The title begs a simple question. It is the time of the season where it is most beneficial to really define your goals for the rest of the year. Is it time to maintain and test your current skill set or is it time to continue improvement. For most of us, we never are honest with ourselves and actually ask ourselves this question. So, my aim is to ask you some questions as part of an awareness quiz for what side of the line you stand on.
Are you ready to maintain and commit to playing “your game” for the rest of the year. Well, do you have anything to get ready for? Are you playing in any tournaments? Do you have a competition or a trip that you are preparing for? If so, maybe it isn’t the best idea to embark on a massive swing change. Part of this preparation phase is to simply acknowledge where you stand and analyze your current shot dispersion. One of the best ways to become aware of your current skill set is to book a session on Trackman or with one of the golf professional staff. There are multiple ways you can test yourself to find your strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. Basically, we’ll be able to not only tell you things like average carry distance, but also average dispersion (left/right) and any outliers that can pop up (the big miss). You can use this data to know what to spend the bulk of your practice on as well as play “your game” more effectively. For example, I found out that my tendencies are to miss my short irons left and my long irons a little right. So, when I’m playing a short shot and the pin is on the left corner of the green, I know that it is prudent to not aim at the flag.
We are always improving – that is a desire of the human condition. However, it is imperative that you know when you should be seeking massive change and when you should be refining your skills through intentional practice sessions. If you are content with your playing ability and can shoot scores that make you happy if things fall in to place during the round, I would say there is little need to change anything too drastic. If you are really unhappy about your game and your inconsistencies, I would venture into the world of golf instruction to gain new perspectives and practicing habits that will allow for personal growth on and off the course!