I am really not a fan of making resolutions for every new year. I’d really rather make goals when I figure out something that I would like to do. "Resolutions" always seem to go in the garbage by mid-February the way I see it. I’ve had some particular golf-related goals that I want to accomplish for some time now. For me, having goals work much better since you can track their progress. Its a process that I’ve followed for most of the sports I’ve played throughout my life.
First – make your goal reasonable! I am all for ambition, but if you are shooting a 150 and want to get into the 80s in a few months you are setting yourself up for failure. I suppose that if you did nothing else but work at your game every day with a coach it could be possible. Realistically though, how likely is that? I’m sure there are exceptions to every rule but why not just first work on beaking 100?
Next – make milestones: in the above example, if you really are at 150 and want to be breaking 100 by the end of a particular period, break it up into small chunks. Give yourself an adequate amount of time to break it in half, then get to 100. Of course, these time periods need to be assertvie so you don’t get lazy.
Don’t forget to give yourself a break also. It is very easy to get frustrated when you are watching the pros so effortlessly swing the club. Be sure to compare your progress to your previous work and not to Annika Sorenstam or Tiger Woods. Let’s face it, most of us will never be that good.
Finally, just follow though. Keep to your goals but remember my previous bit of advice. If you get sidetracked with a job, kids, family, or other unforeseen distractions don’t worry about it. Golf will always be there. I’m fairly certain the game isn’t going away any time too soon. When you are ready to continue, golf will be ready for you.
My latest goal is to stop being what one instructor calls "handsy" with my swing. I have a tendency to tense up at times and grip the club entirely too hard. It is so true that less is more and I have really been working on that part of my game at the range. I’m definitely making progress.
What are your latest goals for your game? Are you making goals or resolutions?
I’m one of those guys that’s about ready to take golf seriously. I’ve been saving up my money for about 7 months now to purchase a good set of clubs. Anytime I play, I usually shoot over 100. Like the author said, I immediately think about scoring in the 80’s…and comparing my game to a good friend of mine. That was great advice to just focus on breaking 100 and looking back on the progress I’m making in small strides and not to try and be someone else.
Comment by jmxs2410
— January 11, 2009 @ 11:13 pm
Good advice. For the previous poster, it is important when you do get that set of good clubs, you see a professional clubfitter (an independent business owner with his own shop) to have your irons adusted for loft and lie angles — suited to YOUR INDIVIDUAL swing. Better yet, make sure the shafts in your clubs are right for your individual game as well.
I just had the irons I assembled and swingweighted for myself fitted by a true professional. Every single one of my irons needed adjustment. And they are high quality clubs to begin with. (The lie angles were flattened for me and the lots evenly spaced throughout the set.) The most immediate result was that my wedges now go straight all the time, not 75% of the time. What a relief that was. And with the long irons I am now drawing the ball 5-10 yards instead of 20-25.
It’s been real cold here, so I haven’t had much of a chance to practice or play much since the adjustment, but I have spent some range time and did get in one round. The loft and lie adjustments are going to make an important difference in my game come this spring.
Now if I could quit averaging this per round: one blown tee shot, 2-3 fat shots, 2 greenside wedge skulls, 2-3 three-putts.
Comment by Watch
— January 15, 2009 @ 1:19 pm