We’re surrounded by stats in everyday life - how many steps we took, how many calories we burned, and even how much screen time we had in a week. Sports, too, have become data-driven, tracking everything from pass completions to distance covered. Golf is no different and that wealth of information is available to the average amateur player through new, more accessible tools and technology.
From fairways hit to exact yardages, we can measure almost everything in golf if we want to.
Technical coaches have tools to analyse every shot - club speed, spin rates, swing path - you name it. But here’s the thing: how do you manage stats on your mental game?
The purpose of this post? To show you how you can gather statistics on your mental game and if you've never done this, the results could be pretty eye-opening!
When I meet a new player who asks for my help, my first question is often, "Where is your greatest opportunity?" The more objective data they can provide, the faster we can pinpoint the real issues. For example, someone might say they have poor concentration. If this is the case then when does this tend to happen in their round, what do they think the trigger might be, how often does it occur? There are so many variables to look at with just this one aspect such as; poor hydration, lack of a suitable pre-shot routine, carrying frustration from the last shot. Without some data, it’s just a guess.
Start simple if you’re not already tracking stats on your mental game:
How many mental errors did you have? (these could be decisions, focus, commitment to a shot, tempo, tension, emotional regulation, missed pre-shot routines - and will often result in things like 3-putts, penalties or poor shots)
Why did that mental error occur?
Everyone hits poor shots - the key is to identify any trends. If you're having a couple of blow-up holes in a round then I would suggest there's definitely some opportunity in your mental game.
There are tons of great stat-tracking apps out there for your technical game too. The more accurate the data you share with your coach on either your mental game or your technical game, the quicker you can work with them to create a game plan that helps you unlock your full potential - physically and mentally.
So, start measuring and managing your game, and watch how tracking the right stats, paired with a strong mental approach to improvement, leads to better scores and more confidence on the course!
If you're a golfer looking for ways to improve over the autumn / winter period, developing your mental game could be the best thing you do! Pop an email over to explore how it all works or book a free consultation call here.
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