One mental hurdle that golfers often face is the fear of going low and then immediately blowing up and giving away their shots. This is a common issue that even professional golfers like Padraig Harrington have experienced. To overcome this fear, Harrington plays a practice-round game called the “F.I.G.” game, which stands for “F— I’m great.” This game is designed to help golfers get comfortable with going low and making lots of birdies.
During the F.I.G. game, the goal is to make as many birdies as possible by giving yourself multiple chances to hit the shot you want. For example, off the tee, Harrington gives himself three chances to hit the perfect shot. If he doesn’t like the first two attempts, he has to play the third shot regardless of the outcome. This adds a clever twist to the game and puts extra pressure on the golfer to make the right shot.
On approaches, golfers also get three chances to hit the shot they want, with specific parameters set for each type of club. These goals can vary based on individual skill levels but should always be set at a high bar to challenge the golfer. Harrington emphasizes the importance of not going too far with the three attempts and accepting the result of the final shot.
By playing the F.I.G. game, Harrington was able to shoot nine under par during a practice round at the Regions Tradition, making seven birdies, an eagle, and a par. While most golfers may not achieve such low scores, the game helps them become more comfortable with making birdies and pars. This intentional discomfort in pushing oneself to go low helps golfers get used to the feeling and mindset required to score well consistently.
Harrington believes that by practicing this format, golfers can train their minds to handle the stress of making multiple birdies in a row and not feeling unusual about it. The ultimate goal of the F.I.G. game is to create a competition with oneself and constantly challenge oneself to score better. Every practice session becomes an opportunity to simulate real-game stress and pressure, helping golfers improve their performance on the course.
This innovative practice game is a useful tool for golfers of all levels to improve their mental toughness and scoring ability. By setting high standards and pushing oneself to go low, golfers can overcome their fear of failure and become more comfortable with making birdies and pars. The F.I.G. game exemplifies the importance of mental training in golf and how a positive mindset can lead to better on-course performance.
