6 Reasons Why You Play Better When You Golf By Yourself

Are you finding that your golfing performance, when by yourself, drastically exceeds that of playing with friends? Do you enjoy playing with friends but play better alone? Why do golfers tend to play better when they’re by themselves? 

There’s a multitude of factors that contribute to performance outcomes in golf. Hand-eye coordination, genetic makeup, and flexibility play a part. However, mental and psychological elements tend to outweigh physical attributes.

Some golfers thrive on added pressure, tension, and competition. These players perform better when playing with others and may struggle to play alone due to the decreased stress.

If you’re noticing better scores when playing by yourself, you’re probably the type of player that requires less pressure to perform at your best. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why you play better golf when playing alone.

Check out our post on How To Golf By Yourself.

1. No Fear of Judgement

Fear of judgment doesn’t just occur once you strike the ball. This fear can start well before you take your backswing. When playing alone, judgment from others doesn’t exist. However, playing golf with friends can lead to your fear of being judged, hindering concentration and confidence.

When you are on the golf course alone, there isn’t anyone to impress. Which also means there isn’t anyone to disappoint. Usually, when we golf with others, we aren’t simply trying to play well for ourselves but are also trying to impress our competition.

So, what happens when we start playing poorly in front of others? Frequently, when we are not performing well in front of friends, our mental gears shift from trying to impress to trying to avoid judgment.

2. Less Emotional Connection

All golfers will inevitably hit some lousy shots throughout their round. Due to several social factors, when we hit poor shots in front of our friends, we experience more of an emotional response. Reasons such as pressure, fear of judgment, and competition can promote an emotional reaction.

Golfing alone tends to lead to the exact opposite. Scores tend to be just numbers. Emotional responses after poor shots tend to be quick and don’t linger on as much.

3. Reduced Pressure and Tension

If your playing partners are around your skill level, then there’s probably a sense of competition amongst the group. The desire to beat your playing partners can create pressure and tension, especially towards the end of rounds.

The need for victory can blur your decision-making skills on the golf course. For example, if you’re down a few strokes to your friend, you may take large risks, resulting in penalties and higher scores.

In reverse, the only competition when playing alone is the expectations you set for yourself. Hitting a poor shot when you’re by yourself is much less impactful to your mental state than when playing with others due to the elimination of social comparisons.

4. Pace of Play

Pretty much anything that can take you out of your state of mental flow can cause issues with your golf game. The pace of play is certainly one of them.

Golfing alone is dramatically quicker than when playing in a group. There’s no waiting on each player to hit, helping look for lost balls, or ongoing conversations that slow things down. Golfing by yourself allows you to play at your own pace. You can choose to play quickly or take your time. The beauty is you decide the best speed for you.

5. Increased Focus

Golf is a game of precision. A clubface that is centimeters off can lead to destructive outcomes. Given the importance of precision, mental focus is required to perform well.

In a solo context, removing social interactions and distractions allows for complete immersion in the game. This undivided attention leads to more deliberate thoughts centered on the task at hand. 

In contrast, golfing with others can lead to various conversations, pulling your attention away from your next shot. Distractions, such as a playing partner’s bad attitude, are a recipe for decreased focus.

6. Heightened Relaxation

The less need for constant social interactions is a reason why golfing alone tends to be more relaxing. When playing golf alone, one has the opportunity to reflect and appreciate the surroundings.

The mix of quietness, stillness, and natural surroundings can heighten relaxation, allowing you to play better golf with a more stress-free state of mind.

Final Thoughts

I hope that understanding the factors that contribute to your independent performance, can help you with that same state of mind when golfing with others. I know it’s easier said than done, but being aware of your mental state and the elements that can contribute to added stress and pressure, can hopefully lead to proactive thinking, rather than reactive thinking.

When playing with others, realize that golf is just a game, and you don’t need to make it more than that. Try to relax as much as possible. Think about what you’d be doing if you were playing alone and translate over some of those thoughts, actions, and feelings.