It’s time to dispel these untruths from your game…
1. To be successful, you need confidence
Everyone experiences doubts about their abilities and chances for success. When such thoughts creep in, change your thinking. Concentrate on how to make the shot successful—for example, focus on the target or landing spot, the trajectory or path of the ball, or solid contact.
2. Playing well requires a high level of skill
Execution, while important, is not as important as strategy. Recognize the limitations of your skills, play to your strengths, and use strategic thinking (not ego) to make on-course decisions.
3. The older you get, the worse you play
Age can lead to decreases in strength, speed, and flexibility, which can be mitigated with a regular fitness program—just ask Gary Player! Age also brings experience, which can lead to better course knowledge and management. So if you can’t play stronger, play smarter.
4. Some people are just natural athletes
There’s nothing “natural” about it: Performance is the result of sustained, intentional, informed effort. While the advantage will always go to the person who has played the longest or learned the earliest, anyone can increase his or her skills and fitness.
5. The more you practice, the better you get
To simply repeat what you’ve always done isn’t practice, it’s repetition, and usually of bad habits. Improvement requires knowledgeable, deliberate, and appropriate change. Find an instructor who can identify what you need to fix and how to practice to make those changes permanent.
What ways do you maximize your performance?
