The CSGA Links Volume 6 Issue 2 May, 2018 | Page 28

The Mindful Golfer
By Dr. Josh Brant, Clinical Psychologist and Sports Performance
How to Develop a ‘Gritty’ Mindset
The passion and perseverance that creates success

Last month we talked about making a plan for the season, a concrete way to turn the enthu-
siasm you feel each spring into real progress and lower scores.

The final factor in that plan is something psychologists call grit. It is the mental ingredient
that will keep you on track, keep you executing your plan.

The best athletes in the world, including golfers, have a mindset driven by grit. They see fail-
ure as an opportunity to learn and are unstoppable in achieving their goals. According to Angela
Duckworth, at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the leading researchers on the subject,
grit is about having “a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost
everything you do. And grit is holding steadfast to that goal.
Even when you fall down. Even when you screw up. Even when
“This combination
progress toward that goal is halting or slow.” No matter what
of passion and
level of player you aspire to be, your attitude and mindset will
ultimately determine whether you achieve your goal or not. The perseverance is what
research on grit can help guide the way. Consider the following made high achievers
questions:
special. In a word,

When practicing or playing, and I hit a “poor” shot, do I
they had grit.”
recovery quickly and see it as an opportunity to learn? Or, do I
let my emotions convince me I will never get better?

When practicing or playing, do I strive to be the best I can
be working hard until the practice session or round is com-
pleted? Or, do I take a more conservative and conventional
approach to my practice and play, picking my spots to push
myself, but determined to “stay the course”?

Do I set long-term goals for development as a golfer
and follow through on them? Or, am I more laissez-faire about
my development in that I have goals, but I’m not so much con-
cerned about follow through as I know I will eventually figure
it out?

When I practice or play, do I set high standards for
myself working hard to master technique, but at the same
time accept the fact that I will never hit every shot perfectly?
Or, am I determined to hit every shot perfectly and allow
rounds to be derailed when perfection doesn’t happen?
If you were able to answer in the affirmative to the first
question in each of the groupings, you have grit and your
28 | CSGA Links // May 2018
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