I often write about sport psychology and “mental golf”, but usually more about how to change your game by changing the way you control your thinking, emotions,or patterns. Today is different.

Can you buy confidence in your golf game … in a box?

Think about one of your best golfing day ever — remember how the feeling of confidence flowed through your veins? Your steps felt a little quicker? Your swings a little surer? You may have even upped your bets or engaged in a little more trash talk than usual. Confidence has a specific feeling, doesn’t it?

We have probably all felt the excitement of pulling a “magic club” out of our bag — the one we felt we could do no wrong with … our “go to”club. And we all have also probably spent too much money trying to find a whole BAG FULL of magic clubs so that we could feel that same rush of confidence … all the time.

So there is no question that improved golf technology can help give us more confidence. But can it be as easy as pushing a button? Maybe.

Looking at the habits of golf professionals can give us a clue. Of course, the top players all have caddies who help them meticulously map out each course several days before official competition. By the time Thursday rolls around, they know eactly where they want to be on each hole, where to lay up, and which club to use for the best approach shots.

While they can’t eliminate ALL the variables, such as changing weather conditions or poor shot recovery, they do want to make the game as simple — and as automatic — as possible once competition rolls around.

How often do YOU feel that way when you play on a new course? Or maybe even on your home course? Does the confidence flow easily? Have you eliminated most of the variables?

Of course, most of us don’t have a full-time, confidence-inspiring caddy tucked in our hip  pocket. But we COULD have the “next  best thing.”

A new breed of rangefinders has recently emerged which are almost “mini-caddies” — and they are great confidence-builders for many golfers.

Frankly, I thought the earlier generation of range finders was overpriced and not very easy to use. Cables to find and connect. Software and updates to download. Expensive monthly and yearly subscriptions to maintain. Courses that weren’t mapped. If you’ve looked at them already, you probably know what I mean.

Some of the latest golf GPS range finders don’t suffer from these drawbacks. They are true GPS powered units, and you literally take them out of the box, turn them on, and start playing with caddie-like knowledge on your course of choice. Push button simple.

A caddie in a box.

My current favorite golf GPS rangefinders are the Golf Buddy Pro GPS and the Golf Buddy Tour GPS rangefinders. Both are competitively priced, and work on over 20,000 golf courses as soon as you take them out of the box and turn them on. 

My favorite feature is the “dynamic angle adjustment,” which changes the angle of the green displayed to match your current position on the course. This simple dynamic orienting feature makes your Golf Buddy-inspired mental map of the course seem much more real.

The major difference between the two models is a color screen display on the slighly upscale Golf Buddy Tour GPS model — and there are no course downloads or annual fees. Much appreciated, Golf Buddy!

Besides the push-button simplicity, both units really are confidence-inspiring, just like a caddie.There is a definite difference in your confidence level when you know the exact distance to greens, bunkers, lakes, lay-up points and hazards — even on your home course. And especially when you are pushing your comfort level on a tough new course, with unfamiliar partners.

I was surprised to find I was routinely making some 5-10 yard miscalculations (even on my home course) in certain situations by merely pacing off distances and estimating, which we all do. When each one of those mistakes equals an additional stroke on your card, the value of this “mini-caddie” adds up quickly.

Information is power, and in this case I would also add that ACCURATE golf information gives confidence. It allows you to focus on your automatic swing, and helps eliminate doubts and the usually-fatal failure to commit to your shot.

So, can golf confidence come in a box? The powerful, yet simple and intuitive, new Golf Buddy GPS rangefinder units make a powerful case for most serious golfers answering a resounding,“Yes!”

Filed under: Opinion

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