| I am sure you have heard people say that golf is 90 | | | | the time. I would start playing, get to hole number |
| percent mental. If you have played golf before, I | | | | five or so, and get excited that I was say, only two |
| think you will find this point hard to argue. I have had | | | | over 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 aspect | | | | would end up choking on one of the remaining holes, |
| of the game was my biggest roadblock in making | | | | triple bogeying one of them. Therefore, don't think |
| pars. Take a look at these mental game golf tips, so | | | | about your score! Write it down on the scorecard |
| that at least 90 percent of your golf game will be in | | | | and forget about it. Don't constantly keep count in |
| top shape. | | | | your head; play the game shot by shot. |
| Visualize | | | | Enjoy Yourself |
| Visualization: in every sport I have played, coaches | | | | Again, 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. In | | | | not 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 the | | | | I learned to stop thinking about the numbers, and |
| same thing with a putt. If you approach your putt | | | | concentrate on each individual shot. I learned that I |
| with a negative attitude, think, "I'm never going to | | | | shoot my best while playing with someone else, |
| sink this," and visualize the putt missing, than you will | | | | enjoying conversation. I shot some of my all time |
| probably miss it. You should be thinking positively. As | | | | best rounds just playing casual social golf. Now this |
| you are standing above the ball to putt it, imagine | | | | may not be an option during competition, but in a |
| the ball going in the hole. Think to yourself, "I am | | | | competitive environment, just try to enjoy the game. |
| totally going to make this!" Use this same technique | | | | Don't stress about the numbers. |
| on all of your shots. Visualize yourself taking a nice | | | | Golf's mental game can be the source of many angry |
| smooth swing, and imagine the ball going exactly | | | | golfers, 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 Score | | | | ninety percent better, if you just take a laid back, |
| When I first started golfing, I made this mistake all | | | | positive approach to the game, and enjoy yourself. |