Do we need further proof of how frustrating the game of golf can be than looking at the #1 Golfer in the world walking off the golf course in the middle of his round?

This just shows that when you’re not on your game … you’re not on your game. And that it doesn’t matter if you’re trying to break 100 or trying to break 70.

So how do you overcome frustration before frustration overcomes you?

The key as always comes back to having a PLAN to understand your strengths and weaknesses before you start your round of golf. However, to really be able to become consistent … it also involves being able to understand whether your strengths are working during your actual round of golf.

Here’s an example:

I have seen many Golfers that are struggling with their hybrid or fairway wood or Driver during a round continually try to use it even after hitting three or four bad shots. Then, when I ask them why they are still hitting this same club after hitting so many bad shots … they answer: “Well, I usually hit it better than this.”

And as that may be a truthful answer … this Golfer is lacking a PLAN.

For example: in American Football (NFL), the most successful coaches win games for a reason. They have a PLAN before starting the game to play to their strengths and to attack the other team’s weaknesses. But these successful coaches also have a Back-up PLAN in case the other team is able to defend against this original Game PLAN.

In football, they often call these “Halftime Adjustments”. The coaches are able to make adjustments based on how their team is playing and how the other team is reacting.

Now these coaches often do not get credit for having these “Halftime Adjustments” planned well in advance of the game. As most casual observers of the NFL believe these successful coaches are just going into halftime and improvising. No, that is what the unsuccessful coach is doing.

The successful coach has their team ready so that these adjustments can be implemented in a moments notice. These coaches have a PLAN, as well as a Back-up PLAN so that their team is ready to make these adjustments.

Now, do you have a Back-up PLAN for your golf game?

As 7 out of 8 Golfers that come to see us don’t even have a normal PLAN … asking if you have a Back-up PLAN is really just a silly question.

Here’s an example that may relate to your game: A Golfer that’s going out to play a course with narrow fairways and deep rough might have a PLAN to really work hard to control his/her swing to keep their Driver in the fairway. Yet after 3 holes they have hit all 3 drives into the deep rough and have suffered through 3 double bogeys to start the round.

What does the average Golfer do?

The average Golfer will usually say to him/herself: “I just made 3 double bogeys to start the round … I really got to start hitting my Driver better so I can start making pars.”

Yet the Player would be prepared with a Back-up PLAN of knowing what club they should be hitting off the tee in case their Driver isn’t working during the round. The Player would have been preparing on the driving range … days before the round to see which club gives them the best combination of accuracy and distance off the tee if their Driver isn’t working on that day.

Because although your 7 iron will probably give you the accuracy you need … it probably won’t give you enough distance from the tee. Or you could go with your 3 wood for distance … but is it going to be accurate enough for this narrow golf course.

So what golf club in your bag is going to give you the best combination of distance and accuracy if your Driver isn’t working? Could you tell me right now what club that would be … or would you just be guessing?

And then … would you be like the unsuccessful NFL coach and start to improvise on the golf course in middle of the round? Trying to find something that works … but unfortunately collecting bad scores as you try to figure it out.

But that’s probably never happened to you … has it?

The Player, on the other hand, after the first 3 holes would move to his/her Back-up PLAN to use the club that they have found gives them the best combination of accuracy and distance. And then the Player’s PLAN continues as soon as the round is completed … as his/her first stop is the driving range to figure it out before leaving the golf course.

Where is your first stop after the round?

Now, obviously hitting a 3 wood or 5 wood or hybrid or 5 iron from the tee isn’t going to give you the distance of your Driver. But, if your Driver isn’t working and you continue to use it … you’re just going to be a frustrated Golfer as each successive Driver you hit will have added pressure to finally hit a good one.

Again, we rarely see a Golfer that comes to us with a PLAN. The strategy of most Golfers is to try to hit the golf ball straight into the middle of the fairway and then aim towards the flag on their shots to the green. And if that doesn’t work … they start to improvise with their golf swing during the round trying to desperately find anything that will work.

Yet, all they often find is more inconsistency and frustration.

If the Monkey isn’t playing well, they continue to try to force the square peg into the round hole … and the more they can’t get it … the harder they swing. And the harder they swing … the worse they get

The Player never has that problem because the Player not only has a PLAN … they also have a Back-up PLAN

Would you rather be a Monkey or a Player?

Go ahead … be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon – Your Instructor For Life