HOW TO BE AN IMPERFECT GOLFER
Perfection may be a goal for many golfers, but the acceptance of imperfection puts you in a position to play your best.
Everywhere I go, someone says they strive for the perfect golf swing, while others also strive for the “perfect round.” Have you ever noticed how many winning performances are flawed performances? While amateurs and aspiring professionals work diligently to be “perfect” in every way, the truth is; champion performance is generally NOT perfect.
You only need to look to the Masters or US Open Championships or previous British Opens. You’ll see shots flying all over the field. You’ll see missed putts, drives that fall off the fairways, and approach shots that go into bunkers and into the water.
You will find the same in other sports as well. Baseball players are considered highly successful when they get hits in 3 out of ten at-bats. Perfection? Hardly. A batting average of three hundred is considered a great feat in baseball. Great pitchers don’t pitch perfectly either. They miss targets, allow home runs and walk opposing hitters and still win ballgames!
You’ll find all sports riddled with imperfections by imperfect people and teams becoming icons in their respective fields.
What is the point of all this? The point is that winners don’t win because they have achieved perfection. They become champions because they accept and work with imperfection better than others Perfection is not the key to winning. Sure, you can STRIVE for perfection, but it’s working with the reality of imperfection that leads to your highest and most consistent performance.
Here are some important things to know about “imperfection” and “perfection” that will help you accept imperfection more effectively:
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be realistic
Being imperfect is more real than being perfect. Champions aren’t afraid to “look bad” because they’re focused on the task at hand. It is the effort and commitment that they make that gets them ahead. Golfers hit bad shots, hockey players get knocked down, and basketball players miss open shots. What they do AFTER that is what makes them champions.
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reduce pressure
By accepting that you are imperfect, you lessen the self-induced pressure. You are now fulfilling your obligation to express your talents to the fullest! (Which means you’ll experience the good, the bad, and the ugly at times!)
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tolerate your mistakes
Being imperfect means that you can tolerate errors and mistakes. It doesn’t mean you like them or look forward to them, but it does mean you tolerate them. When you tolerate them, you don’t waste energy getting angry and frustrated about them. Tolerating your mistakes means you acknowledge them and move on to the next moment that needs your attention.
Practice and strive for perfection knowing that embracing imperfection is the key to playing “your best” without fear or reservation.
To Your Best Golf!