Ever wonder just what it takes to be a great golfer besides an awesome swing? We set out to find out by testing and working with members of the LPGA, PGA, and CHAMPIONS TOURS.
Analyzing the data was exciting because not only did eight traits for great golf emerge, each one of them measured in the 95th percentile, or was important more than 95% of the time.
Chances are good that you already have some of these champion traits. But the odds are very strongly against you having all eight of them. Even Bobby Jones & Tiger Woods have had to work on a few of them. Take a quick read and see how many of the eight traits are “in your bag”.
FOCUS
How good are you at eliminating distractions whether they are coming from outside or inside of your head? Extroverts, intense thinkers and “left-brainers” need the most work on this one. Their thoughts can go anywhere and everywhere when over the ball, instead of simply seeing and feeling their shot or putt.
The solution is a simple, powerful, effective, and consistent mental pre-shot routine. If you do not have a good one, get one.
ABSTRACT THINKING
Twenty percent of your round, at most, is spent executing shots and putts. This means eighty percent, or more, of the time you spend playing a round of golf is time you should be managing your thoughts! The “intellectual” and “worrier” types need the most work here.
What you think about between shots influences your ability to use your mental routine once you get to the ball. A bit of advice–stop using time between shots to ponder or stew about things that are out of your control, like “where do I stand in the round?”, “how irritating can this playing partner get?” or “that shot I blew on the last hole!” and other such wastes of mental energy.
Instead choose to think of carefree and relaxing things like “wow, it’s great to be outdoors today” or “isn’t that a beautiful tree”. You could even have a friendly light chat with your caddie or playing partner, or think about that great restaurant you are going to tonight, or imagine being back on your favorite vacation.–whatever–so long as it is simple and calming to you.
EMOTIONAL STABILITY
Before you begin your next competitive round, set a goal of saying something positive after every single shot and putt no matter what the outcome. Can you do it? Sounds easy, but most golfers can’t.
Let’s say you have a hole-in-one. Could you manage the excitement (yours and others) well enough to play the next hole well?
It becomes a bad habit to react to less than perfect shots and putts. Whether your head drops, arms flail, face scrunches or clubs fly, you may think it is a necessary release but this ultimately costs you strokes.
Same on the positive side of the scale. While it’s fun, it’s not always good to let the emotions go and fists pump after a really great shot, putt or hole.
Challenge yourself to look (and feel) as close to the same as possible after every shot. To do this, you will probably need to break a few habits first. Start by trying to give yourself no more than two seconds to react to or think about a previous shot. Then immediately take your focus to something you can control…like your great mental routine on your next shot!