While “April is the cruelest month” for some, it’s the best month for many golfers. It starts the season. It also ushers in The Masters—one of golf’s four major tournaments.
The Masters’ history features some of the greatest moments in golf—like Jack Nicklaus’ final round victory in 1986? Or, Tiger’s remarkable 12-shot win in 1997? How about Bubba Watson’s severe near impossible shot in 2012 to beat Louis Oosthuizen?
Loss Still Gnaws At Him
The Masters’ history also features classic failures. One of these moments taught one of them game’s greatest—Arnold Palmer—a bitter golf lesson. In fact, the loss still gnaws at him.
With Gary Player in the clubhouse and trailing by one in 1961, Palmer hit his approach shot on the tournament’s final hole. Unaware his ball had hopped into a greenside bunker, Palmer started for the hole.
As he was walking to the green, he spotted an old friend in the crowd. The friend said “Congratulations.” Palmer thanked him and shook hands. That momentary lapse in focus, Palmer believes, cost him. He wasn’t able to re-focus after that and ended up double-bogeying the hole, losing to Player by a stroke.
Learn To Focus In and Out
If you’re serious about breaking 80, you must learn to focus and re-focus—a golf tip we like to give students of in our golf instruction sessions whenever appropriate. Knowing when to focus is critical to playing well. Losing focus can cost you strokes—especially when it comes to putting. Just ask Palmer.
Great putters focus on execution and starting the ball on line—not on making the putt. It’s not a priority. Execution is. Focusing on execution blots out distractions and negative thoughts. If you execute well, your putts will fall. So focus on selecting and hitting the line.
Your ability to focus on execution is critical to sinking more putts. And since putting is a huge factor in golf, it’s also critical to your scores and your golf handicaps—as we tell students in golf lessons.
Focusing In Golf Is Different
Focusing in golf is different than focusing in other sports. In golf you focus in and focus out. You may focus intently for 20 to 30 seconds when hitting a shot. Then have several minutes before your next shot.
Learning to focus and refocus doesn’t come naturally. But you can learn this skill by practicing it. Below are three exercises that teach you to focus in and focus out:
Exercise #1: Focus on breathing:
Sit or lie down. Now focus all your energy on your breathing. Smooth it out. Count to six as you inhale and six as you exhale. Feel the air going in and out of your lungs. See how long you can focus on your breathing before becoming distracted. Practice this exercise for 10 minutes.
Exercise #2: Mental Rehearsal
Start by recalling a familiar course. Now play it in your mind’s eye. Go shot by shot. Recall as much detail as you can. Stop when you begin to lose focus or get distracted. This exercise helps you control thoughts and images, and focus on playing well. If you can only do two holes at first, try doing three the next time,
Exercise #3: Refocusing Attention
Make a column on a piece of blank paper. Now list the times when you lose focus. In another column write down what happens to your focus during those times. The list gives you a better idea of your limitations.
Now practice re-focusing your attention for each of the situations listed. Do mental exercises to help you overcome them. Then when these times occur on the course, you’ll know how to deal with them.
Losing focus cost Arnold Palmer a Masters title. Don’t let it stop you from being the best golfer you can be. Use the three exercises above to help you learn to focus in and focus out during a round. Improving your focus is a key to breaking 80 and lowering your golf handicap.
