Commit to Every Shot

When you listen to tour pros talk about playing well, a lot of times you'll hear them say they were "committed" to every shot out there. It's important to understand what that means, because it's a terrific habit for any golfer to use in his or her game.

Committing to your shot happens in two pieces. There's the element before you actually get into your stance and are ready to play, and there's the part that comes when you're over the ball.

The first part is when you ask yourself what you're going to do next. If you're on the tee, it's thinking about the club you want to hit, the specific target out in the fairway, and the shape of the shot you see. The second part comes as you're stepping into your setup. It's the swing thought you're using to clear your mind and focus. That's personal to you, but examples could be feeling light grip pressure or reminding yourself to go at 75-percent swing tempo.

What you're doing is giving yourself a specific plan for each shot, which leaves less time (and space!) for doubt and fear. Commit to every shot, and you'll play your best golf.

*PIA NILSSON is ranked 17th on Golf Digest's list of America's 50 Best Teachers.

She is based at Vision54 in Scottsdale.*