I had a work trip to Vancouver which meant 10+ hours in a plane, so I managed to get in some reading time and elected to focus on golf. I thought it appropriate to begin with a book titled ‘Secret to Breaking 90’ and have included my 5 favourite highlights from the book below.
Golf: The Secret to Breaking 90 by John Collins
“Your overall goal might be to break 90, but your focus while on the course should be to hit each individual shot to the best of your abilities. If your mind is preoccupied with the idea of breaking 90 while you are playing the first hole, you won’t be able to play up to your potential. Do your best to focus on executing each swing and wait until the round is over to add them all up.”
“Golf is a hard game, and you are bound to become angry with yourself after hitting a poor shot. It is okay to be frustrated, but it is not okay to carry that frustration over to the next shot. Your job as a golfer is to process your emotions quickly so they can be left behind as you prepare to continue on with the round.”
“As you move through the course, make it your main goal to avoid taking penalty shots. When you get ready to hit a shot by picking a club and a target, use the avoidance of penalty shots as you main focus.”
“To get the best from your short game while on the course you are going to need a great mental game plan, and that means one thing – visualization. Visualizing your shots is a powerful tool, but most golfers never even give it a try. If you can incorporate visualization into your short game successfully, you can expect to chip it closer and hole more putts in the near future.”
“Course management is frequently overlooked as a path to better golf, but it is just as important as your stance or your grip. Good decisions lead to good swings, and vice versa. Learn how to manage your way around the golf course like a pro and you are sure to shoot better scores – including breaking 90 for the first time.”
My biggest takeaways from the book were the importance of focus, managing emotions, strategizing, visualization, and course management
Breaking Ninety 