Golfers, perhaps more than any other athletes, live at the intersection of control and chaos. We can prepare meticulously, visualize perfectly, and still face bounces and breaks beyond logic. The sooner we accept that, the freer we become.
HOW TO PULL OUT THE SECOND ARROW: THE ACDC RESET So how do we practice this ancient wisdom on the modern fairway?
Here’ s a process we teach players and teams: Acceptance ➧ Curiosity ➧ Direction
➧ Confidence. Or simply: ACDC— a fourstep charge to reset your mind and free your game.
A – ACCEPTANCE Acceptance isn’ t resignation, it’ s composure. The shot already happened— it can’ t be edited, replayed, or justified. Take a breath. Feel the emotion without judgment. Acknowledge the sting of the first arrow and let it pass.
Say quietly to yourself,“ That was the first arrow. Now I’ m letting it go.” That’ s how you stop the bleeding. The mind can’ t perform when it’ s fighting the past.
C – CURIOSITY Once you’ ve accepted the moment, shift from judgment to investigation. Replace,“ What’ s wrong with me?” with“ What happened there?”
Did I rush my routine? Did my grip pressure change? Was I distracted? What image was in my mind before my swing?
Curiosity re-opens the learning channel. It transforms emotion into information— the hallmark of every great player.
D – DIRECTION Now, re-enter the present. Take the information you gathered and get back into the groove. Pick a new target, a new intention, a new breath. Direction is your bridge back to the moment.
Every player has a reset cue— a look down the fairway, a deep exhale, a phrase like“ next shot.” Direction is movement. It keeps you from replaying what just happened and orients you toward what’ s next.
C – CONFIDENCE Finally, the spark. Confidence doesn’ t mean arrogance or denial— it means choosing belief before proof reappears.
Adjust your body language. Stand tall. Lift your eyes toward the target instead of the turf. Remind yourself,“ I’ ve done it before, I’ ll do it again.”
Begin seeing images of success— the pure strike, the crisp contact, the sound you love.
Even if your last swing was poor, act as if your next one will be great. Confidence is not the reward for good shots; it’ s the requirement for them.
This is how you complete the cycle: Acceptance clears the slate. Curiosity learns. Direction refocuses. Confidence commits. You’ ll feel the energy shift— the emotion fades, the mind sharpens, the body loosens. You’ re no longer reacting to pain— you’ re creating possibility.
The ACDC Reset
COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, AND THE MENTAL GAME Remember to factor compassion and forgiveness into your game. They aren’ t just spiritual buzzwords, they’ re pillars of a sound, competitive mind.
Compassion reminds you that golf is hard for everyone— even tour players. Forgiveness lets you release perfectionism and reconnect with play. Together, they create emotional resilience, which is the real secret to consistency.
Without these, you become your own worst caddie— whispering doubt, shame, and blame into your ear for four straight hours. With them, you become your own ally. You respond instead of react. You adapt instead of spiral.
BRINGING IT TO THE COURSE Next time you play, try this experiment:
After your first bad shot, pause before reacting. Feel the sting of the first arrow— the natural“ ouch.” Then notice what your mind does next. Does it fire the second arrow? Does it start narrating your day, rewriting your story, or comparing you to someone else in your group?
If so, breathe. Smile. Reward yourself for being aware. Remove the second arrow, simply let it go and get to the present.
On your next shot, step into the moment as if nothing preceded it. Because in truth, nothing has.
THE FREEDOM OF LETTING GO Golf is a mirror. It reflects our habits of mind— control, attachment, self-talk, and identity— in real time. Every swing is a small act of intention and presence. Every round a meditation on how to stay composed when the outcome is uncertain.
A— Acceptance: Let go of what just happened.
C— Curiosity: Learn from it without judgment.
D— Direction: Refocus on what’ s next.
C— Confidence: Commit to believing in yourself.
When you stop defending your ego, when you stop carrying the second arrow, golf becomes something much more pure. You play lighter. You focus sharper. You smile more.
And yes, your scores drop— not because you’ ve mastered your mechanics, but because you’ ve stopped resisting your reality.
So the next time the wind knocks down your approach shot or a five-footer lips out, remember the healer’ s wisdom:
“ The first arrow is out. You’ ll feel much better once you take out the second one.”
Let it go. Breathe. Play on.
Michael Mabry has a background in lacrosse but was diagnosed with a rare heart disease and was sidelined from intense exercise, which brought him to the sport of golf as an adult. He is a member of the Golf Club at Lansdowne and now an avid golfer. He went from a beginner to a two handicap within his first two years, an achievement he credits to his mental game methodologies and his training with Josh Apple, PGA. Michael is currently working on his masters in sports psychology. vsga. org J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2026 | V IRGINIA G OLFER
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