Practice?

When I was a kid, I used to spend hours and hours shooting a basketball.  I’d shoot and shoot until my imaginary game as a member of Michael’s Bulls ended with me hitting the winner over Magic or Worthy.  And if I missed the shot, there’d be an imaginary late whistle, or a scorebook correction to send it to overtime.  I can’t remember a loss, I hate losing and c’mon, who loses the imaginary game?   Those misses that I had would eat at me.  I knew in my head I shouldn’t have won the game, so it would actually lead me to shoot more and more, sometimes so late into the night that mom or dad would have to tell me to come in because they figured I was keeping the neighbors up.  What I’m getting at, is that I practiced and practiced to become very good at a skill that allowed a 6’3” un-athletic white boy to play four years of college ball.  A very simple equation, hours of practice = mastered skill. 

I fully realize that in no way could I have ever stepped onto a basketball court and competed at a high level without that practice.   So what is it about the game of golf that leads me to believe that I can just show up to a course and play at a sufficient level?  I am that guy that steps on the course and expects greatness.  I seriously step on every tee box and envision a great drive, a great approach, and a great putt.  Then, after aligning my shot and chunking my tee shot 50 feet in front of me, I’ve got the nerve to toss my driver 30 yards down the fairway in disgust.  Then, while being very mentally tough in almost every other activity I do, I let the 50 foot tee shot bother me for the next 5-10 shots and card a 4 over, 8 on a 319 yard, dead straight, par 4, what a great game.  Seriously though, it’s great.  What a challenge.  So, why can I not get myself to go practice?

I’ll tell you why.  The other day I suffered through a hole only to find myself standing over a 25 foot triple bogey putt.  I knelt down and lined up the putt just like the guys on TV.  I tricked myself into believing I knew what I was doing as I gave three smooth practice strokes.  I then took a deep breath, and one last look at the hole.  Backswing, contact, follow through, bending, breaking………..  IT’S IN THE HOLE!!!

No imaginary whistle or correction needed, who needs practice?

Until next time,