--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During a tournament, I'm not thinking…" description: "\"During a tournament, I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I'm in scoring mode.\" — Ernie Els" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/ernie-els-11177_about_during-a-tournament-i-m-not-thinking-abo_3020570.png" --- # During a tournament, I'm not thinking about mechanics at… ![“During a tournament, I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I'm in scoring mode.” quote by Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/ernie-els-11177_about_during-a-tournament-i-m-not-thinking-abo_3020570.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/ernie-els-11177_about_during-a-tournament-i-m-not-thinking-abo_3020570.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/ernie-els-11177_about_during-a-tournament-i-m-not-thinking-abo_3020570.png) > “During a tournament, I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I'm in scoring mode.” [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In high‑stakes competition, mental focus on scoring outweighs technical analysis. **In simple terms:** Think results, not mechanics. Key Takeaway Prioritize outcome over process. Themes focus performance mindset Mood confident intense Type sports motivational When to use this quote - golf tournaments - e‑sports - public speaking - exam preparation Key Concepts sports psychology flow state goal orientation Questions to Reflect On - When should you shift back to technique? - How does scoring mindset affect confidence? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on outcome may ignore skill gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Mechanics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanics/) [Mechanics Scoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanics-scoring-4887268/) [Mode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mode/) [Scoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoring/) [Scoring Mode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoring-mode-4887267/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tournament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournament/) [Tournament Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournament-thinking-2250757/) ## Related quotes > [When I get the ball, I have to be ready to be in scoring mode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/when-i-get-the-ball-i-have-to-be-ready-to-be-in-scoring-mode/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [I don't go thinking I'm going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I'll do the best that I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-don-t-go-thinking-i-m-going-to-lose-i-never-go-into-a-tournament/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [When I come into a tournament, I'm expecting to win. That's my philosophy. I can't go to a tournament thinking, 'I'm going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/when-i-come-into-a-tournament-i-m-expecting-to-win-that-s-my/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [I don't go there thinking I'm going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I'll do the best that I can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-don-t-go-there-thinking-i-m-going-to-lose-i-never-go-into-a/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [If you go into a tournament thinking that you're not going to do anything, you might as well not be there because you won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-vardy/if-you-go-into-a-tournament-thinking-that-you-re-not-going-to-do/) [Jamie Vardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-vardy/) > [Grip pressure - not mechanical flaws - is the biggest factor when you're nervous. You unconsciously grip it tighter, which keeps you from making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/grip-pressure-not-mechanical-flaws-is-the-biggest-factor-when-you-re/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [When I'm swinging the club at my best, it's because I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I feel like my body is loose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/when-i-m-swinging-the-club-at-my-best-it-s-because-i-m-not-thinking/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Since the founding of quantum mechanics in the 1920s, theoretical physics had nurtured an extremely radical tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gross/since-the-founding-of-quantum-mechanics-in-the-1920s-theoretical/) [David Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gross/) > [“Death is not enough for such men. We must add mechanics”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-codrescu/death-is-not-enough-for-such-men-we-must-add-mechanics/) [Andrei Codrescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-codrescu/) > [I finished up my graduate degree in quantum mechanics, but underwent a bit of a personal crisis, recognizing that I didn't want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-finished-up-my-graduate-degree-in-quantum-mechanics-but-underwent-a/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The mathematics of quantum mechanics very accurately describes how our universe works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-garrett-lisi/the-mathematics-of-quantum-mechanics-very-accurately-describes-how/) [Antony Garrett Lisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-garrett-lisi/) > [I hadn't focused on mechanics since I signed professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-zito/i-hadn-t-focused-on-mechanics-since-i-signed-professionally/) [Barry Zito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-zito/) > [There's nothing wrong with pitch counts. But not when it's spit out by a computer, and the computer does not look at an individual's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-seaver/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-pitch-counts-but-not-when-it-s-spit-out-by/) [Tom Seaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-seaver/) > [I guess bowling is pretty mechanical. It's kind of a natural motion, but you have to stick within those mechanics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/i-guess-bowling-is-pretty-mechanical-it-s-kind-of-a-natural-motion/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/) [Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/) ## More by Ernie Els > [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Excessive drinking is not good for my health, my family or my game. There has definitely been a change, and I feel better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/excessive-drinking-is-not-good-for-my-health-my-family-or-my-game/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I think I would have taken a (expletive) load of Advil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-i-would-have-taken-a-expletive-load-of-advil/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I plot the par 5s back from the green and make my plan. If I can reach the green in two shots, I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-plot-the-par-5s-back-from-the-green-and-make-my-plan-if-i-can-reach/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Contours on the second half of a long putt have more impact on how the ball rolls because it's going slower. Adjust your speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/contours-on-the-second-half-of-a-long-putt-have-more-impact-on-how/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [When I'm swinging the club at my best, it's because I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I feel like my body is loose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/when-i-m-swinging-the-club-at-my-best-it-s-because-i-m-not-thinking/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [When you're hitting a fairway wood, you've got a lot of real estate to cover to get to your target. Your first instinct is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/when-you-re-hitting-a-fairway-wood-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-real-estate-to/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [When I stay athletic with good posture and get the club away in a good position, I get through it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/when-i-stay-athletic-with-good-posture-and-get-the-club-away-in-a/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [He's been a top player for the last 10 years, and we all work on our swings, we all change things. We keep working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/he-s-been-a-top-player-for-the-last-10-years-and-we-all-work-on-our/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Throughout my career, I've been sponsored by several different equipment companies - Lynx, Titleist, Callaway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/throughout-my-career-i-ve-been-sponsored-by-several-different/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Before you take your address, while you're still reading the putt, imagine the ball tracking on the line you've chosen and falling into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/before-you-take-your-address-while-you-re-still-reading-the-putt/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Brushing up on your short game at the practice area is fine and good, but taking it with you to the golf course -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/brushing-up-on-your-short-game-at-the-practice-area-is-fine-and-good/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I prefer old-world wines like Lafite Rothschild and Margaux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-prefer-old-world-wines-like-lafite-rothschild-and-margaux/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Some players like to change clubs around the green to hit high or low shots. I play all of my short-game shots with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/some-players-like-to-change-clubs-around-the-green-to-hit-high-or-low/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [From a good lie in the middle of a fairway bunker, I'll make the same swing as I do from an average fairway lie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/from-a-good-lie-in-the-middle-of-a-fairway-bunker-i-ll-make-the-same/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) [Explore all 61 Ernie Els quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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