The next ten “Tip of the Day”s are being taken from an article by Dr. Bob Rotella for Golf Digest, titled “Inside the Golfer’s Mind.” We’re paraphrasing, changing the language a little, and condensing his typical three to four paragraphs into one or two. This is tip three of ten: meet small goals.
When I played baseball, and pitched, I would not throw to the glove. I wouldn’t throw towards the plate. I’d throw towards a stitch on the glove – the smallest thing I could see. When I play golf, I don’t try to “break 80” – I try to hit solid shots. I try to hit the ball in the right position. Golf is a game of small goals: hit the next shot well. Achieve the small goals often enough during a round and you’re more likely to achieve an overall goal without even thinking about it.
Here are a list of goals you can use during a round of golf:
- Trust your swing. You can’t necessarily control what happens to the ball after it leaves your clubface (see our previous tip), but you can control whether you trust your swing.
- Execute a consistent pre-shot routine on every shot.
- Focus on one shot only: the next shot. If you’re only two over at the turn, don’t think about your final score. Duffing a five-iron early in the round doesn’t mean you’ll do it again – each shot is a new opportunity for success. Focus on the opportunity at hand.
- Don’t get upset. Don’t get upset by your partner’s good or bad play, and don’t get upset by your own. Don’t get upset by luck – good or bad – because it’s part of why you play the game.
- Commit to each shot, and the swing, and play to your instincts.
- Score with your scoring clubs. You don’t score with a driver, but you do with your putter and wedge.
Set goals that you can achieve – “250 yards in that stripe in the fairway” is a far more appropriate – and attainable – goal than “300 yards down the middle.” Approach each shot with a new goal – and view it as a new opportunity – and you’ll play better.
Golfers “in the zone” often don’t know their overall score. They’ve merely set small goals and met a few more than normal.