“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”  -Albert Einstein

Rounds judged simply on score alone are not telling the entire story.  Accurate feedback is essential for long term progress (and sanity).  Keep a second score giving yourself points for commitment to your focus.  Here are some ideas to incorporate when choosing your Personal Scoring System:

• -Tie it into your Playing Focus.  For example, “today I am committing to a light grip pressure on every shot”, or “today I’m going to do my Pre-shot routine on every shot”, etc. Give yourself a point for every shot you stay committed to your Playing Focus.
• -“Brain points”:  Give yourself a point for every time you hit a shot and stay positive or neutral with your Post-Shot reaction.
• -Make it an aspect of your game that you have 100% Control over.:  Every time you stay focused on aspects of the game that are 100% in your control, give yourself a point.  (i.e. I practiced good sportsmanship after a blow-up hole, I focused on my shot rather than my playing partner’s slow play).
• -Make it Process Focused rather than Result Oriented.  Add a positive point when you stay with your process and detach for the outcome.  For example, “I hit a great putt, even though it didn’t go in.”

Whichever element you choose to measure, commit to the process and the results (along with lower scores) will come.

Dodie Mazzuca is the Director of Instruction at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, AZ (Nov.-April).  She also teaches golf in Santa Cruz, CA (May-Oct.). www.DodieMazzuca.com