The Bad Luck-Good Trigger Strategy
Day 5 from “The Golf Hall of Shame” by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo
The Golf Book Club: Every day, we share a mental game lesson inspired by great golf books—stories and strategies to help you think better so you can play better.
We all get into trouble on the golf course. How do you shake it off and move on to the next round with a clean slate?
Many pros ask that question every year at the Masters. Especially when they reach the 12th hole. Par three, 155 yards over water, unpredictable winds and narrow green.
At one time or another, every pro has been derailed on the 12th hole.
As Jack Nicklaus said, “Sometimes I get there, and my hands just shake.”
“It was extremely embarrassing.”
At the 1980 Masters, Tom Weiskopf had a good round going.
On the 12th tee, he hit a beautiful 7-iron over the water and onto the green. Then he watched the ball slowly trickle back down the slope and plunk into the water.
Tom moved to the drop zone, refocused, and hit another good shot. But the ball spun just enough to roll back into the water. On any other green, he would have been fine.
There was nothing to do but take another drop. Fans clutched their chests as they watched Tom hit five shots into the water.
Finally, he got on the green, sank the putt, and walked off with a history-making 13.
He said, “It was extremely embarrassing. The last time I got a 13 was when I was 14 years old.”
After such a confidence-crushing experience, it’s hard to wipe the mental slate clean. We often carry trouble like a second golf bag.
On the next day, Tom put two more in the water, made a triple bogey seven, and missed the cut.
Use bad luck as a trigger for good actions.
But there’s another way. Sports psychologists talk about using bad luck as a good trigger.
Bad luck happens. Sometimes, good shots roll back into the water. Sometimes, you lose your nerve and get into more trouble. Statistically, bad luck lands on every golfer from time to time.
But if you blame yourself, the hole, or the game, you’ll carry that bad luck forward.
Instead, use bad luck as a trigger for good actions: slow down, trust your routine, smile, laugh, make better decisions. You will immediately drop the bad luck behind you and move forward with a clean slate.
The author Barbara Sher said, “The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act.”
I love today’s lesson because I never considered using bad luck as a good trigger. All of us, from pro to amateur, get into trouble out there. Golf cuts us all down to size.
But our willingness to take positive action will help us leave the bad stuff behind and stand over the next shot with a clean slate. And that’s about as good as it gets, in golf and life.
That’s all for now. Tomorrow, we’ll learn three simple strategies to improve our focus. Until then, keep imagining what’s possible.
Today’s Photo
Denarau Golf & Racquet Club in Fiji
