| I am sure you have heard people say that golf | | | | mistake all the time. I would start playing, |
| is 90 percent mental. If you have played | | | | get to hole number five or so, and get |
| golf before, I think you will find this point | | | | excited that I was say, only two over par. |
| hard to argue. I have had countless times, | | | | Then, on holes 6 through 9, I would think, |
| where a simple thought in my head caused my | | | | "You have to par this in order to shot a 37!" |
| usually rhythmic swing to shank the ball. | | | | Of course, this put too much pressure on me, |
| When I first started playing golf, the mental | | | | and I would end up choking on one of the |
| aspect of the game was my biggest roadblock | | | | remaining holes, triple bogeying one of them. |
| in making pars. Take a look at these mental | | | | Therefore, don't think about your score! |
| game golf tips, so that at least 90 percent | | | | Write it down on the scorecard and forget |
| of your golf game will be in top shape. | | | | about it. Don't constantly keep count in |
| | | | your head; play the game shot by shot. |
| Visualize | | | | |
| | | | Enjoy Yourself |
| Visualization: in every sport I have played, | | | | |
| coaches have preached about visualizing a | | | | Again, when I first started golfing, I made |
| positive outcome. This technique can | | | | the mistake of always stressing about my |
| definitely be applied to golf too. In your | | | | score. If I was not on track to shoot a new |
| head, if you visualize yourself shanking the | | | | all time best score, then I would get mad, |
| ball; there is a good chance that it will | | | | and not enjoy my round. Recently, I learned |
| happen. It's the same thing with a putt. If | | | | to stop thinking about the numbers, and |
| you approach your putt with a negative | | | | concentrate on each individual shot. I |
| attitude, think, "I'm never going to sink | | | | learned that I shoot my best while playing |
| this," and visualize the putt missing, than | | | | with someone else, enjoying conversation. I |
| you will probably miss it. You should be | | | | shot some of my all time best rounds just |
| thinking positively. As you are standing | | | | playing casual social golf. Now this may not |
| above the ball to putt it, imagine the ball | | | | be an option during competition, but in a |
| going in the hole. Think to yourself, "I am | | | | competitive environment, just try to enjoy |
| totally going to make this!" Use this same | | | | the game. Don't stress about the numbers. |
| technique on all of your shots. Visualize | | | | |
| yourself taking a nice smooth swing, and | | | | Golf's mental game can be the source of many |
| imagine the ball going exactly where it is | | | | angry golfers, lost bets, and broken clubs, |
| aimed. | | | | but it does not have to be. Ninety percent |
| | | | of your golf game will be ninety percent |
| Don't Count Your Score | | | | better, if you just take a laid back, |
| | | | positive approach to the game, and enjoy |
| When I first started golfing, I made this | | | | yourself. |