Enjoying the Good and the Bad Shots

Positive and Negative Forces

Ask yourself the question ‘Why do I play golf?’ Out of the many possible answers you may have chosen ‘to have fun and to relax’ may be somewhere close to the top of your list. Now we all enjoy striking the ball on the centre of the face and feeling the compression on the ball as it soars into the sky and split the fairway, or nailing a long putt for birdie. But what about the ‘unintentional’ hooked, sliced, toped, and shanked drives and approaches or the missed 2 foot putt, ‘do you enjoy those shots too?’

Whether you class yourself as a good or bad golfer, the simple fact is sooner or later you will hit a bad shot. By analyzing my own reactions to a bad shot compared to a good shot on the course (and at the driving range) it isn’t too hard to picture the results. Each perceived positive (good shot) and negative (bad shot) event can have an immediate affect on your next shot or a more lasting effect on the rest of your round and even linger on into future rounds of golf.

Simplified, the mental affect of playing a bad shot can result in a ‘negative cloud’ or ‘red mist’ that descends upon me forcing me to try to make up for the ‘lost’ shot by attempting a risky or ill-conceived recovery. Other affects can include a self-doubt and lack of confidence in your swing giving rise to many thoughts about correction techniques and adjustments. While these adjustments are sometimes necessary it can often distract a golfer from the primary focus of simply hitting the ball.

The physical affect of playing a bad shot may include a tightening or tensing of the muscles that can increase the tempo and fluidity of the next swing, rather than the relaxed feeling and natural tempo required to play a good shot. Through a combination of negative mental and physical affects bad shots can become somewhat of a habit.

When we hit a good shot it can sometimes feel like we are on top of the world and is a pleasure we wish to repeat all too eagerly on occasion. For amateur golfers it is a reason to continue practicing and learning the game as the positive sensation is all too easily lost on the next shot.

My suggestion to all golfers is to try to enjoy our bad shots more, difficult I know, but the benefits to our game, score, and enjoyment of the game are boundless. When a bad shot occurs try to find a beneficial or humorous side to it, for an extreme example; a friend of mine recently topped his tee shot 30 yards into a body of water and turned to face the on-looking caddies and playing partners calmly saying ‘plop’ just as the ball mimicked his word. Creating a positive situation from a seemingly negative one released tension and laughter in all present, not only in himself.

When you hit a good shot that creates a positive affect on our mind and body a conscious attempt should be made to recognize and prolong the feeling into the following shots.

In my game and in my mind the benefits of such an attitude towards a round of golf or a practice session our invaluable not only to achieve a better score and a greater personal enjoyment, but can also turn an angry frustrated golfer into someone you would like to join on a round rather than someone you (and the caddies) may choose to avoid.