Handicap Reduction Starts in the Mind – Think Like a Better Golfer
As you may know I’ve been coaching golfers for 25 years now, and there are many reasons why my clients come to me for help. Some simply want to hit the ball more consistently, some want to work on a specific part of their game like chipping – and some are looking to totally improve the overall way in which they play.
However, one thing established golfers all have in common is that they all want to lower their handicaps. Many might feel it’s their driving that lets them down and others their putting, so they’re keen to work and improve – but the very first thing I’ve always found they need to do is to make a change to the way in which they think.
One question I always ask a player is what they currently play off and what would they like to get down to? Commonly, they give me the answers but when we actually go out and play, mentally they are still playing off the handicap they hold today and not thinking like a better golfer and one who plays off the handicap that they are trying to attain.
It goes a little like this, for arguments sake he/she currently plays off 20 and when we arrive at the stroke 1 hole out on the course you can almost see a smile on their face as they know they normally have 2 shots on that hole. This gives them the mental right to take their foot off the gas and think it doesn’t matter if they play a bad shot, does this sound familiar?
Well my take on this is that your current handicap is just a number to be removed from your gross score at the end of the round. Just think about this for a second. Imagine you have no handicap, not one single shot anywhere.
Imagine now that every loose shot you play has a consequence. Does this start to focus your mind? Now every shot matters, imagine how determined you will be on each hole when that 2 foot putt is a must make to save par.
Imagine learning the skill required to get out of a green side bunker first time every time. Imagine practicing the shots you’re weak at instead of the same old routine – like learning how to pay from the rough, semi rough and off different lies.
You see if you really want to lower your handicap you have to do more than you’re currently doing and that means getting better at the shots you don’t like. Ben Hogan once said he would never try a shot on the course that he hadn’t practiced a thousand times!
If there are shots you can’t play don’t be afraid to ask your PGA Professional to show you how to. Don’t be afraid to ask how to hit low shots, high shots, draws, fades, pitch shots and short putts, for its having these extra skills that will really make the difference.
So my advice is simple, play your next round without any safety cushion where every shot does matter and learn to take away your current handicap at the end of the round – instead of on every hole. Once you’ve made that shift in your head and change the way you think your handicap is bound to fall.
Please, if you ever want any advice on anything golf related don’t hesitate to contact me
Julian Mellor PGA Professional
Positive Impact Golf Coach
www.julianmellorgolfschool.co.uk
Julianmellorpga@icloud.com
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