your routine.

Pre-shot Routine

What does your pre-shot routine look like? Whether it’s standing behind the ball and having 1 or 2 swings, picking your line, and stepping into the ball and going. I like my playing partners to know when it’s my turn to hit the shot, show some authority, and own your moment. I like to use my glove as the starter motor to my physical routine. When I put my velcro down on my glove, I start to switch off from everything else and become fully engrossed in the shot at hand.

Accountability

Take some accountability and ownership for those bad golf shots. We all do it from time to time when we have an unnecessary meltdown because our golf is poor on that day, or we just wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Did we get distracted or did it just become an excuse for the bad golf shot we hit? Learn to deal with your bad shots and emotions better on the course and watch your scores start to drop. It’s your story, create it! Have a great start to your week! – Coach Tim