Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
In the first part of this lesson – When to Take a Break from Golf [read it HERE] – I discussed the reasons why you might want to take a break from golf and why a break can be beneficial. In this lesson, I’m going to discuss what to do if you’re struggling with your score or your feelings about the game but don’t want to take time off.
If Your Scores Are Stuck
There are lots of cliches that are appropriate for the golfer who isn’t improving. I’ll use these two:
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
To be plain: if you want to shoot better scores, you need to start doing something differently.
Change Your Practice
Practice more, practice differently, or practice better. The first one is self explanatory. Practicing differently could mean spending your practice time differently (changing the ratio of putting/short game/long game) or changing the way you practice (random practice vs. block, for instance). Practicing better means getting more out of our your practice by improving your focus, tracking your practice, or eliminating distractions.
Take a Lesson
If you haven’t had a lesson in a while, it could be time to get an outside opinion. In one hour, you might find that you’ve been looking for answers in all the wrong places.
Learn Your Game
I say it all the time: if you’re not shot tracking, you don’t really care about your score. Every player at every level will learn something they did not know if they track five to ten rounds and carefully examine the stats.
Change Your Strategy
Are you playing strategically, mathematically optimal golf, or are you just following your gut? Much like people who don’t shot track, those that play by old cliches like “drive for show, putt for dough” are leaving shots on the course.
Work on Your Mental Game
Rounding out the trifecta of “Things Most People Should Do But Won’t” is working on your mental game. Pick up a book by Dr. Bob Rotella or check out In The Zone mental training HERE.
If You Aren’t Having Fun at Golf
These suggestions are all about your enjoyment of the game. If you don’t like them, I’m going to strongly suspect that you’re unhappy about your score and should try something from the list above.
Stop Keeping Score
This is my single best suggestion for enjoying golf more. As someone who put the pencil away over a decade ago, I can personally attest to its effectiveness. Most golfers are unhappy because of their score. I’ve even seen players walk off the 18th smiling then get upset when they add up their card. If the scorecard is what’s making you unhappy, get rid of it.
Play Different Formats
If your scorecard is making you unhappy but you still want to compete, play different formats. Try match play. Try Stableford scoring. Pick a gambling game like Wolf and focus on winning the bets rather than adding up the strokes.
Use Fewer Clubs
For the average golfer, who is used to carrying a “full set” of clubs, nothing will shake things up like playing with fewer clubs. Cut your iron set in half, carrying just the odd or even numbers. Dump a wedge or two. Play without your driver. You’ll hit different shots than you’re used to, which can be very enjoyable.
Create a Constraint
Carrying fewer clubs is one constraint, but it’s not the only one available to you. You can choose to never hit the “right” club. You can decide to hit a fade on every shot or a draw. You might decide that you won’t hit a club a second time until you’ve hit every other club at least once. Experiment. Get creative.
Record Your Good Shots
Carry the scorecard purely for writing down the best shots of your round. When you make a long putt or pipe a perfect drive, close your eyes and lock in the feeling, then write it down on your card.
Focus on Gratitude
Golf gives us a lot to be grateful for. You’re outside. You’re probably with people you like. You’re able to move around and create shots. Focus on the positives and you’ll be quickly on your way to having fun on the golf course again.
Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.