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Investing Lessons Learned on the Golf Course: Sticking to a Routine

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Elite golfers grinding it out on the PGA tour every week did not get there by chance. As someone who has been trying to get better at this game over the last few years, I can tell you that improvement does not come easy. It takes incredible patience and hours of practice. And practice does not mean bashing balls endlessly on the range. Ingraining the habits that lead to your inconsistency in the first place means that when you try to unlearn it, it is that much harder. 

Consistency is Key

Once you have a repeatable swing and you find yourself hitting great shot after shot on the range, why does it often not translate to the course? One reason is you may not have a consistent routine. The guys on tour are like robots when it is their turn to hit. They run through the same routine every time, and they are all unique. When you are on the range, work out a consistent routine and recreate the same pressure you would feel on the course with your buddies watching—this is a significant key to consistency and sustained performance. In one of my favorite golf books, “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,” author Bob Rotella points out the importance of not only having your routine be physically the same but also mentally. For instance, he recommends picking out a specific tiny target. If you were a baseball pitcher, your target is extremely specific, so why should it be different in golf? Rather than just aim generally to the middle of the fairway, you can try picking out a particular part of a tree, cloud in the sky, or just about anything. To be honest, this is an area I need to improve upon in a big way. My routine is certainly not perfectly consistent. 

Routine in Investing

Sustained success in investing and financial success also requires a disciplined routine—fortunately, some of the easiest things don’t need a ton of effort. Adding money regularly to your 401(k) can be done on auto-pilot, for instance. There is an excellent feature on Robinhood for younger and newer investors that allows automatic recurring investments into stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These are great ways to create a routine that helps you towards your financial goals. Before you do anything, make sure you define your overall financial strategy, risk tolerance, and time horizon. A financial advisor can act like your golf instructor, checking your form and performance every once in a while, helping you navigate the complicated game of golf and the uncertainty that comes with investing.

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