Every golfer I know and play a round with will add a stroke or two for no reason. Whether it is a loss of concentration (usual reason), a poor decision or a swing hitch extra strokes are added to our final score just because. These errors are always prevalent in a amateurs game, however it is the avoidable mistakes that really frustrate me after the fact. The challenge is I know the I am making a mistake, but continue down that course of action anyway. A par becomes a bogey, a bogey becomes a double just because I was refused to change my thinking and proceeded down the path of extra strokes. This is so frustrating don’t you think?
There are many different scenarios that would cause us to add a stroke or two for no good reason. As I discuss further, let us remove a poor swing from the discussion. This happens all the time and except for trying something way out of the norm, it is an result we have to accept (but not like). Poor swings happen to amateurs all the time.
The second thing to eliminate is a poor decision. This happens more than we would like, yet it is also a challenge in an amateurs game that is fixed with experience. We all have made poor decisions or tried to squeeze out a few extra yards that shot our risk reward ratio through the roof. Poor decisions are avoidable only after the fact. If you have committed to the poor shot and missed, you can fix the decision making next time you are faced with this scenario.
The area that frustrates me the most for adding strokes to my final score is lack of concentration. I become complacent or lazy with my game playing. Sometimes I park my cart on one side of the green (closest to the exit point to the next hole) pick two clubs only to realize that they are not the clubs I need for my shot. Instead of walking back to retrieve the proper club, I use what I have. Now this is a great way to rack up the strokes.
Another lack of focus area is always hitting the same club from a specific distance. For example, I just grab my 7 iron for 150 yards regardless of the other influences to the shot. Sometimes I need to club up or down depending on lie, wind direction, how I am playing that day etc. I just grab my iron like a robot and swing away. After missing what should be an easy shot, I add needless strokes to my scorecard.
Lastly, I stop using my pre-shot routine for every shot. It is like I am on autopilot with my actions on the golf course. I am not thinking or focused on the present or mindful of what I am doing. I just there whacking away without any thought about how I am playing. I generally have zero concentration and as a result shoot much higher scores that I expect. My lack of concentration is a bottom line killer that I have experienced far too often.
Adding strokes to our game is something that can be avoided. Mostly the lack of concentration or focus is the culprit. Golf is a game that does require a mental focus in order to improve. I know I play my best games when I am ‘in the zone’ and mindfully present. If you are adding strokes to your final score for no apparent reason, take a look at your game and might be able to ‘zero in’ on the reason without too much difficulty. Likely it is your lack of concentration adding strokes to your final score and this error can definitely be avoided.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
