I‘m getting asked more often about playing consistent golf. Lukey, a long time reader, called today and was concerned his game is not has consistent as he would like. He got me thinking and here’s my take on the subject.
Consistent golf is not possible if you try and replicate the perfect swing. Too many of us analyse and try and make copies of our good shots – it seems like the right thing to do, but often leads in failure.
Consistent golf requires that you stop trying to be perfect. You must break free from what you think is the right thing to do and follow your instincts. Here are three steps that will help you find a more consistent golf game.
- Swing in a way that feels good to you. This is the time to do what YOU really want to do, not the advice of some coach, text book or some theory that is lodged deep in your mind.
- Stop analysing. This means the good and the bad. If you can reach the 18th green without thinking about your swing you’ve done well. Try it. It’s a lot of fun.
- Break free. Do something different. Break a rule or two. If your game is not consistent now then you’ve got to do something differently to see results. This step is breaking the shackles and allowing you to explore what is possible.
The paradox of golf is that you can’t play consistently by trying to do so. You have to give up some control to find it. This is the hardest step in the learning process. Children have no problem with it – as adults we feel the need to control, analyse, take our time, try really hard and be perfect.
If you want to find a consistent game it will require a different mindset. Let go, stop trying so hard and definitely no carbon copies allowed. Let each swing go where it wants to go. It’s the only way.