How a legendary basketball coach can help your golf
Practice
Going to the practice area today with a specific plan of how to improve your distance control with your wedges may lead to numerous more pars and birdies when the summer arrives.
Checking your posture in a mirror on a regular basis. Making sure you actually do those stretching exercises you have been given.
Getting into the habit of giving yourself that 10 minutes to warm up before you play instead of flying to the first tee like a madman and then wondering why you start with six bad holes.
Little, seemingly insignificant actions, over a period of time, add up. So what small steps could you begin to take today that would make a difference?
The other quote was: “All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.”
I couldn’t agree more. I often say to players that part of becoming the best player you can be is to embrace the chaos.
The game of golf – and life – is inherently unpredictable. We had the ball on a string yesterday and yet today it feels like we couldn’t hit the proverbial cow’s behind. This is the game of golf.
You have it, you lose it and you find it again. When we accept this we tend to be able to keep playing and finding a way of getting the ball around the course in a decent number.
The very best in the world hit the ball sideways at times but they find a way of getting it round – scrambling when the swing feels awful.
Don’t be a perfectionist
The real danger comes from an overly perfectionist mindset that will not allow anything less than perfect shots.
The final pearl was: “Success comes from knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”
Base your appraisal of yourself on the effort you have put in. Be honest with yourself on this. We can’t always win, we can’t always get the results we want but we can make a commitment to be the best we can possibly be.
For me, this is the value of good coaching. A good coach will help, guide and support you but also motivate you to becoming the best version of yourself.
Find that person and spend time with them. It will be a most valuable investment.
