| The game of golf is one of the most mental | | | | The way you think as you are about hit the ball is |
| games in the world. It is one of the few sports | | | | very important. You must learn to trust your |
| where you control when you make a play. The | | | | mechanics and in your ability to execute |
| ball just sits there on the fairway or green and it | | | | mechanics without consciously thinking about it. |
| is up to you to take as much or little time as you | | | | Instead you need to stay focused on the targets |
| want to hit it. Most other sports you are forced | | | | you select and block out other thoughts. A good |
| to make a play due to pressure from the | | | | exercise to help you to develop this focus is by |
| competition. Learning how to master the mental | | | | concentrating on the tip of a pen. Try only to |
| game is perhaps the key to unlocking your | | | | think about the tip of the pen and nothing else. If |
| unlimited potential as a golfer. | | | | other thoughts enter your mind then return your |
| The best players in the world have learned to | | | | focus back on the pen. |
| master the mental game of golf and that is what | | | | Learning about proper course management is also |
| makes them great. Positive thinking and | | | | essential in order to play better golf. Many times |
| confidence are critical in becoming a great player. | | | | you will be tempted to hit shots that are too |
| Of course, you will need to still practice regularly | | | | difficult based on your current skill level. You must |
| on the mechanics in order to maintain your skills. | | | | resist this temptation and hit the shot you know |
| However just working on mechanics alone will | | | | you can hit and that you have hit before several |
| only get you so far at the game of golf and you | | | | times in practice. |
| will reach a plateau. | | | | Sometimes laying up on a par 4 can often be the |
| In order to break through that plateau you must | | | | best option in order to shoot low scores. Rely |
| develop the ability to maintain and build confidence | | | | more on your short game to help you make pars |
| regardless of what happened on the last shot | | | | and as your long game gets better you will |
| good or bad. Maintaining confidence is a great | | | | inevitably make more birdies. When picking clubs |
| challenge however there are many things you can | | | | make sure that you select a club that you can |
| do to become a more confident player. | | | | comfortably swing to get the ball to the hole, if |
| The first step is to see yourself as a great player. | | | | you have to take an extra club if it means being |
| You need to remind yourself regularly of all the | | | | able to make an easier swing. |
| great shots you have ever hit and all the great | | | | Do not get caught up in what your playing |
| putts you have ever made. Take a few minutes | | | | partners are doing and try to match their |
| out of each day to think about your top five | | | | distance. Also remember that golf really is an |
| greatest shots ever and also see yourself playing | | | | individual sport so do not try to beat your playing |
| well in the next round you will be playing. Be | | | | partners but rather focus on playing the course |
| realistic, so every now and then you may picture | | | | and shooting the lowest score possible on that |
| yourself missing a green or fairway but then also | | | | day. Use some of the mental strategies to help |
| picture yourself recovering and making those | | | | you lower your golf handicap. |
| shots back in the next few holes. | | | | |