"I should make these short putts."
"I must get up-and-down from here."
"I need to birdie the next hole."
We’ve all heard these phrases or even said them ourselves. At first glance, they seem innocent—maybe even motivational. But these phrases belong in the “dirty words jar” of golf, as they can be more harmful than helpful and often have a negative impact on performance.
In his book Golf Beneath the Surface, Dr. Raymond Prior explains how rigid language like should and must can trigger harmful responses in the brain and body. These words create unnecessary pressure and activate the brain’s threat-detection system, which sends us into a fight-or-flight state. When this happens, our nervous system responds with shallow breathing, an increased heart rate, and—worst of all—muscle tension. And when we’re trying to make smooth, fluid movements, tension is the last thing we need.
For example, imagine standing over a 4-foot putt and thinking, “I should make this one.” This kind of thinking is more likely to lead to a tight, jabby putting motion—and those “should-make” putts often end up missing. But if you instead tell yourself, “I want to make this putt” or “It’s okay if I miss this putt,” the body remains relaxed, and the mind stays calm. You’ll find that you sink more putts with a relaxed approach than you would with pressure-filled expectations.
Next time you’re on the green or chipping area, experiment with using should/need/must versus want/prefer/like to language in your practice reps. See how it impacts your performance—chances are, you’ll notice a difference in your fluidity and focus.
What words do you tend to use when the pressure is on?
How does your internal dialogue shape the way you execute under pressure?