I’ve got a question for you.
Have you ever watched a golf professional and his or her caddy work together? Chance are you have if you’ve been to a tournament or view an event on TV.
Did you happen to notice how they got along?
I would submit that at least most of the time, it’s a pretty constructive relationship.
For both of them to have the best chance to have success…and make more money, they really have to work together. And there’s no question about the fact that every player has an ego…most often a healthy one…and part of caddy’s job is to support that confident part of the player.
If he doesn’t…well the chances are good neither participant will win anything or make much money. Both are bad things on the pro tours.
So what about your caddy?
Ok, I know what you’re thinking. Mark, I don’t have a caddy. For one thing I couldn’t afford one, and for another I’m fine with carrying my own bag or riding in a cart.
But that’s not the part of the caddying thing I’m talking about. Every golfer I know, needs some kind of support. Encouraging words, a confidence building and sustaining friend who’s behind them on every shot.
If you had a caddy of your very own, what might he or she say to you during a round? Think about this. It might be helpful strategy or advice, it might be a swing thought to help you stay on track, or it might just be an uplifting word or two that can keep you riding high.
If you reversed the roles between you and your make-belief caddy, what kind of caddy might you be? Would you be supportive, positive, and encouraging? Or would you be sent packing because of a “pissy attitude”? Bad caddies don’t last long you know…
So here’s the big question. Who’s your caddy?
When you play on your own, YOU are all you’ve got. YOU are your caddy, ball washer, club cleaner, confidence generator, and mental coach.
Are you a good caddy? Do you support yourself with optimistic words, and helpful advice, or do you tear yourself apart with negative words, judgements, and criticisms?
If it’s the latter, you need to stop that! Fire that caddy and exchange him or her for a good one!
Negative self talk will do absolutely nothing for your game other than tear it down. So if catch yourself in the middle of a critical tirade, stop. Interrupt that negative pattern with one that’s more constructive of what you really want out of your game.
You may not get the desired results right away but gradually you’ll find that you’ll play better, with more consistency and I might add more joy, with your new caddy.
Treat the player in you just as you would treat a great player if you were caddying for them. You and your game deserve no less.
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