Instead of responding to a question from the Surge Nation today, I'm going to talk about something that has become far too common in the game of golf. I noticed it when I was playing with a student earlier this year.
This particular student was actually very good. He was about a 4-6 handicap and had a pretty firm grasp of the Peak Performance Golf Swing. He came for a long session and we got to the point where he was hitting the ball fairly consistent, but he wasn't seeing it the same way.
He busted one shot that had a great sound at impact. It sounded like a really good hit and it had a nice flight trajectory and carried the correct length for the club he was using. So, when the ball lands it turns out to be way right of his intended target even though he was unknowingly hitting it directly on his actual line, just not his intended line.
I began to try explaining alignment to him. I asked him what he thought of the shot. I expected him to say something about pushing or blocking it. Instead, he said he didn't like the shot because it wasn't solid. I told him that it sounded really solid to me, but he claimed it wasn't really, truly solid. I asked him about the positives I had seen like trajectory, flight pattern, and the straightness of the shot. He said it didn't matter because the shot wasn't "solid."
I keep hearing this all the time and in most cases I know that these golfers' shots may not have been 100% solid, but they were good enough to be called a good shot or as I like to say, "a really good miss." The question I want to pose to all of you out there is why are you so hard on yourself?
Maybe this is my fault because I'm always saying to hit the ball more solid, straight, longer, and shoot those lower scores. Don't get me wrong, I hit the ball quite solid but in the event that I do thin it or toe it a little bit, I'm all about hitting good misses.
Golf's a game of misses...he who misses best, wins. I tell people all the time that I would rather beat the ball around, keep it in play, and shoot 3 or 4 under par than hit it dead, solid perfect and shoot even par. It's all about shooting a score.
I see a lot of golfers get really angry at shots they shouldn't be angry about because they're honestly not good enough to be angry about the shot. You need to give yourself credit sometimes for just keeping the ball in play. The point is that golf's a game of misses. Obviously we want to hit the ball solidly, but it cannot be the solo definer of a golf shot. The definer should be where the ball ends up relative to where you wanted it to go. Good misses are great, stop beating yourself up.
Good misses are what keep you in the ballgame. When you start forgetting when the last time you took a penalty stroke or lost a ball was, you're going to enjoy playing golf on a whole other level. Let's try to be good to ourselves. Positivity is critical in the game of golf. Having the ability to grind can go a long way and separate you from a lot of players.
Golf is not a game of perfect. Pat yourself on the back when you have good misses and you're staying in the game. The next step is becoming a short game wizard. Shoot lower scores by having good misses, talking nicely to yourself, and having the proper attitude out there. Good luck!
Keep it vertical,
The Surge
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Comments
attitude
Great reminder of Good Misses. At 67 I am grateful to be playing with a 9 hcp. I started tracking each hole: GIR, Fairways hit, Putts, OB, etc and using a spreadsheet. The short game stats really jump out from up & down, 3 putts, 1 putts. It is both good and bad as I see the trends; areas to work on and the bad, the penalties, bad misses & 3 putts. A reminder that golf is not perfect just minimize the bad shots and enjoy the moment.
Angry
"Not good enough to be angry about the shot". Ha ha!
I say that ALL THE TIME.
My wife is the world"s worst about thinking she should be able to walk out there once a month (with absolutely no practice and limited natural skill) and expect to hit good shots.
My son is the world's second worse at thinking he is supposed to hit every shot perfectly playing once or twice a month and very little practice. He can be so angry after shooting even par that it takes the fun out of the game.
I expect to play about like the effort I am putting into the game at the time (which lately isn't much). Any good round is a bonus. A bad round is what it is, and if I didn't like it I should have practiced more (or better). I'm as guilty as anyone sometimes about thinking hitting a few balls is "practice". IT'S NOT!!
No Practice
Steve:
You are spot on. I love comments at the 19th hole on the state of some guys game.
These same guys do not even no where the range is!
Phillip
Beating ourselves up over bad shots
This video is good confirmation of my wife/caddy/golden retriever ball finder/number 1 critic and fan told me a few weeks ago. Now I am not allowed to give myself a hard time, or curse myself, after hitting a bad or so-so shot. What is not only allowed, but is mandatory, is one Kiwi word [said in an incredulous manner only]. That word, "B*gger!" It works for me. Her comment just now was, "It makes a good recovery shot after a bad shot, all that more satisfying.If all your shots are bad, then just enjoy the fresh air."
Just that one mild Kiwi epithet has made all the difference. No dwelling on what has just gone, but straight into working out how to rectify it on the next shot.
Anger on the course at ourselves is self defeating indeed Surge. Thanks for the reminder. Oh! and thankyou dear ; - ) DH
Recovery
I had two birdies Saturday off of horrible tee shots. The first was on a par 5 with OB on the right and I chickened out and duck hooked it horribly left and low and it only went about 150 yards. Had to hit a big hook for my second aiming right and OB and hooking it back to the fairway. Killed a 3 wood that left me with 135 yards from the middle of the fairway and hit it to 4 feet and made the putt.
Next hole has a creek on the left so, you guessed it, chickened out again and hit it a mile right leaving me with 166 yards around some trees against a 15 to 20 mph wind to an island green. Hooked a 6 iron around the trees, listened for the sound of the ball hitting land, heard the sound I wanted and went up to look and it was 8 feet from the pin. Made the putt to give me 2 very unlikely birdies in a row.
The only thing that REALLY matters about the first shot is for it to be good enough to hit again.
Recovery
The only thing that REALLY matters about the first shot is for it to be good enough to hit again.
I couldn't agree more Steve. Just had another quiet swing session and will be surprised if the now 'straight' left arm at address doesn't pay off on the course. Not a rigid forward arm I might add. Perhaps it is concentrating on one thing too much, that I didn't see such a glaring ?error in my set up procedure. B*gger! Onwards and upwards. Keep on recovering in style. DH
DragonHead
DragonHead
How are you doing you old war dog? I hope you folks down under are getting to enjoy some great golf weather.
Are you getting used to being back in a land of free thought and like minded folks?
Dick
Dragonhead
Dick My old mate,
You have been in my thoughts a lot of late. Just about to log off for the evening and checked email. The best early Christmas present I could have hoped for. Glad that you have made contact with the lads and lassies of the Surge Clan.
Weather is coming right slowly but surely.Back in the land of free thought? Hahahaha, Remember I brought my PLA trained wife back with me hahaha. Seriously though, great to hear from you and hope that it will be an ongoing return for you. Off into the city tomorrow to pick up some odds and ends for the wife for Christmas, so golf delayed again. She has more than deserved my patience.
Will be back again on the morrow, if you are about. Semper Fi! Old friend, from DH and his Ball Hound [Elevated to Golden Retriever in your abscence. What am I going to do with all these balls???]
on a sunny and warm New Zealand evening. In Arduis Fidelis. DH in a Kilt ; - ]
DH
DH
Thanks for your thoughts, and your prayers. Good to hear back from you, and thanks for your kind words. Yes, I hope to be on more often. Time to start coming out of my cave.
Sleep well my friend, for you have earned it,
Dick
Great to see your phosphors,
Great to see your phosphors, Dick. Hope we do see you back on more regularly.
Thanks Robert
Thanks Robert
I am glad to be back. Need to get back to my routine and start doing the stuff I enjoy.
Steve
Steve
Good points, as always, my friend. It takes a lot of hard work to get good and stay that way. I work with a young PGA member who gets so busy with work and lessons he forgets to just go out, play, and have some fun. When he does get out, he is mad at himself for how he shoots. I tell him, golf is not a game you can go do once a month and be as good as you are used to being.
Hope you and yours are doing great,
Dick
Hey Dick
Everything is going fine with me. So far even the weather has cooperated pretty well this year. I think it's supposed to get cold tomorrow though. I usually try to get in a round or sometimes two a week. Still always looking for that magic formula that always creates a good shot...No luck on that front yet though. Ha ha!
I hope you have a great Christmas and the winter lets you get in some golf.
Jump in the chat whenever you feel like it. We all miss your comments. Sometimes it's a little dull and a joke or two would be great.
I'm biding my time until the Championship game against Notre Dame. I'm a little greedy but I wouldn't mind seeing at least one more championship.
Steve
Steve
Good to hear from the land of the big A. I will be back more often. You know I will try to spice it up a bit.
Good luck with the big game. Remember, it ain't bragging if it is true, and in the case of Alabama, it is true.
Dick
LOL HA HA
LOL HA HA
Alabama. My predictions is one team will win and one will lose. ND 9 Bama 6
Predictions
I have never predicted the outcome of a football game in my life, and I'm not starting now. Don't really know why I never fell into that rah rah "we're going to beat you" group other than that I absolutely HATE to be wrong with a passion.
Made a 98% on a final this morning and the one question I missed will drive me crazy for a week (especially since I have no way of knowing which one it was). Ha ha! There was one question that had multiple choice of 3 wrong answers and "all of the above". Since none of them were correct I chose "all of the above", and I'm thinking that's the one I supposedly missed.
Predictions
My two favorite teams are playing I will be happy with either winning. Would like to see ND just because it has been awhile for them. Plus it will give UC fans more to whine about since Kelley left and went to ND now they lost another good coach to TN.
Glad to see your schooling is going good.
If you can still get a club
If you can still get a club on the ball, it can't have been that bad a shot. ;-)
Bad shots
The trick is to hit it SO BAD that it doesn't go far enough to get in real trouble.
The REALLY BAD ones are the ones that are SMASHED, but in the wrong direction. LOL
Internet problems
Delete.
Don't be too hard on yourself
Good evening Surge Nation
It is good to be back on the blog tonight. I just finished watching the daily videos for the last two weeks. Guess I should go play now while they are all still fresh in my mind.
I hope this finds you all well and playing lots of golf. I wish all of us who celebrate it, a very Merry Christmas, and to everyone else, Happy Holidays.
I am doing a lot better, and still trying to get used to the "new normal" in my life. I have missed you folks more than I can express.
Surge's video today is spot on. I think we can beat ourselves up too much during a round. I have not played much lately. When I first started back playing 2 years ago when I found Surge and the PPGS, I could be real hard on myself because this swing did not come real natural to me. Since then I have developed what I call "Doctor golf." I just ask each club and each shot that if it can't be a perfect shot, to just not do any harm. Leave me where I can at least, like Steve said, hit it again.
If I beat myself up over a less than perfect shot, it affects my next several shots. I have played with people who will still be going on about a bad shot 4 holes later. Give it up and go on. Never met a good athlete who had a long memory.
My hillbilly Pentecostal preacher father would always say "Don't be too hard on yourself." That was usually followed by "The world is full of plenty of people who will be glad to do that for you."
It is good to see that Steve and DragonHead are still on here chipping away.
Keeping it vertical, and forgiving my own golf shortcomings, in Oklahoma,
Dick
Deje vu Dick.....................
Dick,
Welcome back to the Surge Nation. I say deje vu because about an hour and a half back I added a welcome back Dick comment and it seems it is lost in hyber space (where many of my brain cells may be too!! lol). Any how, so glad to read your comments and have you back. As I said (so I thought), in your absents we have had several new comers that may not read your spunky, firey comments. We missed your dearly old friend. Stick around, we are still talking golf, life and what ever else shows up!
Speaking of attitudes, you have one of the spirits we need so happy to see your return:)
Robert Meade
Missing in action
Missing in action
Thanks Robert. I will be sticking around. Trust me, I need you guys right now, more than you need me.
If everything I have ever sent or been sent on a computer over the years that went missing in action came through all at once, it would fill up 5 hard drives and burn out mother boards all over the world. I some times think that when I hear a little buzzing in my ears, it must be those lost email and IMs whizzing by.
Like the country song says "When you are going through hell, keep on moving, and you might get out before the devil even knows you are there." I have been so wrapped up in taking care of things and attending to the details that I have neglected a lot of the things I love and some of the people I love. I have missed you folks more than you can know. I have only played one round of golf in months. I never even got around to taking the Harley out of winter storage all spring, summer, and fall. As it is said, I have attended to my dead, and now it is time to attend to the living.
I am happy to be back with my Surge Nation family.
In a moment of flash back, I will add this last thought. My wife, Donna, made an incredible taco salad for dinner tonight.
So there, talked about golf, life, and food.
Just like old times,
Dick
E mail address
Surge Nation
This is directed to Doc, Steve, Coach, and anyone else who has my email address. My computer recently had a cook out and roasted the motherboard. I lost all my email address book. If you would be so kind as to send me an email, so I can put you back in my contact list, I would appreciate it very much.
Dick
Pleasant surprise
It was a pleasant surprise to see your post in the blog. I have missed reading your comments and often wonder about your well being. I hope and pray for your adaption to your personal New Normal. It is said God does not give us more than we can bear, but life can surely push us to the very edge at times. I hope that the new year brings you pleasures and joys you have yet to imagine. Welcome back, and please stick around a bit.
Hey coach
Hey coach
Great to read your thoughts. I am doing better. My father used to tell me God would not give me more than I could bear. It is good to hear that reassurance in this case, some 15 years after dad went home to our Lord. There are however, times when I wish the Lord did not have so much faith in me. The Marine Corps taught me "That which does not kill you makes you stronger." Guess that is true. I know I am stronger now in many ways. I know I have a better sense of what "really" matters now. Little things that used to get under my skin, just bounce off now.
I also have a better sense of the importance of family and friends. Guess that is one reason I love the folks of the Surge Nation now more than ever. You guys were such a great support during this.
Sorry I have been gone so long. I shall be around more often.
Dick
Attitude
Thanks Surge, super reminder. Mad me smile with the humbling "You're not good enough to be angry" comment. And yes we need to be good to ourselves. I don't know how many countless times I have sabotaged my round by negetive self talk. Have gotten much better the last few years. Fewer mood swings on the golf course and more even keel. Good shots and bad, all shall pass. Relax and focus on the next shot, next putt cause it's going in baby! A good example is what happened last week. Cindy and I had a pleseant round going at Muni. Pushed my drive wide right near the neighboring fairway. Got lucky and though behind the tall trees was far enough back that I could get an iron over them and at the green. From 150 hit my 7 iron and though it looked good I felt I had (as Surge said) not hit it quite solid. Sailing at the bunker on the right I thought it was sunk. But I cleared the trap by inches and found the ball just on the edge of the green. Had a 35 foot sloping right to left down hill putt. Rolling down, breaking and bang, curled in for birdie. You just never know. Stay cool boys and girls because the next great shot is out there waiting for you, maybe on the next hole, the next shot. Smiling because Tomorrow is my next round.
Golf, gotta love it!
Counseling Session
Surge, thank you for the counseling session. Helped me more than time on the range. Really been beating myself up lately for the ugly shots. Needed the attitude check that you provided. Today I tried to be thankful for having the next swing - worked better than I expected. More shots in play, pitches/chips close to the hole and 1 putts. Happy for the results of a properly performed swing and total absense of back pain after the round.