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Why did Louis Oosthuizen have a red dot inked on his glove?
Paul D'Arcy 2000UK Tuesday 20th July 2010
And was it the reason he romped to a 7 shot victory at the 2010 Open?
Everyone watching Louis Oosthuizen was amazed and ultimately delighted by his virtually flawless final round at St. Andrews …And let's not forget the three previous days of fantastic golf he seemed to effortlessly put together.
What was the red dot for?
TV coverage began to show close ups and the commentators offered opinions on the significance of the red dot...it seemed funny how on Wednesday TV previews pundits dismissed the use of Mind coaches and sports psychologists as something "that works if the player thinks it works" but when Louis Oosthuizen was 8 shots ahead and in complete control of his game, the same pundits espoused the importance of routine, and why using the red dot was so important in Louis Oosthuizen maintaining his calm throughout the final round.
So did Louis Oosthuizen win the Open because of a red dot on his glove?
No I don't think so, but it did serve a great purpose, helping his concentration, he used it as a trigger to begin focusing on the shot he was about to play. He would look at the dot and start his routine, play his shot, wait until the ball came to
rest and then give his club back to his caddy and walk off looking super relaxed, chatting and smiling.
Contrast this to the intense faces of most of the other players "working" hard to concentrate for the full four and a half hours.
Louis Oosthuizen used the red dot as a trigger to start a very short and intense period of concentration, then reverted to the relaxed manner that characterised his round. He saved his energy for the 71 short occasions he needed it, and relaxed in between times.
His mistakes were so few it is hard to recall any of consequence. And the reason is good decision making during the periods of high concentration when his mental energy was at its maximum, it was there when he needed it, he conserved it in between shots.
Do you need to ink a red dot on our glove? Not really, but you can, what you must do is have a trigger you use to clearly signal the start of your routine and another action to signal the end.
What triggers could you use?
Seeing the red dot will work, any colour and shape will work. The action of putting on and taking off your glove will work. Putting you bag by the ball can start the routine and when you put your club back in the bag can be the signal it's over. Above all you must make it yours, and own the actions as your unique triggers.
Does this still apply on the green?
Well yes and no, the green is very different to the tee or fairway, you sometimes use the same club twice (or even more!) in very quick succession so a distinct routine for the green is needed. Read my blog post "The Art of Mental Putting" to learn more.
Lessons you can learn from Louis Oosthuizens victory...
Decide an action you can have as your trigger to start your routine and an action you can have to close it out after each shot.
Then make it a habit...
You will have more energy to concentrate with when you need it most, you'll make better decisions, and you'll enjoy your golf more than ever.
Keep the short grass under your feet
Paul D’Arcy
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