In partnership with
The TRACER Framework
Golf feels complicated because we overload our brains with mechanics, tips, and “fix this” thoughts.
But the best in the world do just a few simple steps consistently.
Since acronyms help us remember things… and I come from an engineering world where we can’t live without them… We’ll call our system:
T.R.A.C.E.R.
Target → Routine →Align → Commit → Execute → Review
This is a simple process you can repeat on every shot from tee to green. Let’s break it down.
1) TARGET - Smart > Perfect
Most golfers pick targets emotionally.
Great golfers pick targets strategically.
A smart target accounts for:
Your dispersion / skill level
Trouble around the landing zone
Your strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies
Acceptable vs. catastrophic misses.
Tangent’s Smart Caddie was built for this.
It gives you a target that maximizes your scoring potential and minimizes disaster.
2) ROUTINE - Build Consistency Before the Swing
Before you even step into the shot, have a repeatable micro-routine.
This is where great golfers separate themselves from the chaos. The ideal pre-shot routine is short, consistent, functional. The less time you have for your mind to wander or for negative thoughts to creep in the better.
Step behind the ball
Visualize the shot and the target
Walk into the shot
Look at target
Waggle (keeps the body loose)
Take a breath
Pull the trigger
The key is consistency. You should have already taken your practice swings. You’ve assessed the lie, the target the shot. You are stepping out of the ‘processing’ zone and into the ‘play’ zone. Fully focused on the target and the task.
A routine reduces variation.
It minimizes opportunities for distraction. Your brain gets quiet, your tempo gets smooth, and your body is ready.
Same routine → more consistent outcomes.
If your routine is interrupted for any reason… a negative thought or unexpected noise… start over. Resetting to hit a better shot is always faster than rushing into a bad one where you end up searching for golf balls.
3) ALIGN - Point Where You Aim
Your swing delivers what your setup prepares.
If you’re aligned poorly, even a good swing can have a bad result.
Alignment includes:
Feet, shoulders, hips. Make sure your body lines are parallel to the target line.
Ball position. Consistent and appropriate for the club / shot.
Posture, grip. Match the shot you want.
Tangent gives you a smart target, but you have to be able to properly aim and align to that target. The pros practice this more than you can fathom.
4) Commit - Trust the Plan
This may be the most overlooked skill in golf.
Commitment means:
No steering
No fear-based swings
No “don’t go left” thoughts
Complete trust in your target and routine
Willingness to accept the result
Think less about mechanics.
Think more about the goal: “Send it to the target.”
5) Execute - Deliver Your Best Motion Today
Great execution is not perfect execution.
It’s just doing the best with the skill and swing you currently have.
Everything before this moment has prepared you.
Everything after this moment teaches you.
Stay athletic. Stay committed. Swing to the target.
6) Review - Learn the Right Lesson
After the shot, run a fast audit.
Was it a Good Result (for your skill / handicap)? Did it land within the expected landing zone that Tangent gave you?
If yes → awesome. Pat yourself on the back and move to the next shot.
If not, progress through the checklist to identify culprit:
How was your strike? Center of the face? Heel? Toe?
How was your low point control? Fat or thin contact? Did you take a divot?
Did the lie impact the shot? Rough? Sand? Above / below your feet? Uphill / downhill?
How was your commitment? Fear? Doubt? Overthinking or mechanical?
How was your routine? Rushed, distracted, or tense?
How was your aim? Did the ball start on the correct path?
How was your target? Too aggressive, wrong line, or wrong club?
This is how you self coach without spiraling.
Better yet, you can log any of the above, including a mental scorecard in Tangent. A great way to spot trends, commonalities, and culprits for your bad shots.
Coachable Moments in your Round Report walk you through your 3 worst shots to learn from.
Why TRACER Works
Because golf isn’t about perfection, it’s about managing variability.
And the best way to manage variability is through a simple repeatable process.
Tangent helps you select a Target.
Tangent helps you identify Routine misses.
Tangent helps you practice Aim and Aligment.
Tangent helps you measure Commitment with a mental scorecard.
Tangent helps you quantify Execution.
Tangent helps you accurately Review and track shot performance.
Together:
You play smarter.
You miss better.
You score lower.
Speaking of TRACER… Now you can get TaylorMade TP5 with alignment aids on them. The perfect stocking stuffer for all those golfers in your life. Or yourself. You deserve it.
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It’s the perfect gift for the golfer who’s always chasing more consistency or the friend who keeps “borrowing” your balls on the course. Stock up now, for less, and make every round feel a lot more dialed in