| The best way of shaving strokes is by improving your | | | | might be just getting the ball somewhere on the green. |
| short game. It's also the best way of cutting your golf | | | | As you get closer to the hole, however, you can |
| handicap down to single digits. So if you're truly serious | | | | increase your goals and expectations. If you're within |
| about cutting your golf handicap, you'll set a goal for | | | | 10 yards of the hole, you can heighten your goals and |
| yourself of becoming more precise in your short game | | | | expectations. |
| and eliminating those costly errors due to unrealistic | | | | Goals and expectations are almost always adaptable |
| expectations. | | | | and changeable Short-game goals and expectations, |
| Setting goals and expectations in golf is important. But | | | | for example, can change as you move down the |
| the goals must be attainable and the expectations | | | | fairway. If you're 50 yards from the green and you flub |
| realistic. Achieving expectations in your short-game | | | | your chip shot into a bunker, your goals and |
| play is like taking individual steps toward attaining your | | | | expectations will change based on your location. |
| overall goal of improvement. Each time you achieve an | | | | The same holds true if you mis-hit a bunker shot. Your |
| expectation, you build confidence and confidence is the | | | | goal may have been to get out in one and get the ball |
| cornerstone to dramatically improving your game. | | | | close to the pin, but if you miss-hit the shot and just |
| Goals and Expectations | | | | barely get out of the bunker, you'll have to change |
| An expectation, as I tell players taking my golf lessons, | | | | your goals and expectations. They key is minimizing |
| is something your want to happen all the time. For the | | | | the mistakes you make so you can easily achieve |
| average player, a reasonable expectation is getting | | | | your expectations. Once you've done that, you can set |
| more pars or hitting more greens in regulation. Goals, | | | | loftier goals. |
| on the other hand, are things like becoming a scratch | | | | Setting Goals And Expectations |
| player. Your short-game goals can be lofty if you wish | | | | Setting goals for each short-game situation is |
| to set the bar high. But setting lofty goals usually mean | | | | important. But achieving reasonable expectations in |
| putting in hard work to reach your expectations first. | | | | each short game situation builds confidence and |
| Here are some examples of short-game goals and | | | | confidence is what you need to achieve those goals. If |
| expectations. Your goal on a chip might be to sink the | | | | your expectations are too high, you may often miss |
| ball or get it close enough to need only one putt. But | | | | them, wrecking your confidence and self-image. That's |
| your expectation is getting the ball on the | | | | no way to improve your short-game skills or knock |
| green-anywhere on the green every time. Your goal | | | | strokes off your golf handicap. |
| for a bunker shot might be to get the ball out of the | | | | Work on your short game hard enough to achieve |
| hole and close enough to the pin to sink the putt. But | | | | reasonable expectations. Practice at the range. Attend |
| your expectation is to get the ball out of the bunker | | | | golf instruction sessions. Read more golf tips in |
| and anywhere on to the green in one shot. | | | | magazines. Do whatever it takes to bolster your ability |
| Changing Your Goals And Expectations | | | | to achieve reasonable expectations. Once you've |
| You can break down your goals and expectations | | | | done that, you can increase those expectations until |
| based on your distance from the pin. If you're 60 yards | | | | you eventually reach that loftier goal of having a single |
| from the hole, your short-game goal might be to get | | | | digit golf handicap. |
| the ball in the hole in three shots. Your expectation | | | | |