5 Beliefs to Improve Your Mental Golf Game

Why is the mental game of golf different from other sporting games?

From the address to the finish, a golf swing takes about three seconds to complete. In a four-hour round, the actual swing-time would be around five minutes for an average golfer shooting 100. That leaves 3 hours and 55 minutes to think about what you are doing.

In no other sport do you have this much time to think about what you are going to do next. The way you use this time could be the difference between having a good day or a bad day on the golf course.

Remember these five beliefs for a successful mental golf game:

1. Be realistic about the game of golf. Everyone playing the game will hit poor shots as well as miss chip shots and putts. Golf is a game of inches when ½” can be the difference between success and failure. It happens. Stop thinking about a missed shot and treat it as an anomaly.
2. Golf is not a game of perfection. Let go of trying to hit perfect shots. Relax and enjoy the feeling of your body creating smooth, fluid swings. Most pros swing with 85% of their possible power.
3. Golf is basically a game of recovery. Every shot is hit from a different place. When it is your turn to hit, slow down and take time to prepare your mind; deep breathing will help your focus and visualization of the upcoming shot.
4. Take responsibility for your game by paying attention to your own game. You are responsible for every decision and every swing you make. The numbers on the scorecard do not always reflect how you played. Stop using excuses and own your mistakes. Learn from them and you will make fewer mistakes in the future.
5. Maintain the right mental attitude. Remind yourself that golf is a game that you play for enjoyment. Your misses don’t reflect upon you as a person, but your reactions to your misses do. Smile more often and enjoy playing in the beauty of nature.

 Play “In the Zone” With Joan

Log on to the PMI website and Blog for additional mental golf tips.

If this article is helpful to you, and you want to learn more, call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation about improving your mental game. She can be reached by phone at 828-696-2547, or through the Positive Mental Imagery website or blog.

Self-empowering hypnosis mental golf CDs are available at www.pmi4.com/cart