| Most golfers are trying to
figure out how to play better— whether that means making solid contact with the ball or lowering your score. Establishing goals can help you monitor and improve your overall performance and will benefit brand new golfers and advanced players alike. It’s very easy to lose your direction and purpose if you simply head toward some general goal such as “being the best I can be.” Well thought out goals help give you perspective, as well as a clear route to your objective.
If you’re new to the game or your score is 100+, the goals will probably be similar: hitting the ball more solid in order to achieve maximum distance/accuracy and lower your score. Let’s narrow your focus to one area at a time. Start from the hole and back up. Take putting for example. Your goal is to eliminate 3 or 4 putts from your scorecard and make more putts inside six feet. In order to do this, you can either hit your chip shot closer and/or learn to become a better lag putter. Next, develop a good short game from 20 yards and in. Both of these require practice. You’ve heard it before and I can’t stress how true it is, but if you can become a good short game player, you will save yourself several strokes per round. Strong fundamentals and a good understanding of the swing will help you create the foundation to develop a good full swing and lower your score.
Intermediate/Advanced players are golfers who can keep their score under 100 on a consistent basis. You are playing regularly and your ball flight is predicable (straight, fade, draw). Ask most golfers of this level and they will readily admit, “I can’t chip very well,” “I fade/hook the ball too much,” or “I can’t hit a high pitch shot from 75 yds,” etc. Because you know where your weaknesses lie, setting goals for yourself may be simple. One way is to monitor your score by keeping statistics of fairways hit, GIR, putts, etc., and it will become apparent what areas need work. Narrowing your focus to a specific area breaks down the process into smaller and more obtainable short term goals. When you’re playing, you can now be more focused on your goal and reduce the pressure of shooting a low score, as that will happen naturally.
As Sports Psychologist Dr. Deborah Graham once wrote, “Goals can improve the quality of your practice and play by replacing boredom with challenge. A well thought out goal directs your attention toward the steps required to meet it. These steps reduce boredom by giving more purpose to your practice. Strive for ‘quality vs. quantity’ in your practice. Decide on a specific amount of time to work on a specific aspect of your game. Then create a practice ‘game’ that provides challenge in working on that aspect of your game.”
Once you understand the homework, it’s time to invest quality time in your practice sessions. Setting the goal is simple. Achieving it takes hard work and commitment—but it’s worth it!
Tina Bradley Mayers is the
head teaching professional at Buck Mayers Golf
Academy located at The Golf Club at Circle C
in Austin, Texas. She can be reached by calling
512.413.0574 or email buckntina@austin.rr.com
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