The Bar of Expectation

I line my feet up and stare down the pin just a hundred yards out.

The front of the green is only about 75 yards out — pin’s in the back.

I’m certainly capable of hitting my gap wedge long on this, but it’s typically my 100 club. So as not to overshoot, I let up on my swing just a little, make decent contact, but just barely sneak on to the green. Maybe a 78 yard shot.

I’ve left myself a 60+ footer, and I’m not happy.

But why? Why am I unhappy with an approach shot that hits the green? This putt is for birdie, mind you.

Just a year ago, I’d dream of a green in regulation, thrilled with the possibility of a few GIRs in one round.

Simply put, I’ve improved. But to what degree must one improve in order to expect to perform consistently at that improved level?

As one improves, it’s understandable to raise your level of expectations for yourself.

If you’ve broken 90 a few times, it’s okay to expect to break 90 the next time you go out, but you shouldn’t raise the bar to the degree that your day is ruined after posting a 94.

My good friend, Tim Steffens, kindly reminds me of this frequently. We can’t go raising the bar just yet, he’d say to me.

This typically comes after I’ll mishit a long iron, and it will go relatively straight, but maybe 20 yards shorter than I desired (I hit it near the toe). I still have a good look at the pin and can give myself a par putt.

Or I’d miss a 12-footer for par (because 12-footers are difficult), and I’d tap in for bogey. These are things you just can’t beat yourself up about.

These things happen because we’re not professional golfers, not because we’ve lost it or because we’re no longer good at golf. They happen because that’s golf.

So I’ve come to this conclusion: expectation should lag far behind improvement. Let’s say you were an -18 handicap at the beginning of the year.

If you start posting a few +16 rounds here and there, you should give yourself some time to be pleasantly surprised. Do not immediately expect to do that every time you go our there.

I’ve broken 90 the last four times I’ve played eighteen (86, 89, 89, 89 granted), yet I still don’t actually expect to do that. I will give myself the grace to be thrilled with a sub-90 score for the time being.

Golf is more fun this way anyway.

We must not adjust the bar of expectation upon the moment we notice improvement.

It would simply not be fair to ourselves to do so.

Luke ManganOn Golf

Send this to someone who gets a little too frustrated on the golf course.