Golf Mind Play: Damage Control

Is one bad shot ruining your entire game?flow. How many times have you seen a person
A good game can quickly be transformed into alosing their temper while trying to do something
bad game simply by hitting one bad shot. Youwith their hands? They end up fumbling objects
may have a pleasant attitude and highand throwing them, or even breaking them in
expectations before arriving at the first tee, butfrustration. This is why it is very important to
messing up your first shot can change your entireexercise damage control before overreacting into
mind-set. If you don't immediately step back anda fit of rage when placed in frustrating situations
accept what happened and move on, you may ason the golf course. The sooner you recover
well turn around and head back to the clubhouse.emotionally, the sooner you can rebuild your
Instead, if you can make the decision to isolateself-esteem and convert a bad situation into a
that shot and move on to focus on the next one,good one. Not only will you improve your likelihood
you may find that you will have a terrific gameto shoot a lower score, you'll improve your
from that point forward. The same goes withlikeability among other players. Misery may love
three or four putting a hole, or taking a fewcompany, but company does not love misery!
strokes to get out of a bunker. It is important toTips
isolate these incidents and focus your attention on1. When anger surfaces after hitting a poor shot,
your next shot. See each shot as a new game inlet go of the emotion quickly so it will not affect
itself and avoid dwelling on negative incidents, asthe remainder of your game.
your overall attitude has a direct correlation with2. Minimize the importance of your mistakes.
your physical performance.Dwelling on past shots will only drag your
Are you letting anger control your performance?misfortune through to the next hole.
Anger is an emotion that hinders dexterity and