A "Good Shot" Begins with a Quiet Stance After a Deep Exhale

When standing on the dew-covered grass, only my heart is in a hurry.

The soles of my shoes catch the moist sensation of the grass holding the morning dew.

The sky is blue.
The wind is not strong.
Looking only at the scenery, it is a morning that feels like it will be a pleasant round.

Yet, there are days when only my chest feels strangely restless.

My footing feels unsteady.
Even my practice swings become a little too fast.
My hands gripping the club also tighten without me realizing it.

"I have to hit this properly."

The more I think that, the more the rhythm inside my body falls apart.

And on such days, the first shot strangely ends up being just as frantic as the result.
That hasn't changed at all, even now after more than 30 years of playing golf.

That straightforward feeling where expectation and anxiety mingle

But that is not a weakness, is it?

Feeling anxious before hitting, or dwelling on a mistake after making one, is only because you care that much about golf.

If it were something that didn't matter, people wouldn't feel this frustrated.

"It might go to the right again."
"I don't want to fall apart here."

The fact that such thoughts cross your mind is proof that you truly have the desire to get better.

So first of all, it is okay not to blame yourself for being restless.
Having days where you are impatient, or days where you are lost,
I think is very natural in golf.

The beginning of a collapse that I have seen many times on the course

I have been playing golf for over 30 years, and I have also stood on the front lines of teaching for 15 years.
I have watched thousands of golfers, and there is one thing they have in common on days when things aren't going well.

It is that their hearts are already in a hurry before the swing itself.

This often happens in lessons, too.
They don't like the previous shot, so they want to hit the next one immediately.
Even though their breathing hasn't settled yet, their bodies enter the stance first.

Then, their stance becomes shallow, their center of gravity floats, and they gradually drift away from their usual form.

I also value this during round lessons with people playing their first course.

Decide where to aim.
Create an image with a practice swing.
Then, get into your stance.
All that's left is to swing.

Just by bringing the flow together into one, the way you fall apart becomes much gentler.

Of course, you won't necessarily get good results right away on your first course.
But just by keeping your thoughts from scattering, you won't fall apart more than necessary.

I have seen that scene many times.

And this is the same for me as well.
The more important the round, the stronger the desire to "do well" becomes, and before I know it, my feet feel unsteady.

Looking back later, the cause of a missed shot was the rush leading up to the stance, rather than the technique.
That still happens to me even now.

Don't seek perfection; just setting yourself up is enough.

Changing your swing from the ground up is a very difficult thing.
But changing the "few seconds before hitting" is something anyone can do.
You don't have to try to change everything.

What's important is not to perfect your technique, but to return your unsettled mind to "its usual place."
Golf has a way of slipping away the more you try to control yourself.

I often tell this to people during round lessons when they are playing their first course.

Decide where to aim.
Create an image with a practice swing.
Then, get into your stance.
All that's left is to swing the club.

Just by bringing the flow together into one, the way you fall apart changes significantly.

Of course, it's not guaranteed that someone playing their first course will get good results from the start.
But just by keeping your thoughts from scattering, you won't fall apart more than necessary.
I have seen that scene many times.

Today's words

"A good job is determined by your stance."

I feel this is a very important saying for golf.
Both your mental stance and your physical stance for hitting are truly important in golf.

A nice shot isn't born only in the moment of impact.
It depends on what kind of feeling you had when you stood there before that.
What kind of breathing you had when you held the club.
How much you were able to keep yourself from rushing.

That is where the foundation of a single shot lies.

Even with professional players, when I watch their movements before getting into their stance,
I sometimes feel, "They look good today."
And in fact, there are many cases where the shot turns out just as I had a hunch it would.

You might think, "That's for advanced players, it has nothing to do with beginners."
But I believe the opposite is true.

Even in lessons, some people take a long time just to get into their stance at first.
Even so, those who look like they have a well-organized address often improve very quickly, even if they aren't hitting the ball well yet.

A well-organized stance alone invites further growth.

A small action proposal

First, try this at the driving range.

Before you hit, set your grip.
Set your feet.
Take one breath out, then enter your stance.

It's okay to be slow at first.
Prioritize carefully creating your usual form.
Once you get used to it, make that flow a little more natural and a little faster, bit by bit.

On the course, the tempo of play is also important.
That is why cultivating the feeling of "carefully, but without hesitation, taking your stance" at the driving range is very useful.

It's what's called a pre-shot routine,
but you don't need to overthink it.
You just need to have one flow that helps you feel calm.

Golf is so endearing because it isn't perfect

Golf is a series of things not going as planned.
That is precisely why the occasional "satisfying shot"
stirs our hearts.

The luxury of walking on a green carpet under a bright blue sky.
Failing, laughing, and sometimes feeling genuinely frustrated.
We who can have such time are surely lucky.

May your next round begin with a deep breath,
and be a calm and gentle one.

It's okay.
That shot has already begun in your heart.⛳

Do you have a set routine before you hit?
Even if it's "something you just do," or
a habit that "actually works," that's fine.

Please let me know in the comments.
As a fellow golfer working hard under the same sky, I am waiting for your words.😊