Happy Sunday, golfers.
Let’s get into it.
Today’s quote:
“A routine is not a routine if you have to think about it.”
—Davis Love Jr.
Get “in it”
I’ve written a lot about swing thoughts in this newsletter. So by now you probably know how I feel about them. If not, you can read this post below.
Nick Biondi wrote a good piece this week for GOLF.com on how “Too many swing thoughts can kill your golf game."
He argues that modern golfers have more information than ever, and this excess information often just gets in the way, causing them to interfere with their own swing.
Biondi writes:
As a PGA Professional, I’ve dedicated much of my career to understanding the biomechanics of the golf swing. I utilize 3D motion analysis, force and pressure measurement systems, high-speed video, and launch monitor technology to help golfers improve. In that time, I’ve also learned something that may surprise you. The more a golfer understands about their swing, the more opportunities they have to interfere with it. And that’s where the trouble begins.
He later goes on to discuss a concept from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan. The concept is what Mulligan refers to as getting “in it”.
The core idea is simple: when the time comes to hit the shot, your only job is to hit the shot. This is not the time to overanalyze swing mechanics. You’ve had plenty of time for that on the range. This is the time to hit a golf shot.
Golf Ball Saboteurs
This is less of a golf tip and more of a public service announcement/warning for the golfers who read this newsletter:
If you’re going to buy golf balls at a physical store location, make sure you pull the cover off and check the sleeves…
A recent X post went viral showing boxes of golf balls where the ProV1 sleeves were apparently swapped with TaylorMade sleeves and Chaos sleeves (I have never heard of Chaos golf balls either).
Dozens of other users replied with similar experiences.
As much as I love the tradition of walking into a physical store location and shopping the old-fashioned way, maybe we’d all be smarter to just order online…
Anyway, be careful out there gentlemen.
Side note: if you want an online golf ball retailer that offers some better pricing than the big-name guys, check out golfballs.com
8 Best Rounds
So you’re a 5-handicap, but you aren’t breaking 80 consistently. Why is that? What are you doing wrong!?
Well, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re actually playing exactly how a 5-handicap is supposed to play. Let me explain.
A lot of golfers completely misunderstand what the handicap system actually tracks—and what it doesn’t.
Your handicap is a reflection of your peak potential. It represents what happens when your entire game lines up. Not a reflection of your average day on the course.
This is obvious to some of you, and you might be wondering why I’m explaining how the handicap system works. But I think it’s vital to remind yourself how infrequently golfers actually play to their handicap. If you forget this reality, you are choosing a path of endless frustration.
Keep in mind that an official handicap only counts your 8 best rounds out of your last 20. I play with guys all the time who get frustrated when they don’t play to the level they know they’re capable of—let alone to the level they played yesterday. But this variance is normal! That’s how the system works.
You’re not meant to play your best golf every single round. You’re not even meant to play your best golf most rounds. In fact, according to the current system, you really should only be playing your best golf about 40% of the time (8/20 rounds).
I created this image to show you what 5-handicap golf can look like. Obviously every golfer is different, but generally speaking, you have more “bad” rounds than “good” rounds.
So the next time you’re off to a poor start to begin your round, take a breath. These ups and downs are just a natural part of the game. They do not define your ability. Giving yourself permission to abandon perfection before you tee off is a superpower. When you stop forcing a great round, you finally clear the mental space required to actually play one.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading.
Hope you all have a great week and get out and play!
—Tommy
Tommy’s Recommendations
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Resources
Grab a copy of my eBook The Game Within the Game (free for paying subscribers here).
Follow me on X here.
Email me at tourswingstommy@gmail.com
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