Why do some players get worse and others get better...

Every year in golf there is a graduation, the top 25 on the web.com tour, get to move up and test their games on the PGA Tour.  The list is often made up of former tour players trying to get back on the tour and rookies dying for the chance to show their stuff.

As a coach, I like to watch and see how the rookies do and every year there are always guys that end up back on the web.com tour or simply disappear.  In my observation there are a few things that stop players succeeding when they reach a certain level.

These levels are different for all of us based on our ability but the same things may apply to you and your game.  

1. In an effort to get even better, we often change things that got us to where we are.  We might change equipment, training programs, coaches, etc.  The best and most successful athletes change things slowly and focus on their strengths because it is those strengths that make them winners.
2. Pressure to succeed, once we achieve a certain threshold or level of success we often lose site of the fact that we are still playing the same game as always, but due to circumstance we perceive it as different and therefore create unnecessary pressure to perform.
3. We lose perspective on what really matters and spend less time doing what we used to do when we were trying to succeed and more time working on what we think we should do.  We stop taking days off and getting rest and recovery; we stop social interaction and activities that we used to enjoy, as we become consumed by our passion to get better.
4. We listen to others that have played at a higher level than us and we take their advice on what we should do to get better.  Golf is such a unique sport that you have to find out what’s right for you.  Your practice habits may have gotten you to the biggest stage in the world and now that you’re here don’t want to change them just refine them.

Remember its okay to do it your way, you can listen, learn and ask questions but don’t copy someone else, be yourself.  The best in many ways did it differently; they did it their way. So be one of them.