Chasing The Score

Why is chasing score disastrous?

Choosing a specific score as a goal adds pressure as you proceed through your round. Once you put a score in your mind, your subconscious “golf” mind is always aware and silently focused on your position relating to score, regardless if you are counting or not. Once you fall behind and the gap in the number of holes left to play closes in, the pressure mounts quickly, creating stress. Stress often leads to tension, and everyone knows that tension leads to poor performance. Stress leads to agitation, which creates your larger muscles to overpower the smaller ones, provoking you to overswing. Overswinging leads to an attempt to control the ball or to steer it. At that point, your body is no longer swinging freely, and your rhythm is off.

Even if you are playing exceptional, and you’ve managed to stay ahead of the pace needed to achieve your score, you are more likely to begin to panic towards the end. A common reaction is to protect your score because your score is the only thing on your mind since that was the goal you set for yourself. When you enter “the dreaded” protection mode, you tend to let your foot off the gas, and you become disinclined to swing freely. Swinging less also causes you to steer the ball, your swing tempo is again awkward, and your whole game goes awry. Once the round is over, you look back at the missed opportunities. 

How do you set goals for golf?

Instead of thinking you want to break 80 and you set a goal of 79, ask yourself, what do I need to do to break 80? And your answer might be I need to stay focused on every shot by staying in the moment. Your new goal now becomes, I am going to focus on every shot and stay present. You may be asking how do I stay focused and present? 

Let me start by saying that no one can multitask. People who say they are great multitaskers are just great jugglers. It means they can manage many tasks, one at a time, not manage many tasks all at once. They jump from project to project, toggling back and forth. Your brain can only handle one thought at a time. People who juggle many tasks can take longer to complete them, and many times one or more of those projects may suffer in one form or another.

The brain is a magnificent, complex organ that plays a role in every one of our body’s functions. As complex as it is, we can only have one thought at a time. It is easy to divert your attention by changing your thought. So if you find yourself thinking about your score, a water hazard on the left, or who might be watching you and what are they thinking, you can change your thoughts by changing your focus.

If you find your mind wandering where it shouldn’t be, refocus on the present. Begin by noticing and absorbing your thoughts in your surroundings. Notice the lie of your ball, the distance to the hole, wind speed and direction, elevation, and club selection. Focus on your breathing, picking your target, and making good contact on the ball. These small mini-goals are called process goals. They help to align your focus in the here and now. Remaining focused and composed helps you to remain calm and relaxed to deliver good contact and hit the ball where you want.

Another process goal is applying a preshot routine. A preshot routine is the beginning of every shot. It is consistent, it is rhythmic, and it is delivered the same every single time. When applying a preshot routine, this creates flow, and flow can lead you into a heightened state of focus. A preshot routine pushes any past negative or distracting thoughts out of your mind, and it moves you into the present moment, the shot at hand.  

All pros have a preshot routine before they strike the ball. Take notice of what they do to set up for a shot. It may start as soon as they retrieve a club from their bag, and it may look something like this. It may begin with a couple of soft swings behind the ball; they look down the fairway and pick a target. Then they grip the club, set the face behind the ball, and set their feet. They shuffle their feet and waggle the club a few times to get comfortable, and loosen their hands, wrists, and arms. They set the club one last time, breathe out, and swing freely. 

Find your preshot routine and make it yours. Commit to using it during range practice, practice on the course, and for every shot you hit, until it is ingrained in you and becomes second nature. This routine is your savior when spiraling out of control. It is your go-to when you can’t seem to focus. Pay attention to your breathing and count as you inhale for 3 and exhale for 4. Then start your preshot routine to get back in the game.

If you like a more technical approach to goal setting and you are a numbers person, you can make your goals towards percentages, such as percent of hitting fairways and greens. For example: 

• My goal is to hit 75% of fairways = 14
• And hit 50% of those greens in regulation = 7
• Get up and down for par on 35% of the missed greens (12) = 4
• You are at 11 pars and 7 bogeys and in great shape to break 80.

By creating these types of goals, they do not mess with your thoughts regarding your score. These are acceptable misses that won’t send you over the edge, forcing you to push yourself to catch up and chase a score that creates tension. These are target goals that keep your focus on the now.

Process goals and a solid preshot routine are your best friend during any competition. Swing freely!

Jaime Costanzo, Mental Edge Coach