As with many things when using language, there are sometimes subtle but important differences between words. I’d like to explore the difference between anticipation and expectation, and apply this to golf. The reason why I think this distinction is important is that I respectfully disagree with some in my industry who suggest to players that they should expect to play well, and expect to win. My issue with this is that I believe that while expectations can create a positive anticipation, I also believe that when people have enough trials of not getting what they expect, there is a more significant negative response. For some players these negative responses are sometimes more difficult to overcome.
In other words:
To expect… for many means to get the outcome that they “should” get.
To anticipate… for many means to see the outcome that they “want” to get.
How is any of this important to your golf training and your golf performance?
When helping a player prepare for an event or a round or even a particular shot (when I’m caddying) I want the player to be anticipating the best will happen. This helps the player to see a picture in his mind of that which he wants to create. Anticipating a positive outcome might mean things like seeing the shape of the shot, visualizing the ball rolling into the cup, picturing oneself on the phone after an event excitedly talking about how they won. I believe these types of exercises create a positive internal environment that actually influence whether or not these types of positive things occur.
However, an expectation that these things will happen regularly bring on a sense of worry or anxiety for some players- “What if I don’t get that outcome”?- and for some creates a standard of performance that is expected by themselves or somebody else. This tendency leads to many players thinking about how they should have played or ought to have hit the ball- the kind of thinking that puts some players on a negative mental spiral.
In order to stay enthusiastic and excited and hopeful, anticipate that something good is going to happen!
