When the Wheels Fall Off

Have you ever been playing in a match or tournament with some real stakes on the line, see your name on the leaderboard, and then throw up all over yourself? I have, and I can’t think of many worse feelings in the world. You’re almost outside of your body, watching it make terrible swing after terrible swing. The train is completely off the tracks and there is zero hope of getting it back on. Hopeless. 

Well, if you haven’t managed to completely swing your way out of contention, here is what you have to do. It’s not easy. Well, it is, but it isn’t. Truly the hardest and easiest things to do…calm down, and get back to basics.

Calm down??? Now?!?!?! The anger in your body is at an 11. How can you calm down? Well, everyone is different. Only you know how to get calm. For me, I laugh about what an idiot I am. Can’t hit a stupid ball that I’ve hit a million times. This is crazy! Hilarious. What an idiot. Luckily, it can’t get worse. Might as well enjoy the trees. Take a breath. Look at that beautiful lake you just hit your ball into. Gorgeous. 

Once we’re down from the 11 to maybe an 8, we have to get back to basics. Trying to fix your swing plane mid-round probably isn’t going to happen. But you know what you can do? Keep your head down. Stick to your pre-shot routine. Check your alignment. Focus on your tempo. Breathe. These are all easy things to focus on that hopefully clear your brain of any other (likely bad) thoughts. 

There isn’t a magic cure that will quickly get you back to birdies, but stripping it down to the simple things can at least give you a fighters chance. Good luck out there.

-Matt Sanford - Golfhom.com