Quick Tip: To bounce back after a bad hole in golf, practice positive self-talk, use a reset ritual, and focus on the process over the outcome. These strategies will help you recover mentally, save your scorecard, and enjoy your round.
As dire as things may seem during a round of golf, there are ways to bounce back from bad golf scores. There are keys to saving your scorecard (and sanity) from utter disaster. You’ve just got to know what they are and how to apply them.
Why Learning to Recover After a Bad Hole in Golf Matters
Dr. Alison Curdt, one of GOLF Magazine’s “Teachers to Watch,” provides some valuable tips on how to avoid compounding your mistakes after a bad hole.
“Regardless of how good of a player you are, every golfer experiences moments of frustration on the course, which can lead them to lose their focus and post higher scores. But an entire round shouldn’t nosedive after just one bad hole,” according to Curdt.
“Whether it’s a sudden hook into the rough or a triple bogey that sends your score skyrocketing, how you recover mentally from these setbacks can make or break your golf game,” she adds
How to Regain Confidence After a Triple Bogey or Bad Round
“As a golf teacher and sports psychotherapist with decades of experience, I’ve witnessed countless players struggle with bouncing back from adversity on the course. But by using three invaluable strategies, you’ll gain the ability to reset your focus, improve your confidence and settle your composure after a bad golf score.”
Top Mental Tips to Bounce Back After a Bad Hole
1. Embrace the Power of Positive Self-talk
After a disastrous hole, it’s natural for negative thoughts to creep into your mind — leading many players to question their abilities and testing their resolve. The berating self-critic can get pretty loud in your head, which only creates doubt and emotional reactions.
However, mastering the art of productive self-talk can be a game-changer. Instead of dwelling on your mistakes, consciously shift your internal dialogue to focus on constructive and encouraging statements. Remind yourself of your strengths, past successes and the countless times when you’ve overcome challenges on the course.
By simply cultivating a mindset rooted in optimism and self-belief, you’ll regain the mental resilience needed to tackle the remainder of your round with renewed determination.
2. Adopt a Ritual of Resetting
In moments of frustration, it’s easy to let emotions cloud your judgment and derail your performance — which is why Curdt recommends cultivating a deliberate ritual of resetting.
Some players simply take a deep breath or visualize a calming scene. Others perform a physical routine such as adjusting their glove or tapping the club. Whatever you find calming, find a reset ritual that works for you.
This simple act is a powerful one. Why? It serves as a psychological cue to let go of past mistakes and refocus your attention on the present. By incorporating this ritual into your game, you’ll cultivate a sense of control and composure, enabling you to approach the rest of your round with a clear mind and a steady hand.
3. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
How many golfers only focus on the outcome? “I’d say a very good amount — especially amateur players, who don’t always understand the process involved in executing a great shot,” Curdt says.
Rather than fixate on the score, especially a bad one, focus instead on the process you go through before playing each shot. Doing so will shift your mind from dwelling on the bogey or double bogey you just carded and, instead, focusing on the next shot you face and the application of your pre-shot routine.
Golf is filled with uncontrollable situations. Accepting those and concentrating on what you can control is the best way to relax and take back your golf game. The idea is to regain a sense of purpose and direction on the course.
Staying Present: The Secret to Saving Your Scorecard
Golf is a game of precision and patience. Success ultimately hinges on your ability to stay in the present and execute each shot with intentionality. By embracing the journey and trusting your own skills, you’ll find that a bad golf score is merely a temporary setback on the path to improvement and success.
Bouncing back from a bad hole (or a bad round) requires a combination of mental fortitude, resilience and strategic thinking. Incorporating the above skills will enable you to stay ahead of any negativity, leading to more fun and lower scores.
At the end of the day, Curdt believes it’s not about the mistakes we make on the course. “It’s how we respond to them that ultimately defines our success as golfers.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Recovering After a Bad Hole in Golf
How do you recover mentally after a bad golf hole?
Focus on positive self-talk, use a reset ritual, and concentrate on the next shot rather than the mistake.
What is the best way to stop one bad hole from ruining a golf round?
Accept the mistake, reset your mindset, and follow your pre-shot routine to stay focused on the process, not the score.
Why do amateur golfers struggle to recover from bad shots?
Many fixate on outcomes rather than the process, leading to frustration and compounding mistakes. Mental resilience is key to bouncing back.
Can professionals also struggle with bad holes?
Yes. Even elite players have setbacks, but what sets them apart is their ability to refocus quickly and keep the rest of the round on track.
