Golf is a peculiar game. It is one built on confidence and understanding of your overall game. You do not have to be the best player and your success varies from day to day. Over he years, I have decreased the fragility of my golf game through three simple steps. They are not complicated and every player has the ability to adopt and implement these techniques without any change to their golf swing. Yup, I am confident that your game will improve if you even adopt one of my ways to lower your golf score.

The first step is acceptance. I know for experience that every round of golf has its highs and lows. I have never played a round without hitting one poor shot. It does not mean that this shot cost me more strokes than I want, however it happens every round. If I know that I am going to hit a poor shot (hopefully not too many 😉 ) then how can I not accept a poor shot from time to time. The trick is not to make a second poor shot right after the first. The trick is to accept it happened, refocus my efforts and make the best shot possible on my next one. This technique of acceptance works for great shots as well. We usually do not have to refocus because our spirits are buoyed and do not think about it. Therefore, acceptance is the first technique every golfer should master in order to lower their scores.

The second technique that all golfers should understand is be forgetful when it counts. Yup, for get that poor shot and move on to making the next one great. Many golfers have a tendency to hold to poor shots and revel in the good ones. I like to do just the opposite. When I make a great shot, I focus on the how it felt, the outcome, and the process I went through to make that great shot. If the shot is poor, I try not go give it a second thought. It is the negative thoughts that lead down a path I do not want to travel. Like Ted Lasso said: “Be a Golf Fish”!

The last technique that I think is important to our golf scores is to commit to every shot. Once you have decided on what shot you want to make, commit to it 100%. Do not leave any room in your six inches of real estate between your ears for any self-doubt. Commit to the shot like it was your last. This technique is built on the foundation that I have analyzed the situation and decided on the best shot in my bag that will offer the greatest chance of success. Most of the time, it works out very well because I committed to the shot I envisioned. This last technique is key to a great golf game.

Acceptance, being a goldfish, and committing to my shot are three techniques I have adopted over many years of trial and error on the golf course. They are engrained in my mind and are easily adapted to every round because it does not require an swing changes. It is a purely mental approach to golf that all amateurs (and some elite players) need to adopt in order to progress to their next level of performance and lower golf scores.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!