THE ONE GOLFING QUESTION YOU SHOULD NEVER ASK YOURSELF: THAT YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT…
STUCK BEHIND A TREE AND DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?
You’ve just hit what felt like a decent tee shot, only to walk up and see your ball resting awkwardly behind a tree. Not in the middle of the fairway, not in a bunker, but in that awkward spot where doubt starts to whisper:
“Now what?”
This moment — the stuck-behind-a-tree moment — is not just about golf.
It’s about how you think under pressure.
And believe it or not, asking “What do I do now?”
…is exactly the WRONG thing to do.
From Reaction to Reflection
Most golfers — especially when frustrated or flustered — default to what’s known as reptilian thinking. It’s your survival brain. And when you’re stressed, your nervous system diverts energy away from thoughtful decision-making and into fast, reactive impulses:
- “I’ll just try and go through it.”
- “I have to save par here.”
- “I’m such an idiot for ending up here in the first place.”
These are emotional reactions, not strategic choices. And they often lead to further mistakes.
But the second you pause and ask:
“How do I need to think right now?” (RATHER THAN WHAT DO I DO NOW)
You switch tracks.
You move from the limbic system (emotional brain) to the prefrontal cortex — your brain’s control tower for logic, strategy, and calm decision-making.
It’s a powerful upgrade. And it can happen in just six seconds.
The Six Second Reset
At Proper Golfing, we teach the 6-Second Finish in your swing — but it’s just as valuable as a thinking tool.
The next time you find yourself stuck behind a tree, try this:
- Breathe — slowly in, slowly out.
- Ask yourself: “How do I need to think here?”
- Assess: What’s realistic? What’s smart? What’s safe?
- Choose the option that leaves you confident, not desperate.
This Is Not About Playing Safe. It’s About Playing Smart.
Some days, the right answer will be a punch-out. Other days, it might be a clever fade or a chip back to the fairway.
But whatever you choose — make sure it’s chosen, not panicked.
Because your real opponent out there isn’t the tree.
It’s the story your brain tells you about what you should do, must do, or can’t do.
Train the Thinker, Not Just the Swing
Golf isn’t just a technical game — it’s a thinking game. And the better your thinking becomes, the easier everything else feels.
So the next time you’re stuck, welcome it.
Because asking “How do I need to think right now?”
…is the very first sign that you’re about to do something smart.
Proper Golfing Mindset Reminder:
Stress triggers survival thinking.
Questions invite intelligent thinking.
Pausing resets the brain.
Strategic choices beat emotional reactions.
This is the difference between frustrated golf and free-flowing golf.
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See you on the tee,
Julian and Jo – Co-Creators of Proper Golfing and The Timeless Golf Swing Method
Proper Golfing
The leaders in real-world golf transformation for golfers over 50. No fluff. Just results
