No one likes to be embarrassed in front of others and especially if you have just met the person for the first time. The interesting thing about golf is that no matter how good you are, you will continue to hit embarrassing shots.
It happens on the PGA Tour every couple of weeks and probably a lot more frequently at your local course. Here are some ways to recover from embarrassing golf shots.
Forget About It
As the title says, forget about it. Just move on and focus on your next shot so that it doesn’t happen again. Clear your mind and try to forget that it ever happened. The earlier in your round that it happens the better, so by the time you reach the back nine it will be a thing of the distant past.
Laugh It Off
The best advice I can give is to laugh it off. Make a quick joke about it and have some fun with it. Heck, even Tiger Woods has duffed a shot or two in his day.
Keep It Simple
Don’t over analyze what went wrong because you will be thinking about it for the rest of the round. Take a quick practice swing and if everything feels fine than you know it was just an anomaly and you can move on. If something feels odd in your swing, ask your playing partner to take a quick look to see if they notice anything out of the ordinary.
Think About Something Else
Get your mind off of the golf swing for a few minutes. Talk to your playing partners and ask them some questions. The last thing you want is to step up to your next shot with you still thinking about what went wrong with the previous shot.
Ease Up on the Pressure
Always remember to have fun out on the course. There is no reason to put a high amount of pressure on yourself for a round of golf with friends. Your expectations for any round of golf should be to enjoy yourself first and the performance should come second. Otherwise, you won’t be much the most popular person to play with.
The more pressure you put on yourself, the more likely you are to make a mistake.
Head for the Practice Area
If you are struggling with a certain shot and it’s why you’re being embarrassed out on the course, then head to the range or chipping green to iron out the problems. Don’t go and play a round of golf just because someone asked. Make sure you are comfortable with your game before taking the field.
Don’t Be Afraid to Change
Humans are usually afraid of change and that holds true especially for golf. Making a swing change or grip change can be a tough thing, but in the long run it usually works out for the best. Don’t be afraid to implement something new into your game if it helps you. Ask questions and take advice from others on how to improve your swing.