| The winter is approaching and that means less | | | | we're playing better than usual. Pressure to |
| time on the golf course and range. It might even | | | | perform well, fear of failure and fear of success |
| mean no golf at all in your part of the world. That | | | | all cause mental mistakes that show up in every |
| means a long layoff without even touching a club | | | | aspect of the game. Your full swing, short game |
| until warm weather returns. As a result our golf | | | | and putting will all suffer if you can't handle the |
| game becomes rusty or worse. We have to | | | | pressure to perform. |
| spend a lot of time and effort knocking that rust | | | | Books, videos and audio products are available |
| off and honing our game to up to our | | | | from various mental game coaches to provide |
| expectations. | | | | you with what you need to be a better, more |
| Wouldn't it be great if we could actually take | | | | effective player. Search for recommendations and |
| advantage of the off season to improve our golf | | | | reviews to help you in the decision making |
| game? How much better could you become if | | | | process. But do take action and find the right |
| your skills improved during the winter instead of | | | | mental training techniques this off season to help |
| eroding? This is the second in a series of articles | | | | you overcome the effects of pressure. |
| on off season practice tips. Here is a wintertime | | | | One method I use to work on my course |
| mental tip that will help you maintain or improve | | | | management skills during the winter is a video |
| your golf game. | | | | game. I play Tiger Woods Golf on my Wii system. |
| The Mental Game | | | | The video game forces me to plan my way |
| Don't ignore the mental game. It is more | | | | around the course, pick out target landing areas, |
| important to our success on the course than | | | | study the greens prior to the approach shot and |
| most of us realize. The mental game is one of | | | | of course for putting as well. All of that strategic |
| the most if not the single most challenging aspect | | | | planning translates to improved course |
| of the game of golf for most of us. Too often | | | | management in the real world for me. Probably |
| we get in own way. We over think, under think | | | | would for you too. |
| and forget to think. We remember what we | | | | Once you return to competitive golf next spring |
| shouldn't and forget what we should. We make | | | | you'll have the mental game to reach that next |
| the game harder than it needs to be. | | | | level. The winter and its long layoff can cause all |
| Use the winter to learn and practice mental | | | | kinds of trouble for our golf game when spring |
| techniques and exercises designed to improve | | | | arrives. Use this tip to keep your mental gamed |
| your mental performance on the golf course. We | | | | honed to razor blade sharpness through the |
| can get mentally off track after a poor swing; a | | | | winter. You love what it does for your game |
| fellow player can get in our heads or even when | | | | come spring. |