Smack! A golf ball flying through the air, whether it finds its place rattling in its hole or stopping in the sand, the outcome isn’t always the most important part of the sport. Not every shot hit by a golfer will be a perfect one, and sophomore Tryg Driscoll knows this.

This year is Driscoll’s first on the boys varsity golf team. Through his skill, focus and attitude, his commitment to always continuing to grow as a golfer inspires his teammates to improve their talent as members of the team.

Sophomore Caden Imura is one of Driscoll’s teammates, and the two have known each other since they were young and attended the Pierce School together.

“Tryg always pushes me to be better,” Imura said. “He acts as a mentor for all the sophomores on the team, as he’s almost seen as a captain.”

Driscoll has been immersed in golf since he was young when he played with his grandfather and parents. These early experiences sparked his interest in the challenges of golf. Since then, he has racked up hours of practice every week and took home a Junior Club Championship win at the Dedham Golf and Polo Club.

He has since become a person his teammates seek for help and advice because of his capability to help the team refine various technical skills.

“We can always learn from [him], whether it’s his putting or his irons or his driver. He’s always helpful for teaching us how to be better,” Imura said.

Driscoll’s influence on the team reaches beyond those he has known since childhood. Sophomore Max Weil met Driscoll at the beginning of this year’s golf season but has gained knowledge from Driscoll’s perspective on the sport.

“Something that I’ve learned from Tryg is that you need to focus on the little parts of your game to get good,” Weil said.

According to both Imura and Weil, Driscoll’s diligence is what allows him to continue progressing his skills, specifically putting.

“Whether we’re preparing for a match or it’s at practice, he’s always working on his putting. He’s always trying to improve that because he realizes that that aspect of the game is the most important,” Imura said.

Driscoll said he finds that putting is the hardest skill for him to learn and that he has not yet perfected it. The requirement of precision on his part, as well as the ball’s part, makes that part of the game incredibly difficult.

But his skill and success are not the only reasons for the admiration of his teammates. Imura said Driscoll also helps others navigate the mentality of a successful golf player.

Driscoll is intentional and attentive in his golfing. This effort translates into his presence on the team. Driscoll’s strengths go beyond his athletic skills, and into the way he connects with his teammates.

“When you ask him for help in the round, he helps you, and he shows you that you need to be calm and composed during the round when the pressure gets to you,” Imura said.

According to Driscoll, a golfer’s mindset is the key to becoming successful. For him, staying collected is essential for improvement. He highlights the advice of senior Ty Ford, one of Driscoll’s teammates and third-time Bay State Conference All-Star.

“As someone like Ty Ford would say, your mental game is really important. I think I’m calm on the golf course,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll’s competitiveness is balanced out with the understanding that his shots are not always going to yield the desired results. He said no matter how he plays, he knows his worth.

“You have to separate yourself from your golf game. Just because you shoot a bad score doesn’t mean you’re bad at golf, or just because you shoot a really good score doesn’t mean you’re really good at golf. You’re always the same, and then you can improve upon yourself,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll’s performance is evidence that his way of thinking works. Stableford scoring is a popular point system in golf where a golfer earns a certain amount of points for each hole, depending on how well they played. Driscoll averaged about 14 points for Stableford scoring, a significant force that helps his team take home wins, according to Weil.

Even with all of his successful shots, Driscoll emphasizes the value of hitting worse shots as well. For him, bad shots bring the opportunity to grow. According to Weil, Driscoll takes immediate action to better his game after hitting a bad shot.

“If he gets a bogey, then the next one, he’ll get a birdie or something. So he’s always just coming back. He’s not letting a bad shot get to him,” Weil said.

Driscoll’s strong mentality speaks to his expertise and his unwavering confidence when faced with a challenge.

“It’s a game that everybody can play, and you can’t conquer it,” Driscoll said. “My favorite thing about golf is probably how hard it is.”