On days when your driver isn't hitting, you need the courage to return to the basics

"The courage not to push yourself becomes your weapon"

I feel like this phrase hits home for those who are hard workers.
I, too, have always thought, "If I can't do it, I just need to do more."

The dry sound of the ball and a heavy heart

The driving range at night.
A mountain of white balls in the basket sparkles, reflecting the light of the streetlamps.

From the next stall, there is a crisp, dry sound of a good hit.
In contrast, all I feel in my hands is the unpleasant vibration of a "thud."

The driver in my hand feels like a wild beast that won't listen to me,
and the more I swing, the more the balls scatter to the right and left.

"Why can't I hit it straight like everyone else?"
"Even though I watched so many videos to study it."

Before I know it, my heart feels much heavier than it did before I came to practice.
Don't you have nights like that, too?

The driver is, after all, a special club.
When it flies, I'm happy, and when it goes well, I can think, "I'm not doing so bad today."

That is precisely why, on days when I can't hit it,
my emotions are shaken even before my technique is.

I, too, struggle as I practice every day

I stand there with a calm face during lessons,
but there are days when I practice on my own where I tense up so much it's pathetic.
Even after 15 years of teaching, there are definitely nights where I want to whisper to myself, "That one didn't count."

Just the other day, I practiced on my own after my lessons were over.
I wanted to hit the driver well so badly that I stubbornly kept swinging.

Recently, having passed 50, my driving distance has started to drop little by little.
Sometimes I feel anxious, wondering if I'll be able to keep playing from the back tees in the future.

But when I try to force the distance, my other clubs start to go wrong, too.
Before I know it, even my basics have fallen apart.

Every time that happens, I think,
"Oh, what am I fighting against?"

Is it my age?
Is it impatience?
Or is it the feeling that I don't want to lose to my former self?

As I pause like that,
I wonder which basic I am neglecting now,
and I repeat the days of searching for it all over again.

You don't have to change everything. You just need to go back.

When golf isn't going well,
we tend to look for some magical new theory.
But what we really need might not be a flashy answer,
but simply returning to the basics.

Instead of hitting 100 balls with a driver you're forcing to fly,
try returning just once to the small basics you can manage right now.

For example, with a small swing from waist to waist,
confirm only the sensation of the ball hitting the center of the face.
With just that, both your brain and body will gradually regain their sense of security.

The basics of golf are plain.
They don't show flashy changes right away.

But having a place to return to when things get tough
is truly reassuring.

Instead of trying to increase what you can do all at once,
carefully gather, one by one, the feeling that 'I can do this.'

I believe that this accumulation is what supports your golf.

Not pushing yourself is not the same as giving up

“The courage not to push yourself becomes a weapon”

These words are not an excuse to run away.
They are words for following the order that is necessary for you right now.

We tend to push ourselves by saying 'more, more'.
But being able to judge that something is still too difficult for you right now
and saying 'I'll stop for today' is not a weakness, but intelligence.

Rather than chasing a club you can't hit, swing comfortably within your range.
That accumulation becomes a foundation that will later allow you to handle longer clubs.

It's the same on the course, isn't it?
Those who can endure a difficult shot are often the ones who can protect the next view.

At the driving range, too, the courage to put it down.
The courage to go back.
The courage to stop.

I believe that truly becomes a weapon.

Things I want you to try in your next practice

If you feel 'I'm not hitting well today' during your next practice,
first,hit only the clubs you can hit with confidence.
Please try this just once.

And decide on just one thing you want to master today.
At first, 'just the correct grip' is enough.

When what you need to do is clear, your hesitation disappears a little.
It may seem like a detour, but it's often the shortest path.

It's okay for golf goals to be different for everyone

I believe that golf is not just a game aimed at achieving a perfect score of 100.

It's fine if some people aim for maximum distance.
It's fine if some people prioritize not ruining their score.
Even if you can't hit well,
it's fine if some people value the time spent walking and laughing with friends above all else.

If you are enjoying yourself, isn't that enough?

We, who are not perfect, hit imperfect shots,
and gradually develop our feel for the game.
I love that clumsy time more than anything.

Under the lights of the driving range at night, the last ball flies softly forward.
Watching that white ball with my eyes, there are days when I can think, 'This is good enough for today.'

Perhaps, because there are days like that,
it makes you want to pick up the club again next time.

[I want to ask you]
When do you feel the 'courage not to push yourself'?
I would be happy if you could share your golf episodes or realizations in the comments.