Evaluating Your Skill Only by Your Best Shots
Focusing on Distance While Neglecting the Short Game
Expecting Tour-Level Results Without the Work
Golf is not an easy sport. Even if you usually score in the 70s, there will be days when you end up with a score in the 90s. If you become arrogant, it is difficult to expect satisfying results. The moment you step onto the course, you need to be humble. Golf is a sport that requires continuous learning, realization, and effort.
Recently, an American golf media outlet highlighted the misconceptions held by amateur golfers who fall into self-deception. The outlet emphasized that unless you acknowledge your weaknesses, you will never be able to correct them, delivering a message akin to "know yourself."
Weekend golfers often remember only their best shots. They evaluate their abilities based on their most successful moments and soon convince themselves that they have achieved consistency. However, this is a mindset that should be avoided. Consistency is not easily attained. What tour professionals refer to as consistency is not about hitting perfect shots, but rather about minimizing the range of their mistakes.
Amateur golfers frequently express frustration whenever they miss the green. However, this is the wrong reaction. The media outlet explained, "Even players on the PGA Tour, on average, hit only about 12 out of 18 greens in regulation per round," meaning they miss about one-third of the greens. This shows just how difficult it is to reach the green in regulation. The same applies to putting. Even professional players have a success rate of only about 50% on putts within 3 meters.
Golfers with handicaps around 20 often neglect their short game. They find approach practice boring and spend more time on powerful drives, woods, and hybrid shots. Many weekend golfers say, "My short game is good enough, so I don't really need to practice it."
In contrast, most golfers with handicaps under 5 invest a lot of time practicing their short game. On the course, small differences translate directly into scores. The media outlet pointed out, "Practicing only what feels good is a mistake," and stressed the importance of acknowledging your weaknesses and focusing on the short game.
Another trap for weekend golfers is having excessive expectations. They hope for tour-level results with amateur-level effort. They believe that diligent practice over the winter will naturally lead to good results in the spring. However, the greater the expectation, the bigger the disappointment. The media outlet advised, "Golf is an extremely difficult sport, and the process of making changes and improving your skills is very slow," emphasizing that patience and dedication are essential.
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