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My tee shot on the first hole disappeared into the woods on the right. It really upsets you.
But the real problem isn't that one hit.
The thought of "I have to make up for it" ruins the second shot, and that ruins the third.
The hole I started with a lost stroke ends in a triple bogey. And that feeling follows me all the way to the second hole.
01Why does trying to make up for it only make things worse?
There is something that happens in the body right after a miss.
| mind | The work of the body | result |
|---|---|---|
| I want to turn it back quickly | The swing becomes rushed | The rhythm is broken |
| Let's hit it hard and stick it on. | I tense my upper body. | The direction is shaking |
| That shot from earlier keeps | I can't focus on the shot right now | Club selection is tangled |
The point is, the game is already over. There is no way to turn it around.
But we bet the remaining shots to try and turn things around. Then we lose two or three more strokes.
0230-second reset, try this
If you miss, don't go straight to the next shot. You only need to use 30 seconds.
- I put the club in the bag and take a breath.Your thoughts won't stop as long as you have the club in your hand. Let go and then pick it up again.
- Decide that "this hole is a bogey."If you set lower goals, unreasonable choices disappear.
- I only look at the position of the next stroke.I only look at "where to place the next shot," not the green.
03Why does lowering your goals work?
When I aim for par, I try to send the ball from the woods to the green in one shot. That results in a shot that cuts through the trees.
If you succeed, you are a hero, but eight out of ten times you get hit by a tree and go further inside.
If you decide to play it out, the choice to get it onto the fairway becomes natural.
Take it out, lift it, and putt twice. It's a bogey. And the next hole starts off fine.
On a hole, there is a two-stroke difference between a bogey and a triple bogey. You'll have moments like this three or four times during the 18 holes.
04Do not count the numbers
Most people do this after a mistake.
"It's three shots on now... so if I two-putt, it's a double... I was a double on the previous hole too..."
The moment I start counting, the next shot gets shaky. If my head is on the score, my body gets rushed.
During the round, just focus on this one stroke. You can count your score after the round is over.
It’s not too late to count when your companion asks, "How many strokes is it?"
05If your anger still doesn't subside
It’s human to get angry. I’m not saying you should force yourself to hold it in.
- Move your body. Rotate your shoulders widely or do a stretch. Your stiff body will loosen up.
- Take a sip of water. It may seem like nothing, but it helps regulate your breathing.
- Share a word with your partner. If you dwell on it alone, it will only grow bigger.
- Put down the club and pick it up again.My hands lose strength and my thoughts cut off for a moment.
- I'm lowering my goal for this hole by one level.Par → Bogey. Unreasonable choices disappear.
- Pull it out to a safe side.Don't try to bore through the wood. Eight out of ten times, it gets worse.
- I don't count numbers.It’s not too late to settle after the round is over.
06The difference between the day you collapse and the day you hold on
Even with the same skill level, some days you shoot 90, and other days 110.
It’s not because the shots are different. It’s the difference in how many strokes you save from a single miss.
- Miss → Attempt to make up for it → Miss again → Triple
- Miss → Extract → Safely → View
Even skilled players make mistakes. However, things are quiet after a mistake.
If you are particularly shaky on the first hole, it might be because your body hasn't warmed up yet.
Please try the breathing techniques in [[LINK:L02]] and the 10 minutes before your round in [[LINK:L01]].
In the next episode, I will address the problem of hands freezing up when someone is watching from behind.
