What is consistency in your golf swing? Is hitting 7 out of 10 shots well – good enough? Or is being able to hit 10 out of 10 the only mark of consistency?
We also need to understand what you consider to be a good shot. Because an average shot by a Player that scores in the 70’s could be thought of as fantastic by a Golfer in the 90’s.
The opposite is also true – meaning I see Golfers that do not score lower than 90 hit a shot that they tell me wasn’t very good. Yet I, as a Golfer that can hit the ball pretty well, would have accepted their shot as a good shot if I had played it myself.
The above “not good enough” runs rampant through many of the Golfers that we see. And it’s truly amazing how much this negative view on all, but their very best shots, hold them back from improving.
The idea of what “Consistent” means … is different things to different people.
The problem we face is that a Golfer that scores above 90 is watching a PGA Tour Player on television and is using that Golfer’s skill level to define what consistency is.
And although people will always tell us that they know they’ll never be on the PGA Tour … they still use that Player’s skill at hitting great shot after great shot as a measuring stick to their own game.
However, this trait will do you more harm than good. As you’ll be in a consistent state of disappointment on the golf course as you’ll never be as consistent as these Golfers that spend over 50 hours a week working on their game, strength and flexibility.
But, on the other hand, how consistent is the PGA Tour Player?
The average Tour Player hits the fairway using their Driver 60% of the time. That means that they miss the fairway 5 or 6 times each round. Would you consider yourself consistent or inconsistent with your Driver if you “only” hit 8 fairways and missed 6?
The vast majority of Golfers we see that score over 80 would proudly declare how inconsistent they were if they only hit 60% of the fairways. Yet everyone of them would take the “inconsistent” swing of Sergio Garcia that only hits 59% of his fairways. Or the 57% that Keegan Bradley hits. And most likely would love the swing that only allows Lee Westwood to hit 56%.
Before you can become consistent … you must determine what’s consistent for your skill level. And what’s consistent for the skill level you hope to achieve. Because you might be the person that will never allow yourself to improve as your expectations of what consistency is … are too high.
A 95 Golfer can’t compare themsleves to a 6 handicap. The 6 is a 6 most likely because he/she has more time to practice, is more physically gifted, has been playing for a far longer time, and/or has learned from superior Instructors. Thus, a 95 Golfer that doesn’t have the above traits … can’t expect to be as consistent.
It’s like going to the gym to lift weights. If you go to workout once a week and this other person has gone 5 times a week for 15 years … will you be able to bench press as much as them? Well, Mr. Muscles is the equivalant to the 6 handicap and your the 95 Golfer.
If you try to lift the same amount of weight as they are … you’re going to physically hurt yourself. Kind of like how you might be mentally hurting yourself on the golf course expecting to have the consistency of the 6 handicap.
The Monkey needs to understand what level of consistency is acceptable to get to the next level
The Player understands that ok shots are sometimes good enough
Go ahead, Be a Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon – Your Instructor For Life