5 Golf Improvement Hacks: How to Get Your Game Unstuck and Back On-Track Fast with Hack # 4

Photo by PTGC Student Candice High

In our last article on our third golf improvement hack we discussed the value of establishing transition points built around game improvement within a 12 month period.

In this article we are going to share the 10 golf improvement power questions that you must answer to start to create the momentum that will get you moving forwards towards the outcomes you want.

There’s an old saying that goes something like this; “the answer to your problem is in the question that you ask,” and nothing is truer than this. 

Quite often golfers get stuck with their game because they don’t ask the right questions the right way.



So what are the right questions?

These are the ‘how’ and ‘what’ power questions that you can ask that will empower you to move forwards, create momentum and make progress with your golf. 

They are not the ‘why’ questions that you are probably asking often, questions like these; 

• Why haven’t I made progress?
• Why can’t I do this or do that?
• Why do I get angry and frustrated?
• Why me?
• Why do I feel like giving up?
• And so on...

OK, so enough of the "why I can't" questions; let's aim our focus on the "how and what" golf improvement questions to get you moving steadily towards your desired outcomes.

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Golf Improvement Hack # 3: The 10 Power Questions You Must Ask
There is real power in asking great ‘how’ and ‘what’ questions, and the following 10 power questions will definitely get you moving out of your rut and onto the path of continuous golf improvement.

Make sure you have a note book, pencil and eraser handy to write down each question and whatever you do...

                                   DON'T TYPE THEM INTO YOUR COMPUTER OR PHONE

Writing your outcomes with a pencil is far more powerful and will help you to internalize your answers which will go a long way to helping you realize your outcomes inside of 12 months. Also by writing your answers in pencil you can keep adjusting and improving the answer until you get it right.

So let's get into the 10 golf improvement power questions right now and start changing your situation today!

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The Detail

If I asked you to describe with detail a canoe could you do it? I bet you probably could, now, what if I asked you to describe an ocean liner, could you do that? Both of these craft float on the water but the scale and detail of one compared to the other is miles apart. 

When you take the first step towards achieving your outcome you need to be very specific with how you describe and write down what you want.

The Question..."Of all the things that you could be, have or do, what one specific outcome do you want to achieve with your golf within the next 12 months?"

When you answer this important power question please remember to state it as positively and as specifically as you can; that is, describe exactly what you want positively, NOT what you don’t want.

Also consider that this outcome you want to achieve within 12 months will be definitely within your control and not fully dependent on others. It has to be something you can achieve with your work, effort or dedication, and not someone else’s.

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The Evidence

In martial arts as individuals improve and make progress they are awarded a colored belt that tells them and others that they have achieved a certain level of competence with their skills and knowledge. They are rewarded for their effort and there is evidence that supports the work they have done.

The Question..."What will your proof or evidence look like when you achieve this outcome you want within 12 months?"

In other words how will you know when you achieve it? Will it be something you can touch, see or feel? Describe it exactly as you want it.

Is it a trophy you can pick up and hold? Or is it a score average you can see on a computer screen-- or possibly it’s confirmation from your golf instructor that a skill you have been working on  for some time has been learned and earned?

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The Opportunity

There’s no doubt that when you achieve something of significance it affects your life in many different ways. Your environment changes and the elements within your environment change as well. 

One of our professional students recently won his first big golf tournament and as a result, not only did his bank account grow by a few more zeroes, but as a result of his win he will be offered opportunities that were not available to him before his win.

The Question..."When you reach your outcome within 12 months how will achieving this outcome change or affect your life. What will achieving this outcome do for you?"

Your life will change if the outcome you strive for is valuable enough to you...

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The Consequences

Now everyone will be happy when you achieve your outcome. Yes it's true; often people you know and call friends are happy and comfortable when they perceive you as being on the same level as them, and when this perception changes for them they can feel excluded. 



Consider also that a change in the position or placement of a value can create huge consequences; like for example if someone decided that working harder is more important than time with their family. 

The consequences of a decision like this can mean that the effects can be widespread and far from positive.

The Question..."When you achieve this outcome how will it affect those around you like you family members, your friends or factors such as your health and well being?"

Always understand that their are consequences to any new action or activity and be prepared for it...

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Quid Pro Quo

There’s one indisputable fact when it comes to achieving worthwhile outcomes and it is this; to achieve something of value you are required to sacrifice something of value in return. 

This is a simple exchange of something for something (quid pro quo - Latin) and this sacrifice could be extra effort, or more time invested in improving some aspect of your process leading to your newly defined outcome.

The Question..."What is the sacrifice you will make to obtain this outcome? How do you know that what you want to achieve is worth the price you have to pay?"

Are you ready for the sacrifice you must make of time and effort that is required for you to change the direction of your life?...

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The Confidence

Achieving your outcome will influence many things in your life. Confidence for example is a bi-product of the knowledge that you are very good at something because of your ability to know how to achieve consistent outcomes that you want. 

All successful individuals have high self-esteem—that is they feel good about themselves as a result of achieving their goals, and it will be no different for you.


The Question..."What else in your life will improve when you achieve this outcome?"

Just as there are negative affects by achieving worthwhile outcomes there are many positive ones as well, what are they likely to be when you achieve your outcome?...

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The Leader

Apart from the benefits of more confidence and self-esteem, the other important factor is how your self-image will change on the golf course as a result of achieving your outcome. 

Think of any successful individual from any field of endeavor and notice how influential they are with those around them because of how they see themselves and project it outwards in the context of the things that they do really well.

The Question..."What kind of golfer will you become when you achieve this outcome?"

You will notice that all the great golfers have a presence about them that influences those around them. It's a quiet confidence that gives you the impression that they know they are great golfers, and that they know that you know that they are great golfers...

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The Help

Throughout the history of the human race people have made progress with the help of others. You simply cannot climb to the top of your mountain without the assistance of others who have knowledge and experience you can leverage from.

With high achievers it is mentors or teachers who help to advise them on their journey to somewhere they have never been before.


The Question..."Who will help you to achieve your outcome within 12 months? In other words do you already have resources in the form of teachers or instructors who can help you?"

Do you currently have the knowledge and skills you need to make progress towards this outcome, and if not, do you have you access to those that can help you?...

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The Options

There is always more than one way to get to your desired outcome. Your challenge will always be to determine the surest path to your outcome—though not necessarily the path of least resistance, it will be the path that not only leads to your outcome but probably also requires you learn to be more persistent and patient than ever before.

You cannot escape the fact that you will be required to work hard to achieve your desired outcomes, however the path you choose determines to a great extent the type of work you do and who you will do it with.

The Question..."Is there more than one way to get to your outcome? Have you considered all the different options available to you?" 

Are there alternatives or other courses of action that you can take that might get you to your outcome sooner?...Write down the options you have and then decide on which one will be best for you.

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The Action

Look around you and you will notice that everything was at first an idea that someone put action into and made it a reality. They not only thought about what they wanted, they did something about it by taking action, or the first tentative step followed by another and another... 

Success achieving your most important outcomes always gets down to making the first positive step.

The Question..."Specifically, if you were to make the first step today what would it be? Could you move forwards today if you wanted to?" 

Make sure when you answer this question it is answered in a positive, specific, and achievable way and probably with a bit of a stretch...

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So there you have it 10 golf improvement power questions that will help you to get out of your current rut or sticking point and on a path to better golf. 

Remember the power of this lesson is in asking the questions the right way. 

Up until this point you have probably been asking the questions differently to this. 

Spend the time today to sit down with your pencil, notebook and eraser and do your best to answer each question thoughtfully and with the emphasis on being a specific and honest as you can be.

See you next week for the last of our 5 golf improvement hacks.

Lawrie Montague and David Milne - Pro Tour Golf College
Your Success On Tour is Our Business

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