Temperament is the key to a successful player

In order to be a successful golfer, you must have good timing, feel and co-ordination. However, even if a player has these attributes and a technically sound swing, they will not be able to shoot consistently low scores unless they are able to control their temperament.

Competitions are not always won by the person with the best swing; they are often won by the person who has the best outlook on the game and the ability to not let one poor shot turn into many poor shots.
 
They best way to achieve a solid temperament will not be the same for every person but why not try out the following idea and see if you can incorporate it into your game.

A common statement mentioned when talking about temperament is ‘stay in the present’. Essentially, this means that the shot you have hit previously and the shot you will hit on the following hole are unimportant.

It is the shot that you are about to hit that should have your undivided attention. Many players imagine that there is a 5m x 5m square around their golf ball and when they walk into this square they ‘switch on’ and become 100 per cent focused on the task at hand. They complete their pre-shot routine and execute the shot to the best of their ability.

Now, regardless of the quality and result of the shot, the player reacts in an appropriate way and gets any frustration out of the way there and then. When the player walks out of the imaginary ‘box’, they should ‘switch off’ and forget about the shot they have just hit and get ready to focus on the next one.

If you are able to do this, you will have an advantage over the person that allows one bad shot to influence their next one.

This skill is especially important in match play as you are only playing against one person at a time and you can directly benefit from being able to keep your cool under pressure. If you see your opponent losing their temper, slamming clubs and generally losing the plot, they are effectively beating themselves for you.

On the other hand, because you have a good temperament and positive attitude, even if you hit a bad shot you will not let it ruin the hole. You will be able to stand over the next shot and play it to the best of your ability with a clear mind which gives you the best chance to perform well.

Now that the match play competitions are well and truly under way this season, make sure you work hard on your game … but also your temperament to give yourself the best chance of advancing towards the final!