The "Secret"

I was watching the PGA Tour event from Riviera today and heard Faldo make a seemingly in-consequential comment that probably said EVERYTHING about success in golf.

CBS was showing highlights from 1997 when Faldo won the event. Faldo commented, "those were the days where all I could see was that little flagstick." In my opinion, both from personal experience as well as others, that this is the most simple yet most important aspect of playing great golf.

Amidst all the improvements in swing techniques and technology (both to equipment and teaching), NOTHING CAN REPLACE CONFIDENCE in an individual's game. We have all had those days where it was so easy. We saw the target and the ball went there. Conversely we have also experienced those days where we saw everything EXCEPT the target - the woods, the water, the bad lie, you name it. Ragardless of how well fit your clubs are, how well you practice, or any other factors, if you cannot confidently play the game you will rarely achieve your expectations. No doubt certain factors like these can contribute to increased confidence - absolutely they can. However confidence is the NUMBER ONE basis for success.

Here is a perfect example of what Faldo meant. I would imagine that pretty much all of you reading this can walk down a four-foot wide hallway without thinking twice about doing it. But put that same four-foot wide walkway on top of a tall building with no guardrails and I promise you will walk differently. All of that visible "trouble" would make walking - something we have done successfully for years - become a very difficult task.

So the magic question then is, "How do we gain confidence?" There is no one answer to this question, but there are a number of ways to do this. Obviously good practice habits can. So can properly fit equipment and good swing techniques. But one VERY SIMPLE answer is to play more. Get out on the course with others and play golf. Confidence is often a personal trait that carries over to golf, but as in anything else in life, the more we do something the better we can do it.

Another trick is to practice things you do well. If you like to chip, chip more. Practice a lot of "makeable" putts to get used to (a.k.a. "confident in") seeing the ball go in the hole. If you love your 3-wood, hit it a lot off the tee. Be confident - do things to make you feel confident. Keep exploring other ways that make you feel confident, and you will find this translate to your game.