The Myth of Consistency in Golf

The number one comment I’ve heard over my 60 years of playing golf is: “I just want to be consistent.” 

But when we really break it down, achieving consistent results in golf is nearly impossible. Sure, there are degrees of consistency, but even the great Jack Nicklaus admitted that, on his best days, he might hit only three or four “perfect” shots in a round. If that’s the case for one of the greatest golfers of all time, where does that leave the rest of us? 

Yet we still chase “consistency,” despite knowing that if the strike is off by even an inch - or less - the shot can go astray. If the swing direction doesn’t match the attack angle, or if the clubface doesn’t complement the path, we’ll end up with some variation of a foul ball. The only true consistency lies in the sequence of motions - not in the strike of the golf ball itself. During the .0004 seconds of impact, an incredible amount can go wrong and often does. 

The Reality of Golf 

Golf is not a game of consistent results. Expecting it to be is unfair to ourselves, damaging to our learning process, and a sure way to diminish our enjoyment. If we expect and accept the unexpected, we won’t be disappointed. 

Even the best players in the world hit foul balls. Sure, they’re more consistent than the average golfer, but ask them how often they execute the exact shot they intend, and their answer might surprise you. The reality? Their bad shots are just better than ours. And that’s the key: improvement in golf isn’t about eliminating mistakes - it’s about hitting better bad shots while understanding that poor ones will still happen. 

Accept it. Learn from it. (Remember, the darkest hour is just before dawn). Then move on to your next shot. 

Embracing the Unknown 

Chasing an unrealistic level of consistency is frustrating at best and defeating at worst. But the unknown - the unpredictability - is what makes this game so special. 

Even well-struck shots don’t always produce the desired outcome. And mishits? They’re inevitable. Consider this: the best players in the world miss five or six greens per round and fail to make more putts than they sink from eight feet. That’s just the nature of the game. 

I’ve always loved those “where did that come from?” moments. That’s what gives golf its mystery, its challenge, and its pure joy - the kind that makes us keep coming back for more, chasing that occasional perfect shot. 

“Golf cannot be won, only played.” 

~ Bagger Vance 

So, we keep playing. 

We keep trying to master a game that no one will ever truly master. We experience moments of brilliance followed by hours of inconsistency. But we must embrace the whole game - not just the moments of success. Let the foul balls be a teacher, not a tormentor. 

Don’t just love the game when it loves you back. Love the mystery, the frustration, and the magic that makes golf the greatest game of all. 

So, the next time you hit a foul ball, don’t look away in disgust and think, "That’s not me." 

Instead, smile and say, "That’s golf - and I love it."