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 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.
If you can’t make up your mind whether it is a 6 or a 5-iron, you are sending an indecisive message from your mind to your muscles. You will probably swing harder with the 6-iron, and be reluctant to take a full swing with the 5-iron. In either case, not putting your best swing on it will result in a lack of distance.
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 preparation 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 in-between 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 of” 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 the next day. Instead of trying to duplicate your success, be decisive, have patience, enjoy the moment, and watch miracles happen.
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
—Albert Schweitzer
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