Finding consistency in golf is a major challenge. One of the biggest complaints that amateur golfers have about their games is their inability to perform consistently from round to round – or even from hole to hole. It often seems as though a string of good holes is likely to be followed by a string of bad holes. Golf can be frustrating for a number of reasons, but a lack of consistency is right near the top of the list.

As you might suspect, taking the same mood with you to the course round after round can contribute to more consistent performance. Is this going to mean that you never hit a bad shot again? Of course not – there will always be bad shots for as long as you keep playing golf. However, taking the same mood out onto the links day after day is going to encourage consistency, as it should help you maintain the same tempo from hole to hole. Also, with a steady mood should come improved decision making, and good decisions are always more likely to lead to good scores.

One of the common mistakes made by amateur golfers with respect to mood on the course is changing their mental approach depending on the round. This might make sense at first as a good strategy, but it can actually get you into trouble. For instance, you might decide that you really aren’t going to focus during a casual round with your friends, as you don’t care much about the score you shoot. Then, during your next round – which happens to be in a tournament – you are going to focus intently on each shot. You care deeply about your score in this tournament round, so you think it makes sense to give this round every last bit of mental energy you can muster.

Unfortunately, this plan is going to cause more harm than good. By not focusing much during your casual round, you aren’t going to do much to prepare yourself for the tournament. If anything, you might be taking away from your tournament preparation, by getting out of your usual habits. Then, by trying so hard from a mental perspective during the tournament, you are going to put extra pressure on yourself to play well. You will probably feel mentally exhausted by the end of the day, and you will likely have played poorly.

A better plan for these two rounds would be to use a mental approach which is somewhere in the middle. You aren’t going to try too hard in either round, instead keeping your mood and effort level on an even plane. In the end, you will play better in both rounds when you approach the game this way, and you’ll be positioned to play well during the tournament. It is common for golfers – professionals and amateurs alike – to try too hard during competitions. Don’t make that mistake. Maintain your approach to the game no matter what is on the line and expect improved outcomes as a result.

You might not have thought previously about your mood on the course, but it is an important piece of the golf puzzle. If you can master the right mood for your game, you will be able to even out your performances from round to round. This mental game improvement isn’t going to wipe out your bad shots or anything like that, but it will help you get more enjoyment out of your time on the course – and you should shoot better scores as well. Good luck!