In golf, there’s always debate about what matters most: the feel of the swing, the breaks of the putt, or the equipment you’re using. A good round often feels like it was built on a mix of all three — but which one really moves the needle?
In my experience, it comes down to three things working together: instinct, skill, and informed decision-making. Let’s unpack that.
Feel (“Tatsi”)
There’s no denying the role of feel in golf. That innate sense of timing, connection, and rhythm isn’t something you can quantify easily — but you know it when you feel it. A great shot doesn’t always show up on the scorecard, but you felt in control from start to finish. That’s feel.
For many players, feel is the foundation. It’s what keeps you confident in changing conditions and when your analytics say one thing but your body tells you another.
Fluke (“Flaksi”)
Then there’s fluke — that lucky bounce, the unexpected break, the shot that somehow finds the perfect line despite imperfect execution.
Fluke has its place: it makes golf entertaining and unpredictable. But relying on fluke is like hoping for lightning to strike the same place twice. Emotionally satisfying — yes. Strategically stable — no. Fluke can rescue a bad day, but it can’t build a consistent game.
Specs (“Speksi”)
Finally, specs — the equipment, the numbers, the technical side. Specs include your clubs, shafts, ball choice, and even your stance and setup fundamentals.
Specs matter because they shape what’s possible. Good equipment doesn’t guarantee good shots, but poorly chosen equipment narrows the range of good shots you can hit. Specs amplify talent and reduce unnecessary variability.
So What’s the Real Answer?
It’s not feel, and it’s not fluke — it’s specs informed by understanding.
Feel gives you confidence. Fluke adds colour to the game. But specs — when chosen with insight — give you consistency. Specs are not the enemy of feel. They support it.
If you walk onto the course with clubs that suit your swing, shafts that match your tempo, and a ball that fits your distance and spin profile, two things happen:
You start making better choices because your tools are trusted.
You see patterns instead of randomness.
That’s when feel stops being an internal guess and becomes an informed response.
Why This Matters to You
In golf, improvement comes not from luck but from feedback. When feedback aligns with action — when you learn why certain shots work and others don’t — improvement accelerates. That principle applies whether you’re sharpening your handicap or growing a business.
Data without context is noise. Feel without structure is inconsistent. And fluke without foundation is temporary.
Blending All Three
The best golfers don’t choose one over the other. They use:
Specs for consistent performance boundaries
Feel for execution
Fluke as the unexpected joy that keeps the game fun
That’s where real satisfaction lives.