The decisions we make in our lives reflect the choices we make. This is especially true on the golf course. Although we have hit each club in the bag hundreds of times, every situation on the course requires a new decision.
Indecision is the enemy of golfers
Golfers know that being indecisive usually causes missed shots and putts. When your mind says one thing and your heart (feeling) says another that is indecision and doubt. In the full swing, indecision causes you to swing harder and faster, thus losing your rhythm. When putting, indecision brings on the dreaded decel; deceleration of the putter stroke causes the ball to veer off line.
Indecision will sabotage your shot
Suppose that you have decided that it is a 5-iron that you need to hit to the green. If you had hit over the green into trouble the last time you hit that club, you probably will experience some fear and will think about hitting a 6-iron. Or you think the distance is between clubs and you don’t have confidence in either club. Fear is always an emotion experienced in the past. The power of a fear thought limits your willingness to trust yourself.
Choose to use a decisive thought for good results
You must believe that the club in your hand is the right one for the shot you are about to hit. If you are unsure, act as if it is the right one. This will shut out the self-talk doubt and fear thoughts and give a powerful, decisive message to your subconscious mind about what you want to happen.
A golf swing happens now in the present. Don’t bring past fears or future anxieties of what might happen into your pre-shot routine. Be decisive. If you believe it is the right club you have a much better chance of creating a good swing. Brad Faxon said: “It’s more important to be decisive than correct.” If you are decisive……….you are correct.
Choose to use positive words for good results
One of the options to use when you are inbetween clubs is to shorten your grip on the club which shortens the length of the swing. Golfers say that they choke down on the club in this situation. Your unconscious mind will interpret this as strangling/squeezing the life out, which will cause you to grip the club tighter. Your subconscious mind is very susceptible to suggestion. Be careful of the words you use in your golf vocabulary as they will directly impact your results.
Choose to use positive affirmations for good results
As you look down the fairway visualizing a perfect shot with the perfect club, fire in your affirmation. Remember that an affirmation is always stated in the present, such as, “I am swinging with ease and confidence,” or “I am hitting the ball at my target,” or “I am positive this is the best club for this shot.”
Harvey Penick was quoted saying, “Once you address the golf ball, hitting it has to be the most important thing in your life at that moment. Shut out all thoughts other than picking out a target and taking dead aim at it.”
Choose to create your success anew
Success is never the same two rounds in a row. One day you might have a hole-in-one, and the next day you might be successful scoring lower than you did with the hole-in-one.
Success will give you confidence, but success is fleeting. You have to start over again in the next round. Instead of trying to duplicate your success, be decisive, have patience, enjoy the moment, and watch miracles happen.
Play “in the zone” with Joan
Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances
To train your brain to play your best golf, listen to Positive Mental Imagery self-hypnosis guided imagery CDs in the privacy of your own home, available at www.pmi4.com/cart
If you aren’t able to maintain trust and belief in yourself on the golf course, email Joan at pmi4@bellsouth.net or call 828.696.2547 for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation about developing a new strategy. Learn what is missing in your golf game so you can achieve the success you desire.
“THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances” explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to the joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.
This guide book for transforming your life and golf game is available now on
www.AmazonKDP and http://amzn.to/2znB4tN
All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!
Leave a Reply