No need to rush. A step without hesitation makes golf easier

"A step without hesitation, rather than speed"

When you try to hurry, your body actually becomes stiffer.
However, just by having one thing decided for your next move, you can act with a bit more composure in golf.

The moment anxiety spreads to your body

The moment the group ahead disappears from view on the course, you might suddenly feel a flutter deep in your chest.

"I have to hit quickly."

The moment you think that, your shoulders tense up and your grip tightens.
Even though you are just standing on the grass, you feel as if you can sense the gaze of the group behind you on your back.

When playing golf, these situations happen very often.

Having worked as a caddie during my trainee days, I used to feel restless inside, feeling the urge to catch up out of professional habit whenever there was a slight gap from the group ahead.

"I have to catch up."
"What if they think I'm slow?"

When such feelings take precedence, it's strange how your body refuses to move as it usually does.

"Moving fast" and "not hesitating" are different things

I've noticed something since I started teaching golf.

People who move smoothly are never actually moving incredibly fast.
They just aren't hesitating.

When they reach their second shot, those who are anxious tend to switch clubs repeatedly, take practice swings over and over, or change their target area.

Their body is moving, but their mind hasn't made a decision yet.

Conversely, people who look calm move quickly in a short amount of time.
I believe this isn't due to talent or special courage, but because they have small personal rules within themselves.

"With this club, it's about this many yards."
"If I'm not good at bunkers, it's fine to aim short instead of forcing it."
"When in doubt, choose short rather than long."

Just having these small personal rules supports you even when you are feeling anxious.

My own embarrassing memory

I myself used to be on the slower side when playing.

Even after taking practice swings, I couldn't get a clear image, and I would start over many times even after stepping into my address.
During practice rounds, I have even been told by a senior player that I was too slow.

That is precisely why, when I first started teaching, there were times I would find myself wanting to tell my students to 'pick up the tempo'.

However, that alone did not lead to success.

Setting up in a hurry leads to mistakes.
Making a mistake takes even more time.
And then, you feel rushed all over again.

Seeing that, I felt that simply telling them to hurry was not the right approach.

When you have little experience, hesitation is also an important part of practice.
However, the key is not to stay lost, but to make one decision for yourself at the end.

I believe that cultivating the 'power to decide' before your swing is what makes golf easier.

An episode with a student

The other day, I encountered this situation during a round lesson.

A student in her 50s who had been playing golf for about half a year.
She is a very serious person who worries about whether she is causing trouble every time she goes out on the course.

At the second shot location, she seemed a bit flustered after seeing the group ahead move forward.

I told her this:

'Which club will you use, and where will you hit it? Let's decide on just one thing before you set up.'

After thinking for a moment, she chose her 7-iron.
Her target was just short of the green.

The ball she hit traveled forward beautifully.

'Nice shot. By the way, if you had decided to carry it to just short of the green, did you bring the next club you'll need?'

When I asked that, she looked a bit surprised and said,

'Oh, I didn't bring it.'

Actually, this is a very important point for playing golf without rushing.

If you have decided to carry the ball to just short of the green from your second shot location, bring your approach club or putter with you.
Just doing that will reduce the number of times you have to return to the cart.

You will walk less distance, and you will have a little more time to think about your next shot.

That student later said this to me:

"With just a little mindfulness, the anxiety of making the group behind me wait is reduced."

I truly think that is exactly right.

Today's words: 'Rather than speed, a decisive step'

Moving quickly is, of course, important.
Slow play causes trouble for the groups following you.

But simply rushing and running is not the only solution.

I think these words are about golf, but also about daily decision-making. In work and in relationships, seeking 'speed' often results in slower progress than 'reducing hesitation'.

In golf, prepare for your next shot by bringing a few clubs you might use.
Around the green, place your clubs with the path to the next hole in mind.

With small preparations like these, your play will naturally become smooth without needing to rush.

Things you can try starting today

When heading to your second shot, bring two or three clubs, including the ones you are debating between.
When going near the green, bring your approach club and putter together.

Even just doing this will significantly reduce moments of panic.

To hit a good shot, you definitely need time to prepare.
To create that time, make a little bit of a plan in advance.

You don't have to be fast.
Just by not hesitating, your body will naturally be easier to move.

A decisive step changes the scenery

On the course at dusk, you can hear the sound of a ball landing on the fairway from afar.
The moment you decide 'this is the one' and set up, the anxiety you felt until just a moment ago quiets down.

That step can sometimes change the scenery that follows.

Do you have any preparations you are conscious of to prevent slow play, or any personal rules to avoid hesitation?
If you'd like, please let me know in the comments.