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⛳️ What Keegan Bradley's win teaches us about your next shot
Rookie Rounds - Thursday Truth - 5 Minute Read ⏱️
Gil L
June 26, 2025
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Hey Golf Friend,
Welcome back to another edition of Rookie Rounds! We're here to cut through the noise and give you the actionable insights you need to play better golf, every single week.
This week, we're diving into some fresh tour insights, a couple of Mike's honest gear reviews, a drill to help you bounce back, and a crucial rule explainer. Let's get to it!
Table of Contents:
Travelers Championship Recap & Thursday Truth: What Keegan Bradley's win teaches us about your next shot ⛳️
Weekly Drill: The "Reset Routine" Drill 🧘
Rule Explainer: Lost Ball (Rule 18.2) 📖
Mike's Gear Corner: The Thermacup – Your new best friend on the course? ☕️
Weekend Motivation: Focus on the next one! 🚀
What Keegan Bradley's win teaches us about your next shot ⛳️
What a finish at the Travelers Championship! 🏆
Keegan Bradley held off a charging Scottie Scheffler to claim a hard-fought victory. It was a masterclass in playing under pressure, especially with Scheffler breathing down his neck.
But here's the thing: Even for pros like Keegan, when the pressure is on, it all comes down to one simple truth.
They can't change the last shot, the last hole, or the last round. All they can do is focus on what's directly in front of them.
And that brings us to this week's Thursday Truth: Your next shot is always your most important. 🎯
Think about it.
How many times have you hit a terrible drive, chunked an iron, or three-putted, and then let that frustration bleed into the next shot, and the next, and suddenly your round is spiraling? 🤯
We've all been there. But the pros, and the consistent amateurs, have mastered the art of the "reset." They understand that dwelling on the past is a guaranteed way to mess up the future.
This week, let's learn from Keegan and every other golfer who's ever had to grind it out: Forget the last one. Focus on the next one.
Because that's the only one you can control.
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🧘 Weekly Drill: The "Reset Routine" Drill
This drill is all about mental toughness and getting ready for your next shot, no matter what happened on the last one.
What you need: Just yourself, on the course or even in your living room.
How to do it:
Acknowledge (briefly): After a bad shot, allow yourself a very brief moment (5-10 seconds) to acknowledge the frustration. Don't dwell, just acknowledge.
Physical Reset: Take a deep breath. Walk a few steps away from your ball (or where you just hit from). Adjust your glove, wipe your club, or take a sip of water. This physical action signals a mental shift.
Mental Reset: As you walk to your next shot, visualize your ideal shot. Focus on your target, your swing thought, and your pre-shot routine. Leave the last shot behind.
Commit: Step up to your ball with a clear mind and full commitment to the shot you're about to hit.
Why it works: This routine creates a clear boundary between the past (the bad shot) and the present (the next shot). It trains your brain to let go of negativity and focus on the task at hand, just like the pros do.
📖 Rule Explainer: Lost Ball (Rule 18.2)
Given our theme of focusing on the next shot, let's talk about what happens when you can't even find your ball from the last one!
What is a Lost Ball? Your ball is considered lost if it's not found within three minutes after you or your caddie begin to search for it. This time limit is strict!
What to do if your ball is lost (or out of bounds):
Penalty: You must take stroke-and-distance relief. This means you add one penalty stroke and play your next shot from where you made your previous stroke.
Provisional Ball: If you think your ball might be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds, you should play a provisional ball before going to search for the original. This saves a lot of time if the original is indeed lost.
No Provisional? If you don't play a provisional and your original ball is lost, you have to walk all the way back to where you hit your last shot, which can be a huge time-waster and momentum killer.
Key takeaway: Don't waste time searching endlessly. Know the three-minute rule, and if there's any doubt, play a provisional ball! It's better to be safe than sorry (and walking back).
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☕️ Mike's Gear Corner: The Thermacup – Your new best friend on the course?
Okay, another one from my recent testing pile: The Thermacup. We've all been there – freezing cold coffee on a chilly morning round. This little guy promises to fix that.
The Good:
Temperature Control King: This is where it shines. It genuinely keeps hot drinks hot for hours. I tested it on a 4-hour round with coffee, and it was still piping hot on the 18th green. Impressive.
Durable: Feels robust. It's not going to shatter if it takes a tumble out of the cart.
Versatile: Not just for golf. Great for the office, car, or just chilling at home.
The Not-So-Good:
Size: It's a decent size, which means it might not fit every single golf cart cup holder perfectly. Check your cart before you commit!
Cleaning: Like any insulated cup, you need to make sure you clean it properly, especially if you're switching between coffee and water.
No Cooling: Just to be clear, this one is for keeping things warm. If you're looking to keep your water icy cold on a hot day, you'll need a different solution.
My Honest Verdict:
If you're someone who needs their hot drink at the right temperature throughout your round, the Thermacup is a game-changer. It's a simple luxury that genuinely enhances the on-course experience, especially in cooler weather. It's not going to fix your slice, but it will make those early morning or late afternoon rounds a lot more comfortable.
Keep your drinks perfect on the course!
🚀 Weekend Motivation: Focus on the next one!
This weekend, as you step onto the course, remember Keegan Bradley's focus.
No matter what happens on a hole, good or bad, your next shot is always your most important. Reset, refocus, and commit.
Enjoy the game, Golf Friend!
See you on the course,
Gil
P.S. Remember, golf is a game of recovery. Just like Keegan Bradley, your ability to focus on the next shot, no matter what happened on the last, is what truly defines your consistency. Don't let one bad swing ruin your round!
P.P.S. Enjoyed this week's dose of "Thursday Truth"? If you know a golf friend who struggles with bouncing back after a bad shot (or just needs a good laugh from Mike's gear reviews!), why not share this newsletter with them? They can sign up for free right here:
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