What does it take to become a great golfer? Practice, practice, practice. But golfing technique isn’t the only thing that can be developed over time. Confidence can also be practiced and improved, and is key to achieving real, lasting success on (and off) the course as this guide from DCH Freehold Toyota shows.
As Tom Ward, PGA Tour Instructor, explains, “We all lose confidence from time to time; the important thing is to minimize the occurrences and the duration of these self-doubt spells.” Tom offers up four main ways you can achieve the results you want on the course, and we’ve explained them in-depth below.
Set defined goals for your training regimen.
With proper training, your mind and body will both develop over time. If your training is unstructured or aimless, though, it will take much longer to achieve the desired results—if they come at all. Set goals that correspond to what you want to achieve on the course. You’ll find this much more productive than simply hitting balls at the range. Plus, you’ll know when you’re getting closer to your goals and can adjust your training as needed.
As an added benefit, practicing specific swings can help you draw on these movements more naturally in an actual game. Two-time U.S. Open winner Curtis Strange calls this building “movement memory” in his book Win and Win Again!.
Establish a pre-shot routine that makes sense for you.
Jack Nicklaus, “the Golden Bear,” was famous for a pre-shot routine that he repeated down to the second throughout his professional career. That should be evidence enough of the importance of a well-defined routine. Coming up with the steps that work for you won’t be a one-time process, but you should be able to start seeing what feels “comfortable” and puts you in the best position—physically and mentally—before you take your swing.
Move forward by using past successes—even those off the field.
It’s easy to give in to defeat when approaching a hole where you’ve had difficulty before. If you’ve letting memories of past failures keep you from achieving future success, it’s time to make a change. Focus instead on the memories of your best shots—or other successes from throughout your life. No matter where your inspiration comes from, the result will be a more confident, more relaxed “you” who’s ready to face the challenges ahead.
Accept that you will make mistakes.
It would be nice to think that you will eventually play a perfect round of golf with enough practice, but the best players accept that making mistakes and adapting to new challenges is a mark of true success. As you build confidence, you’ll begin to trust more in your ability to handle whatever the next shot brings your way.
These tips for building confidence may bring the biggest results to your golf game, but they can also have positive results on other aspects of your life. When you put your mind to improving yourself, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
