What I want to talk about today is something that happens way too often in sports and is often overlooked.
This is known as the “Hot Hand Fallacy.”
The hot hand myth says that a player’s chances of winning don’t go up with each successful shot or good hand. It was first used in poker and basketball. Making a lot of shots from beyond the hoop doesn’t always mean that a basketball player will be successful in the future.
You might still wonder why the athlete keeps trying even though their chances of making the shot haven’t changed. What makes those amazing streaks that we see so often on Sportscenter happen?
Get your confidence back.
If you make two 15-footers in a row, your chances of making another one drop by a lot. But after that, the ball just seems to scare the hole every time.
Some people might say this is like “being in the zone.”
This is going in the right direction.
We all know, though, how hard it is to quickly build up so much momentum, confidence, and fluidity. What do we have to choose from?
The only way that has worked for me so far is one that follows the rules of the “hot hand fallacy.”
If you’re playing golf and you have a tough shot coming up, close your eyes for a minute and play through the last three holes in your mind. Although it’s not as good as making three straight legal holes, it’s still better than nothing. If you do it enough times, your brain might start to believe that you’ve hit the shots, giving you the “hot hands” you’ve been wanting.
It might not work every time, but it’s handy to have.
Hi, I’m Sarah Thompson, a passionate player and writer from the United States. I’ve been immersed in the world of golf for over 15 years, playing in amateur events and refining my skills on the green. At 40, I mix my love for the sport with my writing, creating pieces that aim to help golfers of all levels improve their game and find joy in every swing.