When you go to the range, evaluate your shotmaking in a realistic way.

In seven balls, say, you will hit one that is just PERFECT. You will hit four that you would take on the course all day. You will hit one or two that aren’t quite up to snuff, and every so often you will hit one that is, YEEEGH!

What you should try to do every time is hit one of the middle four.

That perfect shot? Admire it, and move on. Those shots just happen, and if you try to reproduce them, you just go backwards. When the moment is over, go back to hitting one of the middle four.

The ones that aren’t up to speed you can live with. You’re a recreational golfer; they’re going to happen.

The cringeworthy shot? That one demands a reset. Reproduce that swing, which you can do because it is so far away from your usual swing that the glaring error should stand out in hindsight.

Practice the right swing a few times to get the particular wrinkle ironed out, then go back to hitting one of the middle four.

So. Don’t chase perfection, fix the glaring error, and hit shots that are good enough.

Over time, the good enough shots will become more frequent, and better, which is what you are after. And the ones that make you look like you took up the game last week will disappear.