The Myth of Perfectionism in Golf: why trying to be perfect is ruining your score
Golf is a game of millimetres, which leads to a belief widely shared among players and coaches: to reach a high level, you have to be a relentless perfectionist. But does chasing the perfect shot actually lower your score, or is it just an anchor dragging your game down?
To answer that question, a recent study followed 89 competitive golfers through a real tournament, tracking how their performance developed hole by hole across a total of 36 holes and two rounds.
The researchers split perfectionism into two main dimensions, and the results completely change how we should think about a golfer's mind.
The Two Faces of Perfectionism in Golf
1. Perfectionistic strivings (self-oriented): extreme self-demand and a fixation on exceptionally high personal standards.
- What it looks like on the course: the player who steps onto the course believing he has to hit 14 out of 14 fairways. If on the 3rd he hits a drive that drifts slightly into the semi-rough — perfectly playable, with a clear line to the flag — he still feels frustrated, as though the shot failed because it wasn't "perfect".
2. Perfectionistic concerns (socially prescribed): this is the dark side of perfectionism. It involves anxiety about making mistakes, exaggerated reactions to imperfection and, above all, the weight of feeling that others demand our perfection.
- What it looks like on the course: the player standing on the 1st tee with the group watching, able to think only: "If I miss this drive, my partners will think I can't play" or "If I miss this short putt, my coach will be disappointed." The focus shifts from execution to the fear of being judged.
The Big Surprise: Chasing Perfection Raises Your Score
If you tend to tell yourself "I need to be tougher on myself and chase perfection", the data from this study is a red flag. The researchers found that striving for perfection actually predicted worse performance — that is, higher scores — over the course of the competition.
The theory is that perfectionism consumes the athlete's capacity to regulate emotion and motivation.
- In practice: instead of quickly forgetting a missed green and focusing on a chip and putt to save par, the mind locks up. Rumination sets in. The player spends the next three holes thinking about the earlier mistake, building tension that leads to repeated errors.
The "Tipping Point": When the Mind Gives In to Pressure
The main finding of this research is what the scientists call the tipping point. The study showed that the two faces of perfectionism interact with each other, dictating whether an athlete succeeds or collapses over the rounds:
- The ideal scenario: when a golfer holds himself to a high standard (he wants to play very well) but doesn't worry about what others think (low perfectionistic concerns), that self-demand works like an engine, helping him improve and stay consistent through the tournament.
- The collapse (the tipping point): as soon as social concerns and fear of error rise, self-demand turns against the player. Under high levels of perceived external pressure, the wish to play perfectly produces a sharp drop in performance and worse scores.
How to Apply the Science to Your Game
The conclusion is clear: encouraging perfectionism in golf in order to shoot lower is useless and dangerous. High performance isn't about trying not to make mistakes, it's about learning to manage perfectionistic concerns.
Here are some strategies, drawn from this study and from modern sport psychology, for training your mind:
- Swap criticism for self-compassion: the specialists recommend compassion-based approaches. When you hit a shank or put a ball in the water, don't insult yourself ("I'm a disaster, I've wrecked the round"). Accept that golf is a game of mistakes and talk to yourself the way you would talk to your best friend.
- Let go of other people's expectations: the pressure you feel on the tee is usually created by your own mind (socially prescribed perfectionism). Remember: the other players are far too worried about their own swings to judge yours.
- Focus on acceptance: accept that you will hit bad shots in every round. Your level as a golfer isn't measured by your best, perfect shots, but by how well you manage and recover from your worst ones.
If you want to be a better golfer, stop trying to be a perfect one. Accept imperfection, and your score will thank you.
Fleming, D. J. M., Hill, A. P., Olsson, L. F., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Dorsch, T. E. (2025). Interactive effects of perfectionism on competitive golf performance: A multi-level analysis. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 81, 102952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102952.