CONSISTENCY AND PSYCHOLOGY … BEAR WITH ME By Chris Alvey, dbmallets@gmail.com, Sponsors of the Townsend Club Award
I’ve done it again. Reduced my handicap… and immediately started losing games. Whether it’s psychological or simply the ridiculous amount of pressure I put on myself, I don’t know. Either way, the timing is impeccable. Why the pressure? Well, getting down to a 6 means I can finally do my Level 2 coaching badge (assuming I don’t promptly return to a 7). As a coach, I also feel I should be delivering advice from the perspective of someone who’s at least improving. Although, when people I’ve coached watch me play competitively, I regularly walk off the lawn muttering, “Whatever you do, don’t do what I just did.” In the Northwest Federation we play Base 8, so I’ve been giving bisques away for a while now. The problem is I’m not consistent enough to keep a winning run going. Like most of us in the “mere mortal” handicap range, I alternate between looking like I know what I’m doing and wondering if I’ve ever held a mallet before. A few weeks ago I played doubles with someone I coach and everything clicked. Hoops were running, breaks were building from nowhere and I briefly wondered if I’d cracked this croquet lark. Naturally, in the afternoon’s singles match I lost to a very capable 10 who’s handicap is clearly on the way down. I did manage to run a hoop from five yards—a distance normally reserved for wishful thinking (it was a bit of a hail Mary to get back in the game); but flashes of brilliance don’t win matches, consistency does. The following week brought two internal matches; one handicap and
one advanced. The handicap match was dreadful. I sleepwalked through most of it before suddenly remembering how to play with half an hour left and launching a desperate charge to the peg. Unfortunately, my opponent had exactly the same idea and beat me on the golden hoop. Let’s just say the drive home featured language not covered in the coaching syllabus! The advanced match was a completely different story. I was a rank outsider against one of the club’s best players, yet somehow played some of my best croquet in weeks. We both made mistakes, but he was simply better and deserved the win. Despite the loss, I came off far happier after losing that game than the previous one—and only lost two points from my index.
When I’m coaching, I often tell players not to focus on winning every match. Instead, aim to do one or two hoops better than last time. It’s achievable, keeps disappointment in check and means you’re measuring progress rather than results. Recently I heard: “The more you want to win, the easier you are to beat.” Perhaps, for once, I should take my own advice. On a lighter note, Anne has also reduced her handicap… and unlike me, she’s still winning. I’m absolutely not jealous. Not at all.
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