| Every sport has a variety of pre-game rituals to | | | | Another great mental preparation exercise is to |
| prepare the athletes for competition. I attended a | | | | imagine playing the first 3 holes on the practice tee. |
| Professional Basketball game, and there was a | | | | Pull out your driver and imagine that you are on the |
| consistent routine of drills that the players engaged | | | | first tee box, and hit the type of shot that fits the |
| in, such as stretching, passing drills, lay ups, foul shots | | | | layout of the hole. After a good drive, hit the |
| and rotating jump shots. These rituals are carefully | | | | appropriate iron that you would use for your |
| planned by the coaches with the purpose of warming | | | | approach shot to the green. Imagine yourself on |
| up the bodies and minds of the players for | | | | the 2nd tee box, and repeat the exact rotation of |
| competition. Unlike basketball, golf is basically an | | | | shots that you would do on the course, except the |
| individual sport. The golf player needs to develop his | | | | putting. After completing the 2nd hole, do the same |
| or her own pre-game rituals to prepare for | | | | process imagining the 3 hole. Some players will go |
| competition. What are the important pre-game | | | | through the entire 18 holes in this manner before a |
| rituals to prime up your mental game? | | | | tournament, and they will tell you that they receive |
| Athletic performance is dependent upon the | | | | great benefits from this exercise. It serves the |
| cooperation between the intellectual mind and the | | | | wonderful purpose of experiencing the rotation of |
| feeling body. The connection between the mind and | | | | shots that your experience during the round, yet |
| the body needs to be awakened. Conscious | | | | more importantly, it will decrease anxiety because |
| stretching is an excellent way to wake up this | | | | your body is becoming familiar with playing strategy. |
| connection. Conscious stretching is more than simply | | | | The same process can be done on the putting |
| stretching muscles, it is moving your center of | | | | green. Play 3 holes imagining that you are on the |
| awareness into the area of your body that you are | | | | first green, and you go through your full routine, and |
| stretching. For example, if you are stretching a | | | | finish the hole. Pick another hole and imagine that |
| muscle in your leg, you relax into the stretch and | | | | you are on the 2nd hole, then the 3rd. This process |
| focus your awareness totally into the sensation that | | | | helps you get the rhythm of your putting routine |
| is occurring in your muscle. With a quiet mind, you | | | | going, in addition to engaging your mind into the |
| move your awareness into the different parts of | | | | attitude of scoring. |
| your body, and as you warm up your muscles, you | | | | Finally, create a pre-game warm up that warms you |
| are also consciously connecting with your body. | | | | up physically and mentally, and be consistent with the |
| The second part of the mental game that needs to | | | | same process. The worst mistake you can make is |
| be warmed up is your competitive juices. After you | | | | to go straight from your car to playing a round with |
| hit enough balls to get your body loose, play some | | | | no warm up. It may be the 4th hole before you |
| competitive practice games to wake up your | | | | begin to transition into competitive mode. Develop a |
| competitive fire. For example, take out your driver, | | | | pre-game plan and allow yourself plenty time to |
| and play the game that you need to hit 3 in a row | | | | complete the process. As human beings, we love |
| within a 20 yard width of a target. This game | | | | consistency and love to know what to expect. If |
| simulates pressure, challenges you to concentrate | | | | you develop a pre-game routine and consistently |
| and forces you to focus on the importance of each | | | | follow it, your body and spirit will become accustom |
| shot. Another game is that you need to make 3 | | | | to the different cues, and will be ready for |
| putts in a row from 6 feet. Again, you begin to | | | | competition. The consistency creates safety, and |
| move into a vibration that challenges you to make | | | | safety allows the best of your ability to come out. |
| each putt count. As you exercise these mental | | | | Warm up you body and warm up your mind, and you |
| challenges, you are awakening these mental muscles | | | | will hopefully warm up that pencil to write down |
| for competition. | | | | those low numbers. |