When asked how many times a round he missed a shot, Ben Hogan, one of the greatest players of all time, answered Everyone that didnt go in the hole. Ben Hogan was one of the most accurate shot makers in history. His statement contains one of the most important lessons I can ever give you. Nearly every shot you make is a miss. This is true for every player in the world. If your goal is put the ball in the hole, every time you dont do that its a miss.

When you can embrace this fact, you will begin improving. One difference between high-handicap players and low-handicap players is the recognition of one's own abilities. Always play within yourself. What does this mean? It means don't expect to execute low percentage shots. If you do attempt low percentage shots, don't get upset if you fail. By playing to your abilities, you will have more fun. If you have more fun, you will play better.

Except during times of rapid improvement or decline, you will play to your handicap only one in every four or five rounds. That means if you have a 28 handicap, you will shoot 100 or under every fourth of fifth round. It's easy to expect to play your best every time you play. In fact I encourage you to expect great play from yourself. The problem comes when we become upset, frustrated or angry when we don't play our best.

Dont let frustration beat you. Forgive yourself for hitting a poor shot. No one shot defines a round. No one shot defines a player. Just as no one round defines a player. We all have good days, we all have bad days. If you are letting your frustration get the better of you, you will not improve. Once frustration has set in, it can be very difficult to overcome. Your attitude and tension will not allow you to swing smoothly. Your confidence will diminish. Your heart rate will increase and you will not play calmly.

Not only will you wreak havoc on your own game but also the games of your playing partners. No matter how hard you try to hide it, your body language will reveal your temperament. It becomes like a plague, spreading throughout your foursome. Pretty soon everyone is playing poorly.

So what can we do when we hit a bad shot or miss an easy putt. The first thing is to forget it ever happened. Ask any athlete that is at the top of their sport to give you a play by play of their last game. They some how leave out all the mistakes that they made. Their minds have been programmed to only remember the good moments. Unless reminded by a reporter, they have forgotten. This is how our minds build confidence in our abilities. This is the beginning of becoming automatic.

When we loose the baggage of previous shot and keep our focus on the next shot, our minds and bodies perform in unison. This is such an important ingredient to playing your best golf. Not is this important for poor shots, it is equally important for great shots. How many times have you made a spectacular shot and followed it up with a really poor shot? It's happened to all of us. We are still thinking about the previous shot.

Always, always begin focusing on the next shot as soon as you are finished with the current shot. Don't even wait for the ball to come to rest. You can begin planning your next shot as soon as you have an idea of where your ball will stop. Do not give your mind a chance to relive the last shot. Do not give your mind a chance to become frustrated or to jump for joy. Save your shot analysis for after the round. This is when a good pre-shot routine becomes so important.

Have you ever noticed how little emotion PGA tour players exhibit? True, there are some players that can ride the ebb and tide of emotions during a round. But the majority, especially the older players, stay on an even keel. They are very much aware of how emotions affect their abilities. This knowledge has given them edge that they can use to their benefit. Most PGA Tour players today can tell you when their heart rates are elevated and they have very specific routines for playing during these moments.

Another method of reducing tension is breathing deeply and slowly. Inhale slow and exhale even slower. Do this four or five times in a row. Also, keep moving to reduce tension build up. If you are waiting for the group ahead, stay on your feet. Walk around, clean your clubs or talk with your playing partners. Any activity that is calming to you.

Some foods that will increase anxiety, stress and tension are chewing gum, apples and other fruit or foods with high sugar levels. Be aware of what you are eating before and during a round, it could help.

The most important ingredient to lower tension is patience. Be patient with the group in front of you, be patient with the players in your group. And especially, be patient with your own abilities on any particular day.