Even on days when your slice won't stop, your golf is not wrong

To you, who still picks up the club on a morning that makes you sigh

The cool morning air, with the chirping of birds echoing in the distance.

That moment waiting for the first shot in the crisp silence.
No matter how many times I experience it, my heart beats a little faster.

“Today is the day I want to show the results of my practice.”

The grip you hold with that wish in mind
often has more tension in it than you realize.

And then the ball you hit
mercilessly disappears into the woods on the right.

In that moment, your mind goes blank,
and only the grass at your feet looks strangely vivid.

“Even though I practiced so much.”

A morning where you feel disappointed in yourself like that.
You are surely not the only one.

Frustration is proof that you love golf

A habit that won't go away even after practice.

Watching videos, getting advice,
and yet the slice still happens.

“Why won't it get better?”

The reason you sigh thinking that
is because you are taking golf that seriously.

You feel frustrated because you want to get better,
and you swing again and again because you want to hit it the way you intend.

That feeling is completely natural.

Even now, on my way home from a round,
I sometimes have a self-reflection session alone in the car.

Even after 15 years of teaching,
I am not always satisfied with my own shots every time.

A perfect golfer,
probably doesn't exist anywhere.

A scene I have seen many times at the lesson site

When I am giving lessons,
I meet people who are struggling because they are trying too hard to fix their form.

One person was worried about their ball curving to the right every time.
But watching from the side, there were few major mishits,
and the amount of curve was mostly the same.

So I told them this:
"Let's try aiming a little to the left from the start, assuming this curve will happen."

A few days later, that person told me with a smile,
"Just by changing where I aimed, I set a personal best."

They didn't change their swing.
All they changed was their aim.

Things like that happen often in golf.

A perspective of "utilizing" rather than "fixing"

The other day, I played a round with an advanced golfer.
Their ball curved, and their distance was just average.
But from the white tees, they would shoot in the 70s every time.

What surprised me was
that they were enjoying golf much more than I was.
It struck me, "Isn't this a valid way to play?"

The fact that it curves to the right
means it will absolutely never go to the left.

In other words, they have turned half of the course into a "safe zone."
Instead of forcing it to be straight, they build their course strategy around this ball flight.

Because they don't think about their swing in a complicated way,
they can devote their focus to their approach and putting.

How to engage with the course using the ball you have today.
That leads directly to the best "results."

Today's words

"Even flaws can become virtues if you change your perspective"

Stop blaming yourself for hitting a slice,
and try thinking, "Where should I aim to make this ball work for me?"
Just by doing that, the way you see the course will change dramatically.

Holes that were scary become a little more interesting.
A ball that made you sigh becomes a reliable part of your strategy.

As a coach, I truly
want you to acquire a correct and beautiful swing.

But more than that, I want you to
enjoy golf to the fullest as "the you of today."

Instead of trying to erase your flaws,
walk the course with your flaws in tow.

That makes golf much easier and more enjoyable.

What you can do on your next shot

Next time you set up, just take three seconds.

"If I swing comfortably, which way is the ball likely to curve?"

Confirm that, and try shifting your aim just a little bit.

That is all you need to do.

You don't need to change your swing.
You don't need to force yourself.

Trust "today's ball" and just try changing your target.

By just changing your mindset a little,
the door to your best score might open.

Even if you have long-term challenges,
on the course, let's fully accept "who you are right now."

It doesn't have to be perfect; that is the real thrill of golf.

While walking the course,
there is that one shot where you think, "I managed to work with it well today."

A moment that isn't perfect, yet somehow feels fulfilling.

I think that is probably why
we hold onto our clubs.

It doesn't have to be fixed.

It is okay to enjoy today's course with today's version of yourself.

Relax your shoulders,
and let's go look forward to the next shot. ⛳️

What is your "go-to shot"?

A slice, a hook, a low ball, a high ball... You might have thought, "This is a nuisance," but it actually helped you! If you have an experience like that, please let me know in the comments.

Your story might lead someone else to think, "Oh, I see, it's okay."