| Every now and then you may hit a shot that to all | | | | identify the poor elements and work to improve |
| intents and purposes is perfect. I'm not necessarily | | | | them then you could notice vast improvements in |
| talking about a hole in one though. What I am talking | | | | your overall game. In the above example, the |
| about is hitting a shot and finding that the outcome is | | | | mostcommon scenario is poor performance over the |
| exactly what you intended. You could hit a shot | | | | back nine. The common causes for this are tiredness |
| which is pretty bad from the tee but it may still end | | | | and dehydration. In fact, if you don't keep yourself |
| up in the hole. This is called luck. The problem is that | | | | well hydrated, then this can lead to tiredness, so |
| a lucky shot probably comes along with the same | | | | taking on an appropriate amount of fluids during your |
| regularity as a perfectly executed shot. That is, not | | | | game is essential. |
| very often. | | | | If you find yourself among the group of players that |
| However, in order to get good at this game we call | | | | perform better on the back nine than on the front |
| Golf there is one thing which you need to attain and | | | | nine it could be that you need to look at your mental |
| that is a level of consistency in the quality of your | | | | preparation for the game. If you are tense before a |
| shots. If you are able to consistently hit relatively | | | | game or nervous this could affect the way you grip |
| good shots throughout 18 holes then you will end up | | | | the club and it will affect your swing. Inevitably as |
| with a pretty good score at the end of the game. | | | | you relax and get into the game then you will start |
| Consistently good shots will also enable you to | | | | to improve towards the latter half of the round. If |
| overcome the effects of any particularly bad shots | | | | you are having trouble relaxing before you tee off |
| that you may play during a round. | | | | then there are lots of relaxation techniques you can |
| Consistency works both ways though. You are | | | | try. |
| aiming to be consistently good. However, there is the | | | | Back to the point of having a consistently good |
| possibility that you will get into a habit of performing | | | | game though I am afraid that there is really only one |
| certain aspects of your game consistently poorly too. | | | | solution to the problem, and that is practice. |
| For example one of the curious things that can | | | | However, the way you practice is also key. If you |
| happen to golfers is that they will perform well during | | | | consistently practice bad shots then they will form |
| certain parts of their game and poorly during others. | | | | part of your normal play. You should aim to iron out |
| You for example might shoot consistently well during | | | | the bad elements of your game during your practice |
| the first nine holes and then consistently less well | | | | rounds. The best way to do that is get an |
| during the second half of the round. Or, you may feel | | | | independent view of your technique. This doesn't |
| your way around the first nine holes performing | | | | mean asking other players or friends and relatives, |
| below your capabilities but then get more confident | | | | this means getting advice from a professional. All |
| on the closing nine. The thing is you will probably find | | | | players, and especially those looking to significantly |
| you are doing this every time you play. | | | | improve their game should seek professional tuition. |
| A lot of people though don't realise that there is a | | | | That way you will get an unbiased view of how you |
| reason for the way they play every part of their | | | | play your game and you will get valuable advice on |
| game. There are reasons you do things well and | | | | how to improve it. |
| there are reasons you do things poorly. If you | | | | |