A Timeless Mental Game Strategy

by TD

When you step onto Kapalua’s fairways, you’ll notice that skilled players have a consistent pre-shot routine. It’s a fundamental part of playing better golf that hasn’t changed over the decades. Yet many of us still struggle to implement one consistently. It’s like those putting practice sessions we know we should do but somehow never get around to. But today, let’s talk about something equally important but often overlooked – the post-shot routine.
You might wonder why what happens after the ball leaves your clubface matters. Here’s the thing – the moments right after your shot are critical for your mental game. Watch any player on the course after they hit, and you’ll see them shift into evaluation mode: How was the contact? Did it start online? Right distance? Right club choice? How did it bounce? Where did it finish?
These days, with the influence of social media and highlight reels, we often see dramatic celebrations of great shots. But most of us still tend to downplay our good shots while letting the bad ones get under our skin. When things go well, we might give a quiet nod or small fist bump. After all, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? But when things go sideways – watch out! The frustrated reactions haven’t changed much over the years, from colorful language to the occasional club toss.
Here’s why this approach doesn’t serve us well: Our brains are constantly creating patterns and memories, especially when strong emotions are involved. Think of it like your phone’s camera roll – the moments you tag with strong reactions are the ones that pop up first in your memory.
When you stripe a drive down the middle of Kapalua’s fairway but barely acknowledge it, you’re missing a chance to build positive memory patterns. But blade a chip over the green, react strongly, and guess what memory surfaces next time you face a similar shot? That emotional reaction has basically pinned that negative experience to the top of your mental feed.
Modern sports psychology confirms what great players have known for years – celebrating good shots while quickly letting go of the poor ones isn’t just good sportsmanship, it’s smart strategy. It’s about training your brain to access positive memories under pressure.
This brings me to a classic story about Jack Nicklaus that’s as relevant today as it was when it happened. After a particularly good round at the Masters, a reporter asked Jack about a missed shot from earlier in the day. Jack responded, “Do you think it’s going to rain tomorrow?” When the reporter repeated his question, Jack again asked about tomorrow’s weather. The reporter finally understood – Jack had already deleted that negative memory from his mental hard drive.
So next time you’re playing at Kapalua, try this: When you hit a good shot, really let yourself enjoy it. Feel that satisfaction. And when you hit a poor one? Just turn to your playing partners and ask, “Think it’s going to rain tomorrow?”
This mental game approach has become even more important in today’s world where we’re often our own harshest critics. Whether you’re playing our Plantation Course or Bay Course, remember: celebrate the good, let go of the bad, and keep building those positive memories.
Your mind – and your scorecard – will thank you for it.