Try playing with clubs you don't normally use

Fred and Dave play on their own course so often that over the years they've simply become complacent in the way they approach their round of golf. It's another day and Dave sleepwalks up to the tee on 'Auto' mode. His hand reaches quite unconsciously for the high velocity pump action thunderblaster.

BOOOM!

"Did you see that one Fred"?
"Think it went in the water Dave".
"Grr+@#;%& #"!!

Makes you want to weep. Yet again Dave allowed his repetitive on course conditioning to overpower his rational thoughts which allowed him to make the same mistake and it's what I refer to as unconditional obedience.

Complacency my friends is what's killing his game. He's allowed his subconscious mind dictate his state of play.

Dave's just not thinking any more. He's just doing.

In the example above Dave has hit the water again the same as he did the last time and the time before that using the same club. Dave throughout his round will hit the same troublesome bunkers the same areas of rough with exactly the same clubs.
The subconscious mind of Dave over the years has been programmed to accept the inevitable outcome.

All through his round the conscious mind will keep feeding data.
Keep clear of that water.
Watch that bunker.
Don't go in the long rough.
Must stay clear the drainage ditch.

Unlike the conscious mind the subconscious mind only recognises objects not sentences so when it hears "Keep clear of that...." It won't mean a thing. But when it hears the word 'Water' up pops a powerful image of the water hazard and the subconscious mind will do everything in its power to help guide Dave towards that image.

Dave will also assist by pulling out his driver which incidentally has the capability of reaching the hazard.

It's a case of the blind leading the seeing.

So come on Dave lets start by increasing the odds of avoiding trouble by decreasing the loft. If you're in trouble on a regular basis off the tee then drop down a club or two. Hit with confidence knowing you can not reach the water even though the image may still strong and in a very short space of time it won't become a hazard and you'll come to see it as it should be seen as part of the scenery.

Leave your ego in your bag. Use different clubs for a change and see where it takes you even if it means driving off with your irons. Stay out of unnecessary trouble and watch your score come down.

Accept you'll have a few bad holes....its normal. We are not machines. We are human. Offer a PGA tour pro a trouble free 18 hole round and he'll rip your arm off.

So there you have it Dave quit sleepwalking and start thinking your way round and have some fun at the same time.