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TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT B Y L A I R D S M A L L How To Get Better at Your Game ccording to a recent National Golf Foundation participa- tion study, there are 28.6 million golfers in the United States. Of these nearly 30 million golfers, only half were able to shoot 100 on a consistent basis, and one in four could break 90 consistently. What does this tell us about the state of the game today? It says that there is a lot of room for improvement, from everyone. The most frequently asked question I hear from golfers is, "How do I get better?" Very rarely, if ever, do I come across a golfer who is satisfied with his or her game at — any point in time — and doesn't think he or she can get better. Even the best players in the world are always striving to improve. How do you get better? You start by making an assessment of your game and everything that impacts it. I like to refer my students to the Circle of Performance model used by my friend Dr. Glen Albaugh, a noted sports psy- chologist who works with many profes- sional golfers. What the Circle of Performance does is take a holistic approach to your game. You're not going to shoot lower scores by working on swing technique alone; you have to improve the overall quality of your life and game, from better nutrition and health to better course management skills, self-talk (i.e., the inner game), equipment and family relationships. At the Center, or hub, of this Circle of Performance is the love you have for the game — an unspoken connection you have with the sport and the courses you play. Before I get into any specific drill or practice plans, remember that there is no miracle diet pill in golf. If you're having a hard time breaking 90, you're not going to become an 80-shooter overnight, no matter how hard you practice. You get better incrementally, by winning the little battles on the course that might seem small in the big picture but eventually add up and make the difference in the long run. An acquaintance of mine is Pete Carroll, the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. When Pete was hired by University of Southern California in December 2000, he took over a declining program that was coming off three disappointing and mediocre seasons. The Trojans turnover ratio was one of the worst in the countr y, so Pete made it a point to address the team's ball security woes from the outset. His mantra during his first season was, "ever ything is about the ball." The goals was to not turn the ball over, and after a slow 2-5 star t, his team took 67 of their next 74 games, winning 34 consecutive games at one point and two national championships. It all started with one win for Carroll and USC, which was to win the turnover battle every game. Most golfers think of winning in terms of the number they shoot on the scorecard, which only impedes their progress. They may play a good round of golf and accomplish several firsts, but if they don't break 80 or shoot their target score, they consider their round a fail- ure. These failures add up over time, not only in making the game less enjoyable, but creating a negative, stressful envi- ronment that is not conducive to learn- ing and getting better. Every golfer must define what a win means. It might be as simple as getting past your nerves and hitting the first tee shot at Pebble Beach in play, getting out of a bunker in one shot, or following up one good shot with another for several holes. Maybe it's hit- ting a draw around the corner on a dogleg-left par 4. These are all little wins, but by accumulating these victories over time, you'll stay motivated and will want to continue to get better and practice. Most all golfers blame a poor shot on poor golf swing mechanics — and to some extent that is true. Yet most of the mishit shots can come from poor mental focus! Here are some tips for how to be a better player : 1. Take inventory of your game: Take a physical analysis of your game to determine where you are wasting most of your shots. Once these weak spots have been identified, you can work to fix them with the help of your PGA or LPGA teaching professional — and improve your game. Strike five golf balls in a row off a low tee one after the other and see if you can feel tension-free in your arms, hands and shoulders, or if any tension crept into the swing. A 92 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 9