Learning from Your Past Performance
Have you ever had “one of those seasons” where you fell well short of your athletic goals?
Falling short of your seasonal goals is frustrating and angering. When you practiced an entire season and didn’t even come close to your expectations, you probably will feel the season was a waste.
This is the sentiment of a golfer who replied to our Mental Game of Golf Survey?
“My freshman college season was a disaster. I improved every year in high school. The summer before my freshman year in college, I worked hard and drove the ball farther than I have in the past. Even my short game, which was the weakest part of my game, improved. But I played so bad this past year. Do you have any suggestions for me to get back on track?”
I can understand your frustration. Many golfers have contacted us to help them with similar circumstances. The reality is that you need to process your season, not relive it.
Processing your season is a matter of objectively analyzing your season. Processing your game is an intellectual view of the entirety of your season.
Reliving your season is an emotional response to playing poorly. Immersing yourself in your emotions keeps you stuck in the past. When you allow your emotions to take over, improvement ceases.
The most effective strategy for closing the chapter of a bad season is to follow the 5-R Method. The 5-R Method is a strategy that allows you to process a season and move your game forward.
1. Review – What happened that affected your season? Look at the good, the bad, and the ugly. You can learn a lot about your game with an objective review of your season.
2. Retool – Can you alter your game a little to achieve better results? Think of the mental, physical, and technical components that impacted your game. Focus on those areas during practice or training sessions.
3. Reassure – What evidence supports your ability to perform at a high level? Reassuring yourself of your abilities will boost your confidence.
4. Refocus – Will reliving and over analyzing last season help your golf game in the present? After reviewing the past season, it’s time to focus on what is next.
5. Ready – What can you do today that will help you play at a high level in the future? Preparation profoundly increases self-confidence.
The 5-R strategy will help you start on the right foot and give you a fresh start to a new season.
By all accounts, Webb Simpson had a rough year in 2021. Simpson failed to record a win last season, and he missed out on the Tour Championship and Ryder Cup for the first time since 2016.
SIMPSON: “2021 was a frustrating year for me. Battling flu, COVID, and a neck injury. I feel like that crept into my golf game. It was a letdown year, I guess, this past year… [But] I feel like my game is in a good spot, and I fully believe my best golf is ahead of me.”
A fresh perspective is just what Simpson needs to achieve an optimal mindset for the upcoming season.
The key to processing a past golf season is from an objective lens. Don’t just criticize yourself for poor rounds. You also need to give yourself credit for your successes.
Related Golf Psychology Articles
- Are High Expectations Good or Bad for a Golfer?
- How to Optimize Pressure for Peak Golf Performance
- Managing Anxiety for Winning Golf
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