In most sports, the body is trained to react to different situations because there is no time to stop, ponder choices, and make a decision. In golf, the ball waits for the golfer.
The accepted time for a foursome of players with handicaps under 20 on a standard 18-hole course is four hours. However, the actual swing time for a 4-hour round of par golf is just a few minutes. This leaves more than 3 and one-half hours of time to think in-between shots.
Golfers who “train their brains” to produce the shots they desire are the ones who are using proven mental tools such as: relaxation, positive self-talk, patience, a consistent pre-shot routine, trust, playing one shot at a time, no self-judgment, no expectations, staying in the present, giving each shot equal importance, narrowing their focus to the target, and visualization or some other kind of imagery such as rhythm and tempo.
When a golfer is in the right state of mind, s/he can produce his/her peak performance throughout the round. This means letting go of all irrelevant thoughts to focus on creating the shot s/he wants. When the brain and body are in harmony before the swing, they act as one and the swing occurs without conscious effort or thought. This is called playing “in the zone”.
If you have a question about your mental game, link on to http://bit.ly/PXhOdl for Q&A on the Positive Mental Imagery website or email Joan at joan@pmi4.com
Play “In the Zone” With Joan
Be sure to check the PMI website and Blog for previous mental golf tips.
For more in-depth information about how to play “in the zone” call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute personal consultation.
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