We’ve all heard lots about goal setting and its value in training and on the course. It’s useful in every line of business. But did the best golfers use it? It’s clear that Tom Watson used it in practice. In his infamous instruction book, Getting Up and Down, he explained in the Practice section, that he was specific about his practice. For example, seeing whether he could get 7 out of 10 shots within three feet of the flag from off the green. These specific, measurable, and challenging goals meant that he always had a purpose and target for his practice. He didn’t spend hours each day mindlessly hitting golf balls. He was practising to get better at every aspect of the game. He advises us to practice the short game whenever we can. But we should practise with a goal in mind. 6 out of 10 putts within 3 feet of the cup from 40 feet might be a useful goal for one golfer but should be adjusted based on your current performance – some need less of a challenge others need more of a challenge. The key point is that we can only get to be our best when we keep moving in a direction that takes us further than where we are today.