Confidence...41
How we get it. Why we loose it.
Almost always the loss of confidence is the RESULT of missed shots before it was the CAUSE of missed shots. Conversely, we find that confidence PRODUCES good shots and then becomes a PRODUCT of good shots.
The factor underlying confidence is ATTRIBUTION—to what are we attributing our good shots and our poor shots? When we attribute our success to the actual cause we tend to reinforce our commitment to that factor which in turn inclines us toward more success. However, the result is calamitous when we misattribute poor shots. We wind up chasing the wrong factor and thereby unable to fix the problem. The worst situation of misattribution is when a player is chasing the wrong fix and deciding that the solution is to work harder.
Bottom Line: On innumerable occasions, the Hall of Fame golf instructor Manuel de la Torre recounted the response of his father when Manuel told him of his success in the NCAA finals. Angel asked him if he knew what he was doing to produce the shots. When Manuel responded that he knew, Angel instructed that he devote himself to repeating it.
The key here is the certainty of the attribution (Do you know what you are doing?). To play your most confident golf, ensure that you are attributing good shots and poor shots to their actual cause. If you are not sure, consult a reputable golf professional.
Each Thursday we’ll bring you a helpful insight.
Swing to the target,
Ed
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