| A confident golfer is one who thinks in a positive | | | | course you would. So fear of failure in the future |
| manner and is focussed on what he/she wants to | | | | (because you have not made the shot yet) is |
| have the ball do. Example: "I want the ball to land | | | | what causes anxiety and a lack of confidence in |
| on that tiny patch of slightly darker grass in the | | | | the present. |
| left hand half of the fairway and run out from | | | | What would happen if you were not thinking |
| there." | | | | about the future and were not concerned with |
| A golfer lacking in confidence is going to be | | | | the result of the shot? Wouldn't you swing away |
| thinking about their shortcomings, inadequacies and | | | | confidently? If you have no fear of the future |
| what they don't want the ball to do. Example: "I | | | | then you will commit to the shot and swing with |
| can't afford to slice the ball here or it is going to | | | | the confidence of a golfer in the zone. The zone |
| be in the river!" | | | | is when you are so fully absorbed in the present |
| I am just going to throw something in here, out | | | | moment that no past thoughts of poor shots |
| of place on purpose, because I want it to work | | | | creep into your thinking, and there is no worry |
| around in your mind and be accepted while we | | | | over the possibility of a bad shot that has not |
| discuss other things. Confidence comes before | | | | actually happened. |
| playing well. Confidence can and should be made | | | | Worrying about the possibility of a bad outcome |
| by the player regardless of how they are playing | | | | of your shot is predicting the future in a negative |
| and not waited for as a result of playing well. | | | | manner. It's a recipe for disaster and you deserve |
| There is no doubt that confidence has a big | | | | to get poor results from that thinking. |
| effect on our mind and body performance and | | | | To help you stay in the present you must |
| given two players, one a little more skilled than | | | | become fully focussed on your target. An exact |
| the other but suffering a confidence problem, give | | | | spot where you want the ball to go and imagine it |
| me the lesser skilled golfer who is playing with | | | | doing exactly what you want it to. Hold this image |
| confidence. | | | | in your mind as you swing or fully focus on the |
| If you are suffering a confidence problem | | | | back of the ball and see if you can notice the club |
| remember this. At a base level, you only need to | | | | striking it. The more you practice techniques to |
| be confident for the time that it takes to go | | | | get your mind focussed the better you will get at |
| through your pre shot routine and swing the club. | | | | it. |
| That takes between 20 and 30 seconds max for | | | | You will know you are doing well when you have |
| the entire routine and the actual swing is only 2-3 | | | | no thoughts about the result and if you do have a |
| seconds of that. So you could even say that you | | | | worry about the direction of the ball, or outcome |
| only need to feel confident for 3 seconds on | | | | of the shot while swinging, then it is feedback |
| every swing. | | | | that you must get mentally stronger. |
| What makes you feel un-confident? It's the fear | | | | Only developing the ability to play one shot at a |
| of failure. The fear that the result of the shot will | | | | time and remain fully in the present moment is |
| be bad. Think about it this way. If you knew you | | | | acceptable if you have desires to play your best |
| could not fail and the result would be fine, wouldn't | | | | golf on the most consistent basis humanly |
| you swing with confidence, secure in the | | | | possible. |
| knowledge that the result would be good? Of | | | | Wishing you FIR's, GIR's & Blue Skies. |