Dec
04
2007

Widening Shot Target Expectations

Posted by Double Eagle in Mental Game

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In the December 2007 issue of Golf Magazine, there was an interesting piece of instruction by Charlie King that I’m not sure I agree with.

In the “Your Game” section (p. 68) in an article titled “How to Putt for Birdie Every Time“, King brings up an interesting concept in target selection in golf.

He says that instead of shooting for the pin (in a situation that calls for it - fairway lie, center-cut hole), that you should instead give yourself a much bigger target than just the flag stick. He says that with such a precise target, you might tend to put too much pressure on yourself and tend to not swing freely.

I agree with the part about not swinging freely if you put too much pressure on yourself, but I don’t believe the cause is a target that is too specific.

Everything I recall reading and learning about the mental game says that the more specific the target, the better.

The problem instead comes when we become results oriented. When we don’t have absolute commitment to a shot because of fear of the outcome, we’re doomed to failure.

King goes on to suggest a drill where you hit balls to a target on the driving range, five at a time. If you don’t get three of them in your target area, then you’d widen it and hit five more balls until three out of five land within your area. Then, you’d take this “zone” out to the course and use it when faced with a similar shot.

I’m really having trouble seeing how this will help a player make more birdies.

Typically, when we widen our margins for error, we’ll perform to that level. It’s like giving our minds permission to get lazy.

If you stand on the tee and your target is simply the fairway, then you’re going to have trouble seeing the shot in your mind, committing to it, and having trust that you will execute it.

Mentally, golf is a very difficult game. I’ve come to appreciate the ideas of the mental game gurus like Bob Rotella. One of the principles in his book Golf is Not a Game of Perfect is that, “before taking any shot, a golfer must pick out the smallest possible target” (p. 61).

After having applied his principles to my own game, I’ve seen definite improvement.

When I came to understand that trust in my swing and commitment to the shot were very important, I started to improve, even when my technical competence was failing me.

I’ve given this topic a lot of thought. My intent was to write about it soon after I read it, but I wanted to think about it a little more. After letting the idea stew for a while, I just can’t see the benefit.

The idea simply gives players the permission to not focus on specific targets and to be results oriented, instead of simply being shot committed and realizing that we’re not always going to hit the mark.

I just don’t believe that a player that’s just aiming for somewhere on the green will make more birdies.

What do you think about this concept?

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There are currently 5 responses to “Widening Shot Target Expectations”

  1. 1

    YellowYards said:

    I’ve not read the magazine article, but based on what you are saying, I could see sense in the idea of widening your target, getting 5 out of 5 and then narrowing your target slightly. Then when you get 5 out of 5 narrow it again and so on. This has the benefit of achieving goals and building on confidence.

    I agree that just widening the target won’t do you any favours as you are changing the target to meet your abilities not changing your abilities to meet your target.

    Posted on December 5th, 2007 at 9:10 am

  2. 2

    Double Eagle said:

    I agree, YellowYards. That would make much more sense to me as a confidence building drill that uses positive reinforcement and increasing challenge to motivate and refine.

    I just reread the article to make sure I didn’t misunderstand anything and it’s definitely a widening with no eventual narrowing.

    At the very least, as a player improves, he would need to go to the range and recalibrate his target zone, but there’s no mention of anything like that.

    The bottom line is that it doesn’t address the reason players tense up when they agonize over a shot, it just teaches them to stay loose by lowering expectations instead.

    Posted on December 5th, 2007 at 9:34 am

  3. 3

    TP Golf Online said:

    I can see this technique who put too much stress on themselves by focusing too much on aiming at a precise molecule.

    However, most golfers do not suffer from over focusing. Most don’t have a target in the distance like a tree, a cloud, a spot on the horizon. They just aim somewhere out there and if that is their target guess what they will hit it everytime.

    I like Yellow Yards idea of gradullay narrowing your focus after gaining confidence. Espeically for golfers who don’t aim a specific target

    Posted on December 5th, 2007 at 11:44 am

  4. 4

    The Happy Rock said:

    I agree with you DE. In accomplishing any goal, the more specific the target the better chance for yourself.

    The target is not the problem, the stress is. It would seem that any drills designed to fix the problem should be aimed at being able to deal with stress in a way that allows you to get back to aiming at specific targets. Yellow Yards drill could be useful to that effect.

    Posted on December 6th, 2007 at 11:33 am

  5. 5

    Mike Pedersen Golf said:

    I agree TP Online. Many amateurs don’t even aim correctly, let alone get a more refined one.

    Posted on December 6th, 2007 at 7:40 pm

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