You’ve probably heard players talk about focusing on “the process” and not “the outcome” during a round, but what does this mean and how is it going to help you?
In any round of golf (especially under pressure), your emotions, thoughts, feelings and outcomes are unpredictable. There are lots of variables and uncertainties, which is actually one of the many appeals of the game. But if you aren’t able to direct your focus to what’s most important, they can hijack and dictate your performance. This is where a process can help you.
Your process is what you can do at any moment to take control of your performance. If you can execute it, you are doing your best as you are focusing on what you can control, not what you can’t.
Outcome goals still have their place – you need them to know where you are going. But before any round or practice session, you must decide on the process that will increase your chances of a good outcome (score or developing your skills) and stick to it.
Building a process requires self-discovery
If you know what brings out the best in you in practice and play, then it makes sense to focus on doing those things. Putting together a process is something that requires thought, reflection and experimentation and it’s what I help players with via my online training programs and one on one coaching. If you can do this and set it as a goal for your rounds, you’ll immediately increase your confidence and chances of playing well.
Your Process is present
The best place for your mind to be in any round is in the present moment. The present is where you are when you are “in the zone” or “flow state” aka the optimal state for human performance. The present is where the mind is relaxed, yet focused on what you are doing now.
When the mind goes into predicting mode or you are thinking about what’s going to happen next, you are in the future. When you are stuck going over the last bad shot you hit, you are in the past. Neither of these “time zones” is helpful to you on the golf course.
Your process reminds exactly what you should be focusing on at this very moment, now.
Your process is your plan
Your process is your plan for a round or practice session. Before you go out to play or practice, your process should be decided upon. I also like to think of it as a series of “internal goals” – those things that you can definitely do that you know will positively influence your performance. This turns something complex (shooting a good score), into simple executable steps. With repetition, it becomes more automatic and requires less thinking, so you free up mental energy for engaging your senses in each shot.
Your process is your measure of success
Outcomes are variable and uncertain, but the process is 100% achievable. If you are able to do A,B,C and D each day or during each round, then you are doing the best you can do. With the brain focused on certainty and what you can control, there’ll be less anxiety, more focus and better execution. This is why I created my “mental game scorecard” to help players track and be accountable to their process.
As you begin putting your process together, start by looking at the phases of a round, so you can think about what could go into each phase. These are all times in the round, which you will need a process for. Finding out what process goals can go into each phase is something I cover in detail in my mental game training program.
Pre-round
What can you do before your rounds to make you feel confident and prepared?
Pre-Shot
What is it best for you to focus on as you prepare for a shot? What is the mental and physical process here? Is it breathing, visualization or self-talk?
During the shot
Where is your focus during your swing? Do you have a technical cue?
Post shot
How will you respond positively to the outcome of your shots?
In between shots
What do you focus on in between shots to keep yourself present and conserving mental energy?
Post round
How do you review your rounds and measure your success?
Practice time
What is your practice process? What are the outcome and performance goals you are working towards? What do you need to do to work towards those goals?
In summary, process focus helps you perform because:
1. You know what your desired outcome is but this is uncertain, you must decide on the steps to get you there and keep doing them religiously no matter how you are playing.
2. By knowing yourself as a player, you can establish what you need to do
3. With practice, the process becomes automatic and requires less thinking and mental energy, giving you more for your sensory engagement and connecting with the shots you are hitting.
4. Knowing your process gives you simple things to focus on when under pressure, when it is harder to focus.
5. Having a process will give you a plan for the uncertainty in a round. I.e., if this happens, I will do this…
6. Knowing the optimal steps of your shot routine, will increase your chances of success for each shot.
7. A large part of self-confidence comes from being able to fulfil promises to yourself. If you can set clear goals and stick to them, you will increase confidence over time.
Thanks for reading. I hope this gives you some good reasons to start working on your process as I’m confident it will help you improve and achieve success.