Choosing Targets with Help From Seneca and Rotella
Less heroics, less strokes.
"Above all, it is necessary for a person to have a true self-estimate, for we commonly think we can do more than we really can." ~Seneca
So often on the golf course, our decisions are made subconsciously and stem from what we think we are supposed to do in order to play the game the right way.
As an example, the subconscious brain says, “There’s the fairway, I should aim at the center of the fairway because if I want to be a good player, I need to be in the center of the fairway.” Forget about the fact that there might be a vast area of medium rough on the left of the fairway and a penalty area tightly hugging the right side of the fairway, you still aim down the middle because that’s how you think the game should be played.
If we are more intentional in our thinking and more realistic about our capabilities, we would realize that the proper line off the tee might be the rough/fairway line on the left, which would greatly reduce or ellipsis the chances of the tee ball finding the penalty area.
The irony here is that the better the player, the more likely they are to aim away from trouble, and the mid-to-high-handicapper with the wider dispersion off the tee is more likely to take a line that brings trouble into play.
It’s not just tee shots – as a matter of fact, the lack of realistic tactics is even more noticeable with approach shots to greens. The subconscious brain says, “There’s the flag, I’m aiming at the flag.” Forget about the fact that the flag might be tucked close to the edge of the green and that there might even be a sand trap or water hazard tight to that edge, never once considering the fact that it’s pretty difficult to get even a 130 yard approach shot to within 30 feet every, single time.
"Plan conservatively but execute aggressively." ~ Bob Rotella, sports psychologist
Aim at the rough off the tee. Play to the center of the green, no matter how boring it might seem. Eschew the big-swing flop with the lob wedge from the deep rough, just get the ball on the green. While these might not be the “hero shots” that get discussed after the round, there’s a certain reward in knowing you’re playing smarter, not harder.
While it might not come naturally, over time, your scores will come down.
