How to be as consistent as a tour pro

jordan-spieth

When you go for a golf lesson, the pro will normally ask you what you’re hoping to achieve.

Almost everybody says, “more consistency”.

It makes sense. There isn’t a golfer out there who hasn’t hit at least one shot they were happy with. It’s what keeps you coming back for more. If you could hit every drive like that one on the 14th, you’d be happy. If only you could recreate that soaring flight that pitched just past the hole and spun back for a tap-in birdie every time you reached for an iron, you’d be happy. If you could only eliminate the really bad shots, the card-wrecking holes, your handicap would come tumbling down and you’d be very happy. If only you could avoid following your best ever round with one of your worst, going from Lord of the Links one day to Sir Shankalot the next, for no apparent reason, you’d be happy. 

The problem is that golf is not a game that lends itself to consistency.

Whatever your level, there will be a big difference between your best and worst golf. 

Look at Jordan Spieth. The best golfer in the world last year, Spieth was, to the casual observer, Mr Consistent. And yet, amid five wins and 12 other top-10 finishes, Spieth missed four cuts. At The Barclays Championship in August, the world number one shot 34 on the front nine, and then came back in 40. After an opening round 74 at the RBC Heritage, Spieth bounced back to shoot 62 the following day. That’s a 12-shot swing in 24 hours, on the same course, under the same conditions. Impressive, but not exactly the epitome of consistency. 

This year, Spieth already has a win and a missed cut under his belt. just a few weeks apart. Did he go from the best player in the field in one tournament to one of the worst in another? Of course not. 

Jordan Spieth is ludicrously talented. He practises every day. He has access to the best facilities and equipment that money can buy. He has a team of coaches to help him perform to the best of his ability. His sole purpose is to win golf tournaments. 

If he is capable of dramatic changes in performance from one round or even week to the next, why would you expect to be any different? 

There will always be a significant difference between your best and worst shots, and your lowest and highest scores. If you’re a 28-handicapper, one week you might shoot 93, and the next week rack up 110. If you play off 12, you might follow a 78 with a 95. Even if you’re a scratch golfer, your best round of 66 could just as easily be followed by an 80. That’s golf. Don’t beat yourself up about not being able to recreate your best shots – and best scores – every time you step onto the course. 

The key is to enjoy the good rounds and not let the bad ones force you into potentially destructive action. If you’re on a good run, make the most of it. Don’t start worrying about when it’s all going to go off the rails.

If you’re in a bit of a slump, work out what is letting you down and work on those aspects of your game, but don’t try to completely overhaul your swing every time you have a bad round. 

Accept that you’ll have good rounds and bad rounds, and try to make the former more frequent than the latter. And remember: if you shot exactly the same score every time you played, what fun would that be?

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