Golf: Mental Game Tips

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