Golf Is a Series of Independent Decisions

Practical Golf Articles
#101

There are a lot of quotes from Tiger and his strategy during his prime years. Essentially he was trying never to miss a green on the short side, allow his putter to make birdies from time to time on par 3s and par 4s (but making sure he didn’t bogey too much), and make hay on par 5s with his length.

Of course, his golf skill was off the charts, but that basic framework put him so far ahead of everyone else. If you remember he really never posted “blistering” rounds. He just methodically never shot himself in the foot and over a long period of time outlasted fields who made mistakes trying to chase him.

6 Likes
#102

Great example of the law of averages!

#103

Good point - depending on the putt and the green, but on most putts I try to find a spot either in front of the ball or along my intended line that I then work to roll the ball over - for me, it helps move the focus to the execution and speed control of the putt (vs the mechanical stroke itself).

So I guess that’s one of my million decisions :wink: during a round of golf.

1 Like
#104

Great article Jon
I get the playing the percentage shot out of trouble although I spectacularly failed to do this yesterday on the 14th, 3 times in a row!
The other situation this made we think about was when I’ve hit a really good drive and I’m stood over the balling thinking, don’t waste this good shot. I then get really annoyed with myself if I do mess it up. Whereas if the shots are both independent I should focus the the second shot and forget about the good drive.

2 Likes
#105

How about instead…
Man I am on a roll hitting the ball today!
:+1:

2 Likes
#106

thanks, Pete! Everything I discuss in that article is easier said than done. So don’t get too down on yourself if you continue to make those mistakes (I still do). I think it’s helpful to discuss them “out loud” amongst each other so we’re more aware of them when they come up on the course, and hopefully, we can start to make better decisions!

3 Likes
#107

It’s all about setting expectations :joy:

2 Likes
#108

Agree shouldn’t really get me down especially once I consider what my realistic expectations should be for my handicap.

2 Likes
#109

hi: I agree with this latest article that a series of decisions is needed to get around the course. I struggle with making the correct decisions quite a bit of the time and I think it’s related to the idea that I don’t know what my real swing feels like. Not to hog all the space, but I want to relate how my summer has gone in terms of what happened over a period of weeks. Right now I’m playing off 16 hdcp which just went up after my last few rounds. June was in the mid to high 90s which gave me a differential of 23.6. Went on a 2 week road trip and played several rounds which were very good. Shot a 78, first time in a long time. Differential went down to 19.7. Continued to shoot high 80s low 90s until I shot 84 at my home course which is of average difficulty. After that I have not broken 100 in several rounds and I have no idea what happened. Anyone care to comment? I am so frustrated right now! I need to ask what is a reasonable expectation coming of several rounds of great golf (for me). I didn’t expect to shoot low 80s right away but in the 100s? Come on!

#110

Unless there’s been an injury or some type of swing change, you might be fighting putting pressure on yourself and expectations after good golf.
I’d say play a few rounds without keeping score, just take it one shot at a time and focus on enjoying the experience to help reset things a bit.

#111

Making good decisions on the golf course is a more difficult task than hitting good shots.

1 Like
#112

I wish I knew exactly what to tell you were the cause, but this game can throw a curveball at you sometimes. That being said, everything you’ve described (albeit frustrating) does not sound out of the ordinary. I went through a similar patch earlier this year where I had my two best rounds within a week of one another and then went on a prolonged stretch of frustrating golf (for my skill level/expectations).

1 Like
#113

You shot a 78! That’s a great round and shows what you are capable of… what was different? More fairways? Less penalties? Less putts?

Think about what you did better and know you can do it again. Then just focus on your round one shot at a time… make the best choice from where you are and don’t worry about your final score…

Then review what was different and see if you need to practice something. Lather rinse repeat.

3 Likes
#114

Tiger is the epitome of this. As Jon said, he won tournaments by shooting 70-69-67-68, not 75-62-68-73. Even though he’s the greatest iron player of all time, he still starts his ball in the middle of the green and works it toward the pin, trying hard not to cross the line of the flag and short side himself. People like Justin Thomas love going all out and shooting directly at every pin, trying to birdie everything.

No way am I good enough to play as aggressive as JT. I love hitting fairways and greens and seeing if you make a 25 footer and, if you don’t, tap in par. No better way to play golf.

3 Likes
#115

I had a similar stretch, went to my favorite golf instructor and he quickly diagnosed the problem (after 1 swing), and 5 lessons later I was back on track, with a bunch of daily drills to help maintain the corrections and go to the next level.

1 Like
#116

[Golf Is a Series of Independent Decisions]

So is LIFE ! As mentioned in numerous articles from Fiction/non-fiction alike. Of course, experience /reflection from people that had memory of what it could have been.

Golf, mirrored Life ! True way to get the whole experience is play by the rules, to take the bad with the good as in life events. There is no game without the rules of the game.

1 Like