Turn up the Heat!

December 3, 2006 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

Many players come to me with the desire to improve their games.  Some of these players seem very frustrated with the game, saying things like, “I practice so much, but I can’t seem to shoot any better than the mid-80’s.”  Their so called “handicap” is an identity to them.  “I’m a 13 handicap”, is what they think and feel about their game.  This handicap becomes, what I like to call, their Mental Thermometer.

The Mental Thermometer works as a gauge for players, on the course, to keep them comfortable.  It is an internal gauge, having nothing to do with the temperature on the outside.  It works on an emotional basis, being turned on and off by the players thoughts and emotions as they play their round of golf.  Most players unknowingly set this gauge at a particular setting, called a handicap, just as they do their thermostats at home.

Let me explain how this works on the golf course.  A player believes himself to a 10 handicap, shooting somewhere around an 82 every time they play.  One day, they play the front nine holes and shoot a 37, one over par.  This player thinks to himself, “Wow, I’m playing great today, I don’t usually play this well.”  The player feels too hot and out of their comfort zone, so the Mental Thermometer will now be turned on to cool them down.  The player will begin to make mistakes on the back nine, eventually shooting a 44 or 45, to bring them right back to where they believe they should be for the day.

The process works the same in reverse.  The same player has a terrible front nine and says to himself, “I’m better than this, I never shoot a 50 for nine holes!”  The Mental Thermometer kicks in again, only this time it is to heat things up.  The player now starts to hit fantastic shots and shoots an amazing 3-under par, 33, on the back nine holes.  Again, they have proven them self correct in their handicap and in their comfort zone.

How to control your Mental Thermometer:

Avoid the handicap “pigeon hole.”  Your current handicap is not who you are.  It can become an evil, self-fulfilling prophecy that will keep you from playing your best golf.  Play each round of golf telling yourself, “I have unlimited potential in my game…I am capable of shooting low scores every time I play.” 

Enjoy the feeling of playing golf with the heat turned up.  The best players in the world thrive on the feeling of having their Mental Thermometer a few degrees hotter than what feels comfortable.  They yearn for the excitement and adrenalin that comes from turning up the heat in their games.  You, too, should learn to love the heat.  Have that “burning desire” to play your best golf.  The more you play with the heat turned up, the more comfortable you will become with that feeling.  In turn, the lower your scores will become.

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

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