Archived Newsletters - TOURNAMENT PREPARATION:
Newsletter August 2004
Vol. V, Edition 8
Improve Your Golf Game
Easily & Quickly
TOURNAMENT PREPARATION
By Joan King
The summer is almost over in many parts of the country. This is the time of year club, city,
and state tournaments are being held to close the season. If you have been practicing, playing,
doing flexibility & weight training and aerobic endurance, now is the time to give yourself a final
mental tune-up to play in a championship tournament.
Two years ago a poll taken of expert golfers revealed that they thought half to 80% of the game
is mental. They said they spent less than 10 percent of their practice time on their mental skills.
If you spend time every day working on the following you will have a definite advantage over the
competition.
ETIQUETTE& RULES
Review the USGA Rules of Golf to know your options are if you get into trouble. Under the pressure
of having made a mistake that costs them a stroke or two, I see golfers making poor choices about
dropping the ball for their next stroke. A member of the authorized Rules Committee isn't always
immediately available to help you with your decision. If you don't know the rules you will have to
ask a playing partner, who may think h/she knows the rules but could misinterpret them.
In stroke play, if you aren't sure of the correct procedure, you have the option of completing the
hole by playing two balls. But you MUST declare to your marker which ball you want to count for
your score if the Rules permit you to count that ball for your score. In match play if you and your
opponent disagree on the score, it must be resolved, or you must tell your opponent before you leave
the green that you want a ruling when an official is available.
Always carry The Rules of Golf book in your bag so you can look up the relevant information and
choose the option most favorable to your situation.
MENTAL REHEARSAL
Train your mind to stay in the present by mentally rehearsing (see January 2002 PMI article) every
shot you will hit. See or imagine yourself playing at your own peak level of performance. Rehearse
what you want to happen. Scientists have found that this can also improve your swing because
your mind is actually programming your muscles as you visualize yourself hitting the perfect shots.
The best time to do this is when you are falling asleep at night, while you are half-awake.
See and feel yourself relaxed, confident and in control. By training your mind to stay in the
present you will be able to focus and concentrate easily to make all the necessary decisions
automatically and confidently.
Program your mind for what you want. Feel the good feelings of playing well. You become confident
by affirming yourself and your play. See yourself winning.
AFFIRMATIONS
Peak performance = your potential - interference. Notice any negative thoughts/doubts that come
up as you approach the tournament date. Write down the negative self-talk on one side of a piece
of paper. On the other side, write down the opposite positive thought several times. Write and
repeat verbally the positive affirmation (see August 2002 PMI article) during the day and see
yourself executing it easily and effortlessly.
For example, if you have the thought that your opponent is a better player than you, bring
your focus back to what you can control…. You. Tell yourself that you are going to play your
own game and let the chips fall where they may.
Listen to a positive reinforcement tape every day such as the PMI "Release from
Performance Anxiety," "Self-Hypnosis for Playing in the Zone," "Concentration for Consistent
Golf," or "Confident Putting for Lower Scores." All PMI audiotapes are on sale (www.pmi4.com/cart)
at half-price during the month of August.
SHORT GAME
Spend time every day on the scoring part of your game. The short game is especially important
in match play because you can put a lot of pressure on your opponent if s/he thinks you will
always get it close. In these practice sessions, focus on hitting to a target, sensing your
feel and trusting your mechanics. Putt (see PMI August 2000 article) 10-15 minutes, indoors
or out, to develop an automatic feel.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Tournaments are held in all kinds of weather, except lightening so you need to be prepared
mentally for any change during the round.
- RAIN:
- Have a good rain suit in your bag. I have seen golfers quit in the middle of a round
because they were so cold and wet. Have a large umbrella. A plastic rain shield for the
golf cart also helps to keep you dry.
- Keep your golf gloves in a plastic bag. Wear waterproof shoes.
- Put extra towels in your bag.
- If you have a rain delay do not overeat or drink caffeine drinks.
- When it is raining the ball will fly shorter distances in the air and will not roll as far.
- Wet grass on the greens is slower and the break will be reduced.
- WIND
- To avoid losing your balance, widen your stance.
- Move the ball back in your stance to keep the ball lower.
- The wind will distort your auditory sense and the tendency is to swing harder. Focus on
maintaining an even tempo. When it is breezy, swing easy.
- Pay attention to crosswinds as they will make a ball with sidespin travel further offline
both in the air and on the ground.
DAY BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT
- Play a practice round to chart the course, not to keep score.
- Develop a game plan (see October 2002 article) for the first day.
- Spend enough time on the chipping and putting greens to get the feel for distance.
- Eat a healthy dinner (no sweets, caffeine, alcohol).
- Get a good night's sleep. Listen to a relaxation tape ("Relaxation of the Mind and Body" can
be ordered at www.pmi4.com/cart.
- Prepare equipment. Mark balls.
- Relax by clearing all mind of problems.
- Mentally rehearse playing first round.
DAY OF TOURNAMENT
- Get out of bed two hours before your tee time. Do stretching exercises.
- Eat a healthy breakfast of protein and complex carbohydrates. Put nuts, an apple, or low
carb bar in your golf bag. To keep your blood sugar stable, munch on the food instead of
eating it all at once.
- Begin to focus your mind and relax your body. Envision your round, relaxed and in control.
- Get to the golf course at least one hour before your tee time so you will have plenty of
time to prepare.
- Hit pitch shots to the practice green to find your tempo and focus on targets.
- Warm up your full swing. Be aware of any consistent pattern in your ball flight and plan to
play it. Don't try to fix it. This will cause anxiety.
- Spend 10-15 minutes on the putting green alternating short and long putts. Finish with
4-foot putts with the flagstick removed.
- Go to the first tee relaxed, prepared and centered on your plan. Believe in your potential.
TRUST (see PMI article October 2000) your training and inner guidance on every shot. Have
fun by enjoying the opportunity to see how low you can score!
"Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster
and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better
when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance."
-- Brian Tracy
Entrain Your Heart & Brain for Peak Performance!
© Copyright PMI 2004. All Rights Reserved.
*****
"Listening to your CDs kept me calm and focused during our club championship. It has helped with
subsequent golf games and has strengthened my ability to trust my swing and maintain course
management. Repeated listening also helps me to stay focused on the moment."
---A.H.M., Amateur Golfer
*****
One on One: Call 828-696-2547 or contact Joan today to ask about personal coaching by phone.
Learn what is missing in your game to achieve your peak performances.
*****
If this monthly ezine has been helpful to you, please forward it to your friends so they can have more
fun playing the game of golf while lowering their scores. Download previous PMI newsletter issues by
logging on at www.pmi4.com
If you have a question or need help with your mental game, email Joan at POSITIVE MENTAL IMAGERY,
info@pmi4.com Also, please share with us how
this website information has helped you improve your performance.
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Positive Mental Imagery
128 Forest View Drive
Flat Rock, NC 28731
Email: pmi4@bellsouth.net
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