Mental Golf: Practical Golf Psychology for the Struggling Golfer
As a sports psychologist, I have worked with a lot of athletes in different sports. Far too often, their mind controls them instead of the other way around, and all the joy in the game disappears.
One frustrated golfer wrote:
“I used to play a lot of golf, and to single figures but only play very occasionally now.”
“I would like to play competitively again but every time I hit a bad shot I completely fall apart and fat every shot. I feel like a grenade is going off in my hands, a bit like the yips but with the whole swing.”
“I also have a tendency to drop the left shoulder on the backswing which is causing the collapse of the left side and subsequent fat shots. Anyone know a good pro near London who covers the mental and physical aspects of the golf game?”
Just as with golf swings, there is no one perfect solution for every golfer. Players are just as individual in what can best help them fix their head problems as well. But some principles do seem to consistently help a large number of players, whether in golf or any other sport.
Playing “fearless mental golf” is one of these key principles.
The player who is relaxed and confident plays a better game than one whose knees are shaking at the thought of lurking sand traps or looming trees. Fear is one thing you want to leave in your car trunk when you put on your shoes.
If you change how you think, you change your game. Don’t worry about why the ball flew where it did. Just keep your mind focused on the next shot.
Tiger once said that the game is all about recovery. Maybe the most important aspect of his comment was having a mindset about playing the next shot with a positive focus and dealing with the situation, rather than wasting needles mental energy on the past bad shot.
One big problem for many players is constant worry about what others will think of them if they make a bad shot. If you’re thinking about how someone else is going to perceive you, you’re not concentrating on the ball, on your swing, on the basics.
Must you have the approval of others? In the grand scheme of life, is hitting a bad shot truly a disaster you can never overcome?
Playing with a perfectionist translates into “no fun”. Why ruin the joy of the game for yourself? Find friends you can play the game with just for the pure enjoyment. Your game will likely improve as you’re less tense and able to swing more freely.
Tennis players have used a “bounce-hit-bounce” learning technique for years to remove mental distractions. They simple focus on executing their stroke, and repeat “bounce-hit-bounce” as the ball hits their racquet, court, and then the other side of the court.
Maybe golfers need their own version of this. Your mind can only keep one thought present at a time, so if you “clog up” the worry channels with more routine and relaxed thoughts, there isn’t room for the fearful mental golf thoughts.
Just a thought for the next time your mind runs away from you on the tee or fairway.
