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Expectations are IMO the enemy of good golf and golfing pleasure. Expectations tends to be the super-ego talking to you with a judgemental attitude. If you play poorly for a few holes you will talk yourself out of any possibilities you might have of recovering. If you play to well you will start fearing to blow up a good round now that your super-ego expects you to post a good score.
Trying is to try to make a 60 footer die in the hole without any fear. Expecting is to expect a 2-putt from 60 feet. The trying mentality will 1) increase the number of one-putts, 2) more often than not result in a shorter second putt and 3) make it easier to accept a poor result because you weren't expecting a particular result. The expecting mentality will likely put a lot of pressure on the second put whenever the first one failes - because you expect to 2-putt from that distance.
Trying is to aim for a small spot on the green from 175 yards. Expecting is: "I ought to be able to get this somewhere on the green"
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Good points but you have to realize that it is different for each person. I think Bobby Jones said he just "whacks it out there somewhere and hopes it gets close to the flag." Doesn't sound like he's trying too hard to me. Then look at Jack- he looks like he's trying to take a crap when he's golfing. Everyone has a different style.
I think you can try too hard and that's what I tend to do, rather than just going along and playing the game and having fun. It's easy to put pressure on yourself when you try too hard and have high standards for yourself.
In my opinion, you ideally want to keep any thinking on the golf course to a minimum. What I have to realize personally, is that perfection is not something that happens everyday, or you can expect to happen everyday. You only get into 'the zone' every once in a while when EVERYTHING is going your way. I've been trying to keep it athletic lately...but that's what's so hard about this game...you're out there not really doing much and at a damn slow pace.
I think saying "be confident" is pretty much useless. You have to truly believe that you are the best and you are capable. You have to ACTUALLY believe it. Not just say it to yourself. And that's not an easy thing to do. Try telling a non-confident person to be confident. Nuh-uh.