Spring Tune-Up: Better thinking leads to better golf

At Good Thinking Golf, we believe golf is a thinking game, played with a swing and a club. If you’d like better results this season why not skip mechanics and consider your mindset.

I see it every spring… golfers racing to fix their swing, when what they really need is a better plan. Spring is an exciting time. The weather turns, courses open, and the urge to get back out there is strong. And while most golfers are focused on their swing, very few pay attention to their short game and/or putting—the one part of the game that shows up on every hole.

One of Canada’s great ambassadors of the game, Jerry Anderson, once shared with me that if he had to do it all over again, he’d get really, really good from inside six feet. How’s that!

If you get really good inside six feet, you effectively give yourself a much bigger target to chip and pitch to: a 12-foot circle. Missing greens, fairways, or tee shots becomes far less stressful, and the game becomes a lot more enjoyable!

So, here’s a better question for you as you start your season, “Are you tuning up your swing or your thinking?”

Start with Awareness

Before changing anything, let’s take a step back. What’s actually happening in your game?

Many golfers rush to fix what they don’t fully understand. That leads to more confusion and less consistency.

As they say, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” What’s your target? Where are you going to prioritize your time?

Be careful what you work on—and what you think about. In physiology, if you strengthen a dysfunction, you magnify your weaknesses.

Keep It Simple

After a long winter, it’s tempting to load up on swing thoughts.

Simple ideas hold up under pressure. Complex ones disappear when you need them most.

Find a simple idea and make that your TARGET. Maybe it’s your good personal tempo.

Forget about mechanics. The golf swing isn’t a mental checklist you run through as you make it. When you drive a car, you don’t think about your hands on the wheel when making a turn.

You focus on where you want the car to go. That’s good thinking.

Play with the Game You Brought Today

Your swing might not be “mid-season ready”—and that’s okay.

If you saw my backswing, you might think I coached Jim Furyk. He’s got the only normal swing on The Champions Tour as far as I’m concerned! We’re both sneaky short—but we miss it straight all day!

Checkup from the Neck-Up

Your mindset travels with you—from the first tee to the final putt … or your next shot.

One thing I’ve learned in my golf journey: wherever I go, my thoughts go with me.

Are you patient, or pressing? Are you committed, or cautious? Are you decisive or doubtful?

Anxiety and tension show up quickly in your game. It’s like riding the brakes—you’re still moving forward, just not very well.

Let’s begin with a target in mind, plan ahead, and stick with good thinking moving forward!

Build Momentum with Small Wins

You might not need a complete swing overhaul – heck you won’t even need a U-Haul.

All you need are small improvements. It just takes a small rudder to turn a big ship!

Think in terms of your own small course corrections: ONE better decision per hole, ONE swing thought, ONE consistent pre-shot routine. Good results will follow good thinking!

Be Patient, It’s Still a Game

Spring golf tests your patience. Conditions aren’t perfect. Your game isn’t sharp yet, that’s normal! Forcing results usually makes things worse. Let the game come to you, and as Carl Spackler (Bill Murray) said in Caddyshack, just “be the ball.”

The players who improve the fastest aren’t always the most serious, they’re often the most relaxed. Enjoy the process, you’ll play better because of it.

One Final Thought

Before you overhaul your swing this season, think about this: you can play good golf with bad fundamentals, just as easily as you can play bad golf with good fundamentals. The difference is all in your head.

Good thinking leads to good decisions – and good decisions lead to lower scores!

Jeff Boismier
Good Thinking Golf Performance Coach

 If you need help with your game this season, I’m available. Text / call me at 416-688-0036 or email me at jeffboismier@gmail.com