| Most golfers are aware of the "golf mental game" | | | | before and the pressure builds while the mistakes |
| and can quote you various stories of how a | | | | multiply. |
| "mental game guru" has taken a relatively | | | | The answer is to be confident in oneself, be less |
| unknown professional from the middle ranks right | | | | self-critical, and not be concerned with what |
| to the top. Most tour professionals know for | | | | others may be thinking. |
| certain that their "mental game" is what actually | | | | 4. Too much emphasis on "swing thoughts" |
| makes the difference between a win (and a | | | | We have all heard of "swing thoughts"; the things |
| lucrative sponsorship deal) or not even a bus | | | | we are told to concentrate on to improve our |
| ticket home. Unfortunately, time and again, I see | | | | swing. I know some golfers that jokingly refer to |
| too many club players inhibiting their potential | | | | "swing thought 128" or "swing thought 356", which |
| because they constantly make the "5 worst | | | | just shows how overwhelming these things can |
| mental game mistakes" when they play: | | | | become. How can a player possibly play well |
| 1. Too much emphasis on "final scores" | | | | consistently if they are always being made aware |
| This is a classic mental game inhibitor. The player | | | | of their faults? Of course, we all need to correct |
| is so focused on finishing with a certain score that | | | | errors in our technique but this can become |
| the slightest mistake during play, every dropped | | | | obsessive to the point where we are more |
| shot, causes the person to become stressed. This | | | | concerned with "swing thought 257" than we are |
| stress quickly turns to anger as they try too hard | | | | with how far it is to the green. This kind of |
| to pull the shots back with the result that their | | | | obsessive focus on our glitches in technique is |
| whole game falls apart. The answer is to just play | | | | guaranteed to reduce confidence and limit our |
| each hole independently and ignore your overall | | | | potential to play well. |
| score! | | | | The answer is to accept that perfect technique |
| 2. Too much emphasis on "what other players are | | | | may not be possible at this stage and just play |
| doing" | | | | naturally to find your "natural swing". This will |
| This is another mental game inhibitor where a | | | | remove the negative mental trap of highlighting |
| player pays too much attention to what their | | | | our faults. |
| companions are doing. This is seen right from the | | | | 5. Not enough emphasis on "enjoyment" |
| first tee. If the first player to tee off plays a | | | | Most of us play golf to enjoy the game and the |
| beautiful shot, you can guarantee that the next | | | | company of like-minded people. Even top tour |
| player to tee off will be feeling the "pressure to | | | | pros need to enjoy playing the game even though |
| perform". By allowing the other players shots to | | | | they are in a very competitive situation. |
| invade your thinking, you lose focus on your own | | | | Enjoyment produces good, positive feelings and |
| shot. | | | | energy in the body, and this enhances our ability |
| The answer is to ignore the other players | | | | to perform by making us relax and reducing |
| completely and focus just on your own shot | | | | stress. When you reduce stress you reduce |
| being played. | | | | tension in the body and allow the body to move |
| 3. Too much emphasis on "being seen to be a | | | | better. This increases coordination, muscle |
| good player" | | | | performance, and promotes fluid movement. The |
| This is a powerful mental game inhibitor as the | | | | result is better golf! |
| player is immediately putting themselves under | | | | The answer is to put the game into perspective, |
| pressure to achieve. When we have this kind of | | | | play each shot as it comes and not berate |
| pressure our mind is more aware of other people | | | | yourself if something does not go right. You |
| watching us than on the job at hand; playing the | | | | cannot change the past, you cannot control the |
| shot. When a player has this kind of split | | | | future, you can only endeavor to enjoy and |
| concentration it is inevitable that mistakes will be | | | | influence the present! |
| made. Then each mistake compounds those | | | | |