Episode #120: STOP Thinking About Your Score - Here's Why

The easiest way to score better every round is to STOP thinking about your score.

As Amy Cuddy said in Golf Digest,

“When you focus on winning or score, your body goes into a fight-or-flight mode. You're feeling threatened, and when you feel threatened, your nervous system is no longer about performance. It's now about getting you out of that situation. That completely undermines your ability to play well.

When you're in this threatened state and feeling powerless, your heart rate can go through the roof, which is the last thing you want. Your cognition takes a nosedive. You lose your ability to focus on a goal. You lose creativity, your view of optimism, your self-confidence, and you're less likely to take risks.” 

Keep reading to learn why thinking about score is killing your game.

Stop Thinking About Score

Golf can be an incredibly challenging game, requiring focus, precision, and mental fortitude. It's a sport that demands your full attention and puts your skills to the test.

Let's face it, we all want to play good and score well. But sometimes we make it harder on ourselves by obsessing over the scorecard.

One of the most common mistakes that golfers make is thinking too much about their score during a round. While keeping track of your score is important, focusing too much on it can be detrimental to your game.

Here's why you shouldn't think about your score during a round of golf to play better.

Adds Unnecessary Pressure 

First, focusing on your score can add unnecessary pressure and stress to your game.

When you start to worry about your score, you begin to put expectations on yourself that can be difficult to meet. This can cause you to become tense, anxious, and stressed, which can negatively impact your game as Amy Cuddy mentioned in the Golf Digest quote from above.

Plus, when has thinking of your score ever actually helped your game? Chances are, it hasn't. 

Instead of focusing on your score, try to focus on playing the best golf you can. By shifting your focus to the present moment and playing each shot to the best of your ability, you can alleviate pressure and improve your chances of success. 

Focus on things you can control like:

• Body language
• Positive self-talk
• Talking out shots and going through your pre-shot routine

While there is a lot out of our control (weather, course conditions, playing partners, etc.) you control your emotions! 

Play Too Aggressively

Second, thinking too much about your score can cause you to lose sight of the bigger picture. Golf is a game of strategy and patience, and a round is not won or lost on a single hole or shot.

Focusing too much on your score can cause you to make rash decisions, take unnecessary risks, and lose sight of the long-term strategy.

For example, think about what happens if you make a double bogey and then try to play "aggressive" on the next hole to get it back. This often compounds the error, pick a more aggressive line, and maybe have back to back bad holes. 

Don't forget a round of golf is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep your focus on the process, stay patient, and let the score take care of itself by staying present.

One shot at a time.

Stop Having Fun 

Third, thinking about your score can cause you to become overly competitive and lose sight of the enjoyment of the game. Don't forget golf is just that - a game! It's not life or death for 99.99% of players!

Golf is meant to be a fun and enjoyable sport, and getting too caught up in your score can take away from that experience. By letting go of your score and focusing on the process, you can fully enjoy the game and appreciate the beautiful surroundings of the golf course.

Miss Out on Learning Opportunities

Fourth, focusing too much on your score can cause you to become too results-oriented and lose sight of the learning opportunities that golf provides. Every round of golf is a chance to learn and improve your skills if you're willing to learn! 

Some of my most growth (in golf and in life) as came from some of the worst rounds. It's a lot easier to learn from your failures, not your success if you're open to it. 

By focusing on your score, you miss out on the chance to learn from your mistakes, identify areas for improvement, and grow as a golfer. Instead, embrace each shot as an opportunity to learn and improve, and focus on the process of making the shot.

Your Mind Wanders 

Finally, thinking about your score can cause you to become fixated on the outcome and lose sight of the present moment. Golf is a game that demands your full attention, and being present in the moment is crucial to playing your best golf.

When you focus too much on your score, you become distracted and lose sight of the present moment. By letting go of your score and focusing on the shot at hand, you can improve your focus, increase your awareness, and likely play better golf.

Closing Thoughts 

The easiest way to start shooting lower scores is to stop thinking about your score. PERIOD.

Thinking too much about your score during a round of golf can be detrimental to your game. By letting go of your score and focusing on the present moment, you can reduce stress and pressure, stay patient, enjoy the game, learn from your mistakes, and play better golf.

Remember, golf is a game of strategy, patience, and mental fortitude, and by keeping your focus on the process and letting go of your score, you can unlock your true potential on the golf course.