One of the fascinating aspects in caddying at the local level is observing how average players actually play. It’s head-scratching to see the same players make the same mistakes each and every week. One would think a learning curve would inevitably kick-in but far too many times the same approach is followed.
My father had a phrase that fits — you can work with ignorance – you just can’t help stupidity.
Caddying in its purest form means assisting players to get the maximum out of one’s round. Having played in top competitions and caddied for others at the pro tour level I value such engaging intersections because when the synergy between player and caddie is working well the magic produced can be truly phenomenal.
So much of golf instruction is based on the mechanics of the swing. No question, one has to understand how the swing operates. However, the other crucial aspect that often gets little attention is how to properly think when playing.
The brain can be an invaluable asset — it can also be detrimental for those unable to harness its power smartly.
I have witnessed plenty of gifted players able to hit a variety of golf shots but then get in their own way because of mental mistakes that could easily have been avoided.
A thorough caddie can be the missing element in propelling superior outcomes. But for many the wherewithal to have such a caddie may not be possible. Trust me – they don’t grow on trees. That’s why elite players make it a point to keep the ones that produce for them when it counts the most.
You can be your own caddie by following the eight rules spelled out below. The mental side of golf is the crucial ingredient in elevating one’s play.
With the new year just ahead — just realize the smartest player is not necessarily the most talented but they’re the ones seeing the results that matter – when the numbers go on the scorecard.
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Rule 1
Stay in the moment
The ebb and flow of a given golf round can produce various emotions. Some players like to whine about any bad breaks they get.
Golf is about a series of shots being played. You cannot afford to focus on something that’s already completed. So, remember this – the two-foot putt you missed is done. Over. Finished. Nothing changes that reality no matter how much you moan and groan about it.
Compartmentalizing one’s thinking is so essential. Want to know why Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods were heads and shoulders above the competition they faced? Beyond the physical skills each possessed they each commanded a mental edge to forget what just happened and move on to what’s in front of them now.
Sounds easy but it’s harder than many might think.
Conceptually players understand the importance of staying in the moment, but when in the heat of a golf round — especially one in a tournament or a match against regular friends – it’s easy to lose specific focus and allow the mind to wander.
Superior golf comes from attending to the moment at-hand. Never dwell on what’s been completed or what lies beyond the actual moment encountered.
That’s the only thing you can totally control. The gap in time between shots can allow the brain to wander and with that the focus of the immediacy can be lost.
Staying in the moment requires keen awareness and true discipline. Keep that squarely in mind and your scores will show the results.
Rule 2
Know your limitations
The problem in watching elite players play is seeing them pull off an array of amazing golf shots – especially when encountering difficult circumstances.
Unfortunately, average players do not realize the talent and years of preparation that permits elite players to do what they do.
Far too many players believe they are capable in playing an array of golf shots when called upon.
The simple reality is they can’t.
I have always been amazed at how incredibly smart and successful people in a wide range of different career fields who somehow when they step foot on a golf course become totally clueless in thinking they have the requisite skills to pull-off shots that only Tiger Woods would even remotely contemplate doing.
Clint Eastwood said it succinctly in the movie Magnum Force, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
A top-shelf caddie will clearly remind a player of this because it’s the inability to realize the ceiling of one’s golf game that can quickly lead to disastrous results.
It’s not a surrendering of one’s common sense to know what your limitations are. It’s the wisdom in knowing that and then using the most desirable choices to get the best results.
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Rule 3
Create a pre-shot routine and stick with it – each and every time.
Watch the world’s best play and you will see something that’s done with each and every swing — they follow a similar pre-shot routine. Average players give little thought in creating such a routine. They quickly pick out a club and then jump onto a tee box, plant their feet and give it a swing.
Thinking about doing the same thing before each and every full shot provides a set routine that is neither too fast nor too slow.
That is especially so when facing pressure situations. With emotions running high it’s easy to either go too fast or take way too long to pull the trigger.
The pre-shot routine is a clear statement that your thinking is in order.
Create one – and stick with it. The results generated will show its overall value in doing so.
Rule 4
Take your medicine
One of the most common errors made by average players is not smartly assessing the risks one faces when certain golf shots go awry.
The first cardinal rule when getting into a troublesome position is take the surest and safest way out of it.
Far too many players believe they can pull-off a miraculous recovery after actually hitting a terrible shot. You will hear such statements that trees are “90 percent air” when the more likely reality is that the attempted escape will hit 90 percent of tree bark or limbs.
Double-bogies or worse happen when players do not realize the scorecard dangers involved in attempting such ill-advised recoveries. It’s not the first bad shot that provides the deepest of holes to climb after — it’s the second ill-advised shot in succession that spells doom.
Far too many players see the sure bailout option as a weak play – as if they are surrendering to an outcome. Getting the ball back in play smartly adds to the possibility a good score can still happen.
Realizing one’s shortcomings is not a weakness – it’s a strength.
Rule 5
Knowing how far you hit each club – consistently
What’s astonishing is how many players have a very inflated sense of the actual yardage they can secure with each club in the bag.
Far too many only see the yardage when they hit the ball at their best. That’s not the consistent yardage — that’s the inflated one.
Tee shot distance is often calculated incorrectly because players base that yardage in terms of the total distance generated. That’s not the key number – the one that matters is how far can you consistently carry the ball in the air.
The other dimension often forgotten or underplayed is the impact of what topography does to the flight of a golf ball. If a hole moves downhill the overall distance will become a bit shorter. Conversely, when going uphill the distance increases.
Wind is a constant reminder that adjustments are needed. If facing a headwind of 10 mph – then you’ll likely need one additional club. However, when playing downwind – the gain in distance is only half the amount of the actual velocity encountered.
When choosing a club think carefully on which one can achieve the objective without relying upon making the best strike of your life to accomplish the task.
Guessing game are fine for kids — not for golfers.
Rule 6
Giving 100% all the time
Sounds simple but there are times I have witnessed where players have given up on a hole or round. What many players do not realize is that things happen on a golf course for any number of reasons.
Being engaged with each and every shot is a must.
When Tiger Woods played in his first Masters as a professional in 1997 he scored a 40 on the outward nine. It would have been easy for him to quit trying or simply “mail” the round in. That did not happen. Woods played the last 63 holes in 22-under-par and earned the first of four green jackets with a record 12-shot winning margin and a new 72-hole scoring record.
When rounds start to fall apart you see the measure of a golfer. Some players want to whine about bad breaks and then opt to play in a half-hearted manner looking for some sort of sympathy.
Jack Nicklaus himself stated he never played a golf shot without 100% commitment.
Failing to give maximum effort is easy to do. Not giving up and plugging onward is what separates the contenders from the pretenders. Tiger and Jack exemplified that on the grandest of stages. Keep that in mind, because rounds of golf can turn around quickly when full effort is given.
Rule 7
Get the right clubs in your bag
Too many players do not think about this and just opt for what they have always used / played.
As players age the probability of using irons such as the 4 and 5 becomes less successful. Why? Players cannot generate sufficient clubhead speed to gain the benefit such clubs provide.
Having a few hybrid clubs in one’s bag can be a major difference maker. Starting with a 6-iron and working your way through the wedges can be much more productive in giving the widest array of shotmaking options.
The same can be said for wedges. Players need to have a specific gap between the lofts of clubs so that you have coverage for the fullest range of distances covered.
Golfers can have a maximum of 14 choices for their golf bag.
Choose wisely and get fitted.
The smart thinking you do before you reach the 1st tee can set in motion the desired results you’re seeking.
Rule 8
Better thinking for better putting and chipping
If you can’t chip and can’t putt – you won’t max the lowest score.
The fastest way to shave strokes off the scorecard rests with the putter. Each hole ends up at the putting green and even if one’s ball-striking is suspect, you can rescue yourself with smartness on the putting surfaces.
Speed control is the most important skill for success.
Too many players have no sense of feel — routinely stroking putts way too short or long.
When on a practice green be sure to change the direction and length of each putt taken. I can say with confidence average players will routinely three-putt several times in a round – sometimes much more. Add up the strokes played and you can see what a disaster that is for the final tally on the scorecard.
The same applies to handling a variety of short game shots within 25 yards off a putting green. Players routinely fail to work on dexterity with more than one club. Practice with more than just one specific wedge so you can adjust as needed.
Think of proper positioning when coming into any green. There will always be a preferred side and one to avoid. So many players don’t realize that missing a green on the preferred side can mean a far easier time in securing a par as opposed to landing on the wrong side of a green and likely three-putting or worse.
