Mind Over Golf?
Managing expectations
Part of becoming a happier and more successful golfer is all about managing your expectations. Golfers need to learn not to be so hard on themselves, be realistic with their abilities, and above all try to have fun on the course and laugh at their mistakes. Golf is just a game, and it should be fun before anything else! As far as golf tips go, this is one that is not discussed nearly enough.
Routine
Part of being a better golfer is becoming more comfortable on the golf course. If you watch most great players, they have a very repeatable routine during their rounds. They walk at the same pace, do the same thing before every shot, and there’s a timing and rhythm to it all. No two players have to have the same routine, but try and find one that works for you.
Never give up!
Every round of golf is an opportunity to learn more about your game. If things aren’t going your way, and you pack it in for the day by the 8th hole, a very bad habit might start to form. One of the best golf tips you can ever receive is to make a commitment that no matter what, you will try to remain positive during your round, and not let your previous shots affect your current one. This is one of the hardest thing to master, but it’s a stone-cold guarantee that you will improve as a golfer if you improve at this part of the mental game.
Have a process before your round
Take time to get yourself ready before your round. If you have some time before your round, try to establish a process that gets your mind and body ready for your round. This gives you the best chance of success, and will reduce some of the nerves that affect every golfer early in their rounds.
Control your breathing
You might not know it, but golf can create so much stress that it triggers the “fight or flight” response in your body. Your heart beats faster, your blood pressure increases, and your mind begins to race. These are all things that make it harder to focus and stay in the moment.
There is a simple controlled breathing exercise that you can do on the course to calm down and relax yourself. Plenty of professional golfers do controlled breathing during their rounds because it actually works. It’s as simple as inhaling very slowly through your nose and exhaling just as slowly through your mouth. After doing this for a brief period of time your body starts to get the message, and you will send a signal to your nervous system to activate your calming hormones that will slow your heart rate down and relax your muscles. Most golf tips don’t explore this part of the game, but it can prove to be an essential tool to have on the course.
Stop making excuses
Every golfer has a story about why they shot the score they did. Often it includes placing the blame elsewhere. It could be the course, your clubs, the noise your partner made before you swung…the list goes on. Successful golfers generally don’t blame too many external factors for their play, they take responsibility for what occurred, and try to find out ways to fix it. The buck stops with you!
Work on your short game
It might seem weird that this appears in the section about the mental game, but improving your short game can significantly lower the stress a golfer feels during a round. If you don’t feel comfortable with your ability to hit wedge shots and putt effectively, it will put a lot more burden on your tee shots and approach shots. Having a great short game can be a shield that protects a golfer from all of the errant shots that occur in your long game. When you know you have the ability to recover, you will not get as angry at yourself for missing the green with your 6-iron.
Experiment with your swing
A round of golf will throw so many different scenarios at you. Your ball might be stuck behind a tree, on a steep side hill lie, or catch an awkward lie in the rough. This is exactly why you need to make experimentation a part of every practice session. Try hitting low hooks with your 6-iron. Throw some balls in the deepest part of the rough around the practice green. Figuring out how to alter your technique in this process will prove invaluable during your rounds! Most golf tips don’t discuss what happens when things go wrong on the course, and all great golfers know how to deal with all kinds of adversity.
Set goals
The best way to focus your mind on your complete golf game is to establish specific, measurable goals. This is a great way to motivate yourself, track your progress, and stay focused on your path to becoming a better golfer. This was one of the best golf tips ever given to me by my high school coach.
