Well said Jon. I fortunately learned early that scoring does not equal satisfaction. It was hard to learn, as the 2 guys that introduced me into the game at 47 yrs old, would quit the round if scoring wasnt going the way the expected it. Sometimes they threw clubs. (fueled by me passing them in skill after they played a lifetime) So, we had to go our separate ways. I learned that learning about yourself, being ok with the bad breaks, just as you are ok with the good (lucky) breaks. There is also an unwritten social contract to be present and cordial. I am now a 3 handicap from the tips at 61 years old, and expect my best season this year!
I bought the Four Foundations of Golf. Can’t tell you enough how great and eye opening it is. I’ve learned not to get too excited about good shots or bad shots. My reaction to a birdie should be similar to a bogey. Pick up and keep playing. Every shot is a new opportunity to try again.
Very sage words and very true. Since I started using process oriented results a few years ago and adjusting my attitude to the game overall, I’ve actually started to play a lot better and enjoying it more. I used to be quite obsessive about handicap especially when you get to low single figures, and I would panic if I had a bad round and my handicap went up. Those results actually affected the rest of my attitude through the rest of the day. Since I stopped worrying about it I’m just having fun. I’m shooting some of the best golf of my 40+ years playing life. I’m now off a handicap of three and quite happy with that not interested in striving to get down to scratch, if it happens it happens. For me, it’s more about the camaraderie on the course and the fun aspect. I still watch the odd tuition video if I’m having any specific issues, but I think I’ve reached a point where I’m as good as I can get at 60.
Psychology is starting to become the favourite part of the game for me. Now excuse me there’s a great RUclips video on how to fix your slice forever I desperately need to watch.
It's definitely the most underdeveloped part of the game for most. I was stuck in the 90s until a couple of years ago. Got serious about tempering my emotions and applying course mgmt. Now I'm firmly in the low 80s and close in breaking into the 70s
Good video - I have a common conversation with my playing partners (middle-high h'c) that includes asking how many good shots they made on the past hole - did you hit it like you wanted, did it go where you aimed, etc? If the ball flew the green - well that was a club selection mistake, or strategy mistake, not a golf swing problem. Take joy from the good swings. It kicked into the rough - no problem; deal with the next shot, not the past shot. I'm a 5-handicap and I aim for 2 great shots a hole (drive, iron, chip, or put) - if I do that I'll be ok
As a former ice hockey player, I learned early that when things weren't working out, you just had to work harder. In golf, it's the exact opposite when things aren't working out. Relax and worry a little less and you'll definitely play better golf.
Great talk one I’ll need to share with my buds. As the old saying goes” why did they pick the name Golf for this sport? Because all the other four letter words were already used”
The Four Foundations of Golf is without a doubt the best golf book I've ever read. It really is game changing and I highly recommend it. Thanks Jon. You made golf enjoyable again for me. : )
Thanks for this great video! One of the best books about golf, has been your "Four Foundations of Golf". I keep going back to it. I'm a senior amateur golfer with a handicap index of 8.8. I have been a student of Karl Morris since 2008. He has become my great mentor. Thanks to Karl, I also found you. I regularly listen to your podcast. Thank you so much for being such a superb coach.
Thank you for saying that. I love Karl and he's one of my favorite coaches to talk to. We've had multiple episodes with him on our podcast, The Sweet Spot.
Funny how that works. My best tournament round was when I thought about withdrawing the night before because I wasn't that excited to play. Then I won a USGA medal!
My golf swing drastically improved when I could completely visualize it entirely. Not till I spent a lot of time illustrating golfers swings and my own swing could I see it for what it was. If you are an artist I recommended drawing golfers in motion, things start to connect. Thanks for the tips!
The key for me is simple - Bottom out in the right place each shot. I may never be a scratch golfer but I can continue to improve over time and my game is good enough to enjoy when I play, whether it's a good round or a bad one.
Played golf for 40years, only remember and enjoy the good shots. Still learning heaps about golf. Golf scores...don't care. Why spoil your magic moments...crunching long drives, soaring irons onto the green, smile and really enjoy that.
Great advice. Play most weekend and come off the course remembering the great shots which keeps me coming back. Bad shot memory last a nanosecond and teaches me nothing other than I am human. This to me can be described as the love for the challenge which keeps giving.
Great video, its amazing how many people i play with focus on score and handicap. Understanding that there will be days when you can play well but not score, play rubbish but score well, golfs a funny old game....
Brutal truth: the course architect is a professional and he/she designed the course to be challenging, fun, and rewarding. Bunkers are where they are for a reason. I have found bunkers always catch good aggressive shots and bad conservative shots. They rarely catch great aggressive shots or good conservative shots. To step onto the first tee and have 59 or 62 in your head is an insult to the architect, the superintendent and even the cart girl. Respect the course and par.
Good stuff Jon! Another brutal truth is unrealistic expectations for what constitutes a good shot. Tour pros average 19’ from 125yds but yet when we hit it to 40’ from that distance we’re unhappy. Golfers are too hard on themselves. It’s a hard game. Getting perspective on what’s a good shot for your skill level helps. Read Scott Fawcett or Mark Broadie’s work for helpful insight and be kinder to yourself.
Brutal truths we need to hear. Thanks for that. I play my best golf when I am relaxed and not concerned about what anyone else is doing. Play my own game one shot at a time😊🙌🏼 subscribed
Thanks for sharing how important attitude is. What you think and believe about yourself and how you expect to play on the golf course are very important. I teach that peak performance begins in the mind.
Brutal truth is spending a lot of time on drills to make your swing look good on camera rarely works. However, doing drills that help master impact magically helps your swing look better on camera.
One of my best shots one time was on my 3rd shot. I was behind a bush I couldn't see over or around and on the other side was a small river and the green was on the other side. I was like just trying to get it over the bush and river. Didn't care what happened after that. Was playing with my dad and from where he was standing he knew I cleared the river. We were walking over the bridge to the green and couldn't see my ball anywhere. I was like there's no way I holed out. We walked to the cup and couldn't believe it. It was in the cup. I was just trying to get over the bush and river with not much expectations after that. I basically just decided to give it a swing and not worry about what happened and set my goal so low that I completely did way better than I thought was possible for me on that shot. Since than anytime I go golfing and I am about to shoot I set myself in position and try not to think about what I want to do. I count to 3 and just let my body's natural swing do what it can. I find if I think to much about what I want to happen I end up screwing up more and don't get the results I was hoping for. To much over thinking and so the counting to 3 just clears my head.
I was following Gary Player, who was having a bad day in a senior tournament. He was restlessly blaming his longtime caddie,Rabbit Dyer, for all of his misfortune. I asked Rabbit, "How do you stand it." He said," he is not going to be out here very much longer if it's him who he thinks is messing up." Sam Snead also always blamed external factors for his miscalculation. Their records speak volumes for this trait. Rabbit was called Rabbit because he had 12 kids, one of whom got into Harvard. He was teased that he would need to carry double to afford the tuition.
I'd have to disagree as it pertains to "normal" golfers. Player and Snead were on another universe in terms of their skill. For a typical golfer to relentlessly beat themselves up on the golf course, I'd argue most would perform way worse than if they had the ability to forgive themselves and not always focus on results. Just my 2 cents!
Learning to let the bad shots go is one of the hardest parts of the game. I could write a chapter of a book called “How I Lowered My Expectations and Scored Better”. I stared using my shot pattern to aim and not go at every pin. I figure birdies in many cases are “Happy Accidents”. I also know I’m going to make a really bad swing from time to time. Oh well.
One thing I see is people who want to throw money at gadgets or new equipment in the hopes that it will improve their game. And I suppose there are times where it does indeed make sense to buy new equipment. I was chatting with a guy who is a club fitter, and he was telling me about people for whom their money would be better spent on lessons and not new equipment.
The swing thing happened to me. I thought it was useful in trying to improve, and it ruined my iron swing. I've since corrected it, and (when i actually focus on my swing) I've never hit it better.
3:09 I look at it like poker. You play the hand you are dealt. Some holes (rounds) are just not going to be good. You just play that one hole and then go on to the next.
Depends on the person. The more that I’ve learnt about the swing in general, the more comfortable I am about poor outcomes. If I put a decent swing on a shot and get a poor outcome the easier it is to accept. Nothing can bring out the black dog quicker than not knowing why something that seemed right bringing a crap outcome, of course that also happens.
Don't get too high with highs or low with the lows. Celebrate your wins and learn from your setbacks. Sometimes a break is better than beating yourself up.
@@jonshermangolfinstructors are just like YT videos. They all tell you something different. There are so many ways to get the clubface on the ball and they all have their preferences. Just like you said your swing is not conventional. One instructor would want to change your swing. The next would work on your ball flight. Another would focus on your speed and contact.
Well said Jon. I fortunately learned early that scoring does not equal satisfaction. It was hard to learn, as the 2 guys that introduced me into the game at 47 yrs old, would quit the round if scoring wasnt going the way the expected it. Sometimes they threw clubs. (fueled by me passing them in skill after they played a lifetime) So, we had to go our separate ways. I learned that learning about yourself, being ok with the bad breaks, just as you are ok with the good (lucky) breaks. There is also an unwritten social contract to be present and cordial. I am now a 3 handicap from the tips at 61 years old, and expect my best season this year!
I bought the Four Foundations of Golf. Can’t tell you enough how great and eye opening it is. I’ve learned not to get too excited about good shots or bad shots. My reaction to a birdie should be similar to a bogey. Pick up and keep playing. Every shot is a new opportunity to try again.
Love hearing that. Makes me very happy.
Very sage words and very true. Since I started using process oriented results a few years ago and adjusting my attitude to the game overall, I’ve actually started to play a lot better and enjoying it more. I used to be quite obsessive about handicap especially when you get to low single figures, and I would panic if I had a bad round and my handicap went up. Those results actually affected the rest of my attitude through the rest of the day. Since I stopped worrying about it I’m just having fun. I’m shooting some of the best golf of my 40+ years playing life. I’m now off a handicap of three and quite happy with that not interested in striving to get down to scratch, if it happens it happens. For me, it’s more about the camaraderie on the course and the fun aspect. I still watch the odd tuition video if I’m having any specific issues, but I think I’ve reached a point where I’m as good as I can get at 60.
Thanks for your thoughts
Psychology is starting to become the favourite part of the game for me. Now excuse me there’s a great RUclips video on how to fix your slice forever I desperately need to watch.
Haha, you can put those on a playlist infinitely
It's definitely the most underdeveloped part of the game for most. I was stuck in the 90s until a couple of years ago. Got serious about tempering my emotions and applying course mgmt. Now I'm firmly in the low 80s and close in breaking into the 70s
@@IIISWILIII wonderful!
😂
Good video - I have a common conversation with my playing partners (middle-high h'c) that includes asking how many good shots they made on the past hole - did you hit it like you wanted, did it go where you aimed, etc? If the ball flew the green - well that was a club selection mistake, or strategy mistake, not a golf swing problem. Take joy from the good swings. It kicked into the rough - no problem; deal with the next shot, not the past shot. I'm a 5-handicap and I aim for 2 great shots a hole (drive, iron, chip, or put) - if I do that I'll be ok
Thanks for watching!
As a former ice hockey player, I learned early that when things weren't working out, you just had to work harder. In golf, it's the exact opposite when things aren't working out. Relax and worry a little less and you'll definitely play better golf.
Such a hard concept to understand when you come from a different sport
Well said Anders 👊⛳
Great talk one I’ll need to share with my buds.
As the old saying goes” why did they pick the name Golf for this sport? Because all the other four letter words were already used”
Appreciate you sharing
The Four Foundations of Golf is without a doubt the best golf book I've ever read. It really is game changing and I highly recommend it. Thanks Jon. You made golf enjoyable again for me. : )
Amazing to hear, thank you!
Thanks for this great video! One of the best books about golf, has been your "Four Foundations of Golf". I keep going back to it. I'm a senior amateur golfer with a handicap index of 8.8. I have been a student of Karl Morris since 2008. He has become my great mentor. Thanks to Karl, I also found you. I regularly listen to your podcast. Thank you so much for being such a superb coach.
Thank you for saying that. I love Karl and he's one of my favorite coaches to talk to. We've had multiple episodes with him on our podcast, The Sweet Spot.
Thanks, Jon. My best round of golf was a last minute decision with no expectations. Just had fun with my friends. Keep the videos coming.
Funny how that works. My best tournament round was when I thought about withdrawing the night before because I wasn't that excited to play. Then I won a USGA medal!
My golf swing drastically improved when I could completely visualize it entirely. Not till I spent a lot of time illustrating golfers swings and my own swing could I see it for what it was. If you are an artist I recommended drawing golfers in motion, things start to connect.
Thanks for the tips!
Love hearing that. Thanks for watching!
The key for me is simple - Bottom out in the right place each shot. I may never be a scratch golfer but I can continue to improve over time and my game is good enough to enjoy when I play, whether it's a good round or a bad one.
Played golf for 40years, only remember and enjoy the good shots. Still learning heaps about golf. Golf scores...don't care. Why spoil your magic moments...crunching long drives, soaring irons onto the green, smile and really enjoy that.
Great advice. Play most weekend and come off the course remembering the great shots which keeps me coming back. Bad shot memory last a nanosecond and teaches me nothing other than I am human. This to me can be described as the love for the challenge which keeps giving.
Important to "remember" your rounds a certain way. How we frame it can make all the difference.
Great video, its amazing how many people i play with focus on score and handicap. Understanding that there will be days when you can play well but not score, play rubbish but score well, golfs a funny old game....
It sure is!
Brutal truth: the course architect is a professional and he/she designed the course to be challenging, fun, and rewarding. Bunkers are where they are for a reason.
I have found bunkers always catch good aggressive shots and bad conservative shots. They rarely catch great aggressive shots or good conservative shots.
To step onto the first tee and have 59 or 62 in your head is an insult to the architect, the superintendent and even the cart girl.
Respect the course and par.
Good stuff Jon! Another brutal truth is unrealistic expectations for what constitutes a good shot. Tour pros average 19’ from 125yds but yet when we hit it to 40’ from that distance we’re unhappy. Golfers are too hard on themselves. It’s a hard game. Getting perspective on what’s a good shot for your skill level helps. Read Scott Fawcett or Mark Broadie’s work for helpful insight and be kinder to yourself.
Totally agree. Using stats is so helpful and I've learned a lot from Scott and Mark.
Great video Jon! Spot on man. New sub from Southern California 👊⛳👍
great video with some very good tips. Every amateur should watch this video. Have subbed.
Glad you liked it!
Brutal truths we need to hear. Thanks for that. I play my best golf when I am relaxed and not concerned about what anyone else is doing. Play my own game one shot at a time😊🙌🏼 subscribed
Thanks! We all need to make our own little bubble out there that we can go to at times.
Thanks for sharing how important attitude is. What you think and believe about yourself and how you expect to play on the golf course are very important. I teach that peak performance begins in the mind.
It sure does
I needed this coming out of the worse weekend playing a round of golf. Was on the verge of just quitting...but this video was timely. THANK YOU!!!
Love to hear this. There's always hope in this game!
Having played golf for around 60 years, I would say that these are some great insights.
Thanks! I hope I can play for 60 years. I'm halfway there 😃
For me what works is really trying to love each shot and not think about the previous ones, just enjoy each new shot.
love that mentality
This
Brutal truth is spending a lot of time on drills to make your swing look good on camera rarely works. However, doing drills that help master impact magically helps your swing look better on camera.
Funny how that works!
It always cracks me up in the comment section when people say "no way that person is (x) handicap with that swing" 😂
@@heydeereman1040 Golfers are notoriously bad at guessing handicaps based on a swing video!
love your style of videos and how you get into the data
Thank you! It's a new venture for me, so great to hear this feedback.
One of my best shots one time was on my 3rd shot. I was behind a bush I couldn't see over or around and on the other side was a small river and the green was on the other side. I was like just trying to get it over the bush and river. Didn't care what happened after that. Was playing with my dad and from where he was standing he knew I cleared the river. We were walking over the bridge to the green and couldn't see my ball anywhere. I was like there's no way I holed out. We walked to the cup and couldn't believe it. It was in the cup. I was just trying to get over the bush and river with not much expectations after that. I basically just decided to give it a swing and not worry about what happened and set my goal so low that I completely did way better than I thought was possible for me on that shot. Since than anytime I go golfing and I am about to shoot I set myself in position and try not to think about what I want to do. I count to 3 and just let my body's natural swing do what it can. I find if I think to much about what I want to happen I end up screwing up more and don't get the results I was hoping for. To much over thinking and so the counting to 3 just clears my head.
I was following Gary Player, who was having a bad day in a senior tournament. He was restlessly blaming his longtime caddie,Rabbit Dyer, for all of his misfortune. I asked Rabbit, "How do you stand it." He said," he is not going to be out here very much longer if it's him who he thinks is messing up." Sam Snead also always blamed external factors for his miscalculation. Their records speak volumes for this trait. Rabbit was called Rabbit because he had 12 kids, one of whom got into Harvard. He was teased that he would need to carry double to afford the tuition.
I'd have to disagree as it pertains to "normal" golfers. Player and Snead were on another universe in terms of their skill. For a typical golfer to relentlessly beat themselves up on the golf course, I'd argue most would perform way worse than if they had the ability to forgive themselves and not always focus on results. Just my 2 cents!
Learning to let the bad shots go is one of the hardest parts of the game. I could write a chapter of a book called “How I Lowered My Expectations and Scored Better”. I stared using my shot pattern to aim and not go at every pin. I figure birdies in many cases are “Happy Accidents”. I also know I’m going to make a really bad swing from time to time. Oh well.
Our perception of shot outcomes can make or break us
Im currently working with an instructor. We are focusing on ball striking and face/path control.
I like to hear that
Hi Jon. How can I buy your book from UK? I really enjoy your content as you make more sense than lots of RUclipsrs. Keep up these great shows!!!!
OK, found it!!! Looking forward to reading it!
Great! Hope you enjoy
I’ve long learned never to say out loud “y’know, I think I’ve sorted this game.” The Golfing Gods are alway listening.
Every...single...time
Great video
Thanks!
I've given up golf after 40 years off playing. Best thing I've ever done.
Sorry to hear that! But if things are better for you, I'm all for it.
One thing I see is people who want to throw money at gadgets or new equipment in the hopes that it will improve their game. And I suppose there are times where it does indeed make sense to buy new equipment. I was chatting with a guy who is a club fitter, and he was telling me about people for whom their money would be better spent on lessons and not new equipment.
There is a time and place for upgrades and investing money. But the industry pushes this way too hard and you have to be careful.
The swing thing happened to me. I thought it was useful in trying to improve, and it ruined my iron swing. I've since corrected it, and (when i actually focus on my swing) I've never hit it better.
Glad you got it back!
3:09 I look at it like poker. You play the hand you are dealt. Some holes (rounds) are just not going to be good. You just play that one hole and then go on to the next.
There are so many common threads between poker and golf
This reminds me of Bobby Jones’ comment that golf is played on a 6 inch course - between the ears.
Depends on the person. The more that I’ve learnt about the swing in general, the more comfortable I am about poor outcomes.
If I put a decent swing on a shot and get a poor outcome the easier it is to accept.
Nothing can bring out the black dog quicker than not knowing why something that seemed right bringing a crap outcome, of course that also happens.
I think that's a good example of knowing more about YOUR swing, which is very valuable
Yes indeed
Don't get too high with highs or low with the lows. Celebrate your wins and learn from your setbacks. Sometimes a break is better than beating yourself up.
That's the goal :)
Better not to have a teacher at all than to have a bad teacher. And here's a brutal truth: most teachers are bad. It's just a matter of how bad.
Not sure I agree with that! Plenty of really good teachers out there. But yes, like any profession, there are ones that aren't as good.
@@jonshermangolfinstructors are just like YT videos. They all tell you something different. There are so many ways to get the clubface on the ball and they all have their preferences. Just like you said your swing is not conventional. One instructor would want to change your swing. The next would work on your ball flight. Another would focus on your speed and contact.
“I have a little robot that goes around with me, I tell him what I’m thinking, I tell him what I see…”
If you know, you know.
You will only find lower scores on the golf course when you stop looking for them.
I think Yoda said that, right? 😃
Jon not showing his face for years only to show up looking like brooks koepkas other brother was not on my 2025 bingo card
haha, never heard that one before! But yes, I figured it was time to get my face out there
Good stuff! Ty
Glad you enjoyed it!