We found this article on the authoritygolf.com website and wanted to pass it along . . . it makes so much sense.
Do These Three Things Every Time You Hit a Bad Shot . . .
If you golf on a regular basis, you know how a bad shot can creep up out of nowhere. You keep your swing form the same, maintain your typical mental focus and proceed to shank a ball. It happens to even the best golfers in the world. What matters the most is how you pick yourself up after your shank. Below, we explain three things that you should do after each bad shot.
Move On
There is no sense in dwelling on your poor shot. If you let that bad swing loom over your thoughts throughout the remainder of the holes, you will never be able to build a strong mental focus. The mental aspect of golf cannot be understated. Focus on what you are going to do next instead of what has already happened. You can change what happens now and in the future but you can’t go back and alter the past.
Every swing requires your undivided attention. It is acceptable to review what caused your poor swing in the couple of minutes after it happens but don’t let it linger any longer beyond that little bit of time. Completely remove that bad shot from your memory before you take your next swing. Stay fully in the moment, resume your pre-swing routine and hit your next shot with confidence. Always remember that your shanks are the exception to the norm. While you might have hit one of the all-time worst shanks, it is just one shot. Never let a bad shot define you as a golfer.
Focus On Redemption
You will feel bad about your poor shot immediately after you hit it. However, it is imperative that you put that bad shot “to bed”. Think about what might have caused the shank and then focus on redeeming yourself. While you lost a stroke with your bad shot, you can get it right back if you execute the next one. So form a positive mental picture of how you will hit the ball during your next swing. Visualize yourself executing a picture perfect swing that sends the ball sailing to the green and rolling right into the cup. See it in your mind’s eye and then replicate the vision. This visualization process will clear out any potential negative thoughts that you might be tempted to stew over.
Remind Yourself Of Why You Are On The Course
Most of us hit the links because we want to have fun. While we all want to improve our golf game, shooting a low score is not the only reason to be out there swinging the sticks. Golf is about bonding with friends, enjoying the beautiful weather and hitting some memorable shots. So don’t take that shank too seriously.
Remind yourself of why you decided to golf in the first place. You wanted to enjoy yourself and the company of your friends. If you are constantly beating yourself up over poor shots, you will be wasting your time, effort and money out there on the course. Every athlete makes mistakes, including the best professional golfers. The key is to bury that bad shot quickly, orchestrate a plan for the next shot and center your focus on executing it.