--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don't believe you can make every…" description: "\"If you don't believe you can make every putt, why bother trying?\" — Ernie Els" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/ernie-els-11177_believe_if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every_1894142.png" --- # If you don't believe you can make every putt, why bother… ![“If you don't believe you can make every putt, why bother trying?” quote by Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/ernie-els-11177_believe_if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every_1894142.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/ernie-els-11177_believe_if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every_1894142.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/ernie-els-11177_believe_if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every_1894142.png) > “If you don't believe you can make every putt, why bother trying?” [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. If you doubt your ability to succeed, you shouldn't attempt it. **In simple terms:** Doubt prevents effort. Key Takeaway Build confidence before attempting. Themes confidence performance mindset Mood motivational practical Type inspirational advisory When to use this quote - golf tournaments - career goals - skill learning Key Concepts self-efficacy sports psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you boost confidence realistically? - What steps ensure preparation before trying? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [You have to watch your handicap. My son Steve says, "Never make a putt you don't have to."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/you-have-to-watch-your-handicap-my-son-steve-says-never-make-a-putt/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Pressure is trying to make a putt for a $10 bet with only $5 in your pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/pressure-is-trying-to-make-a-putt-for-a-10-bet-with-only-5-in-your/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [Nobody can make a putt that breaks to the right. It's unnatural. Unless you're left-handed, of course. Standing over a putt that breaks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/nobody-can-make-a-putt-that-breaks-to-the-right-it-s-unnatural-unless/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [It is very boring if just fairway, fairway, fairway. It doesn't matter where you hit the drive if you make the putt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/it-is-very-boring-if-just-fairway-fairway-fairway-it-doesn-t-matter/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [I never pray to God to make a putt. I pray to God to help me react good if I miss a putt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-never-pray-to-god-to-make-a-putt-i-pray-to-god-to-help-me-react/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [I remember watching Tiger make the putt in '08. I was standing by a tree that's no longer there, it got taken down by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/i-remember-watching-tiger-make-the-putt-in-08-i-was-standing-by-a/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) > [For the average player, most three-putts happen because of a poorly judged first putt from long range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/for-the-average-player-most-three-putts-happen-because-of-a-poorly/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Generally, I don't bother trying to keep up with prolific bands - but Thee Oh Sees demand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/generally-i-don-t-bother-trying-to-keep-up-with-prolific-bands-but/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Live your own life your own way. You can never make everyone like you, so dont bother trying, just focus on you and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/live-your-own-life-your-own-way-you-can-never-make-everyone-like-you/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [“She slanted him a wary look. “Are you just trying to make me feel good? If so, don’t bother.” “If I was trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-adrian/she-slanted-him-a-wary-look-are-you-just-trying-to-make-me-feel-good/) [Lara Adrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-adrian/) > [“Why bother trying? What was the point? So I could go to some suck-ass college, get a diploma, march out into a job that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/why-bother-trying-what-was-the-point-so-i-could-go-to-some-suck-ass/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Don't bother trying to guilt me. Ask my other. It doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/don-t-bother-trying-to-guilt-me-ask-my-other-it-doesn-t-work/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [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/) > [“But why bother trying to turn a monkey into a goat?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/but-why-bother-trying-to-turn-a-monkey-into-a-goat/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you don't believe you can make every putt, why bother trying?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernie Els" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every-putt-why-bother-trying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every-putt-why-bother-trying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/ernie-els-11177_believe_if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every_1894142.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/ernie-els-11177_believe_if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every_1894142.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/ernie-els-11177_believe_if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every_1894142.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you don't believe you can make every putt, why bother trying?” — Ernie Els", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ernie Els", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you don't believe you can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every-putt-why-bother-trying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/if-you-don-t-believe-you-can-make-every-putt-why-bother-trying/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```