The Part of Golf No One Taught You

Tag: Mindfulness

  • Scottie and Collin: Practice the Motion, Play the Memory

    Scottie and Collin: Practice the Motion, Play the Memory

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    by

    Steve A Furman
    in ,

    Two of the best golfers in the world recently said something that should stop every serious player in their tracks. Neither used the words mindfulness, presence, or flow. But that’s exactly what they were describing. Pay attention. Pebble Beach: February 2026 Collin Morikawa stood on the 18th fairway needing a birdie to win the AT&T…

  • Waiting Between Shots

    Waiting Between Shots

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    by

    Steve A Furman
    in

    You’re standing on the tee. The group ahead is still in the fairway. Five, maybe seven minutes before you can hit. What happens in your head? If you’re like most golfers, you find this annoying. A violation of your right to play when you’re ready. “What is that guy doing? Why doesn’t he just hit…

  • Think During Your Routine, Not Your Swing

    Think During Your Routine, Not Your Swing

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    by

    Steve A Furman
    in ,

    Today I was paired with Doug and his wife Lea in one cart, and Ted with me in the other. All three of my playing partners were excellent golfers with great swings and a clear understanding of what it takes to play the game. Such a pleasure to play with. They taught me a lot.…

  • The Perfection Prison

    The Perfection Prison

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    by

    Steve A Furman
    in

    Golf is a game of misses. Even the best players in the world are simply managing their mistakes far better than the rest of us. They also recover from a miss in astonishing ways. Ben Hogan said golfers should be satisfied with hitting just a few shots per round that feel absolutely perfect. Faultless golf…

  • 90/10

    90/10

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    by

    Steve A Furman
    in ,

    Try this exercise. Grab a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle. Label one column “Mechanics” and the other “Mental.” Now list the things you practice in each category. Take your time. Be honest. The Disparity If you’re like most golfers, the mechanics column filled up quickly. Grip. Stance. Backswing. Weight…

  • Invisible Drift

    Invisible Drift

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    by

    Steve A Furman
    in

    You’re striking the ball well. Then one shot in ten feels off. Poor contact. Unexpected direction. Easy to dismiss. That’s golf. But it crops up again. One in four. One in three. Something has changed, and you didn’t notice it happening. This is invisible drift—small, imperceptible changes in your setup or swing that accumulate over…

  • Why Tips Don’t Stick

    Why Tips Don’t Stick

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    by

    Steve A Furman
    in ,

    You’ve done everything right. Watched the videos, taken the lessons, filled your head with advice from every credible source you could find. Grip pressure. Shoulder turn. Weight shift. Lag. Release. You know more about the golf swing today than you did a year ago. So why aren’t you playing better? The Paradox Here’s golf’s cruelest…