Peak performance, every round.

Peak performance is an optimization problem. Athlete One mentally checks out, hoping the absence of intention will open the door to out-of-this-world ability. Athlete Two tries to control every outcome precisely. Athlete One is disengaged and plagued by careless play. Athlete Two is tense and anxious, finding nothing but erratic results. We need to be somewhere in the middle, and we need to be able to stay there throughout a round. Alert and attentive yet relaxed. Our movements are reactive and automatic. Maintaining this balance is fragile yet critical to producing consistent progress.

The tipping point usually comes from added pressure (ex. playing a tournament) or unexpected setbacks (ex. a bad shot or hole). Suddenly, habits, routines, and preparation get new layers of complexity amidst the excitement, stress, and nerves. The premise is understandable but the effects can be catastrophic. Like cramming for a test or trying to memorize notes for an interview 5 minutes before, panicked efforts to control outcomes or make up for perceived lack of preparation send us spiraling. So how do we combat this!?!

We need to define optimal performance correctly. To put it briefly, it’s about learning to focus on what you can control and not being worried about what you can’t. Here are the key points:

1. Preparation and Expectations
2. Routines/Process
3. Emotional Regulation
4. Be Aware and Make Adjustments
5. Accept the Outcomes

Preparation and Expectations

Whether you play competitively or recreationally, preparation differs. The important part is that you must set performance expectations correctly based on how much you can and are willing to prepare. Want to break 75 but only play once a week and never practice putting? Forget it. Want to win a tournament but don’t practice playing under pressure? Good luck. Aligning your expectations and preparation not only gives you confidence but also freedom to show up on game day and execute because you’ve already trained for the experience you want repeatedly. If the goal is breaking 80 or 100, winning the club championship or family scramble, the reality is the same. Preparation promotes readiness, and readiness achieves goals.

Routines/Process

When pressure mounts or obstacles arise, we feel an urge to “change it up”. On the surface it makes sense; something doesn’t go our way so we need to do something differently. Better players realize this approach is itself a mistake because golf is full of variability. It’s just part of the game. Despite our best efforts, we can’t control every outcome, including score. So when things go wrong, the last thing we should do is add more variability by changing how we approach the game. Routines provide comfort and confidence. Next time on the course, test yourself on how well you commit to your pre- and post-shot routines every single swing. Poor outcomes will still happen, but you’ll increase the odds for consistency by staying true to your practiced processes.

Emotional Regulation

This is a broad topic but emotional regulation requires maintaining a steady mental and physiological state during play. When things go well, don’t get so amped up that swings get faster and targets get more aggressive. When things go poorly, don’t get so negative that focus turns to anger and carelessness. Having consistent routines helps greatly but when we slip, a favorite tactic is to give yourself 10-15 seconds after any shot to either celebrate or be mad. After that, take a deep breath then back to baseline and onto the next shot.

Be Aware and make Adjustments

As mentioned, staying consistent can be a fragile balance. Being able to take inventory on how you’re performing is vital to make sure you’re staying in “the zone” and not shifting toward the poles of caring too much or not enough. White-knuckling through a round may be exciting, but we can all agree it’s not a smart approach. Additionally, self-awareness must be combined with the ability to adjust. We can’t make major changes and expect consistency, but small 1% tweaks are necessary and help us course-correct as rounds progress. Swing feels, breathwork, positive self-talk, snacking, hydration, meditation, or even just singing a favorite song (seriously, try it) are highly effective strategies to maintain mental and physiological balance, especially when the stakes are high.

Accept the Outcomes:

Even when we prepare effectively and “check all the boxes”, there will never be any guarantees. Mental miscues, swings that aren’t fully cooperating, and plain old bad luck are inherent to every golfer’s experience regardless of skill. Stronger players recognize this, use the tactics above to control the misses as best they can, and lean into all results as a chance to adapt and grow. Think of it this way; Golf simply wouldn’t be fun or challenging if every shot could be hit perfectly. Embrace the variability, give yourself grace, and use every opportunity as a chance to learn something new in this crazy game.