Golf: The Mental Game of Lower Scores

For many people playing a relaxed round of golf is impossible. A simple, relaxing pastime has become a frightening, stressful experience from which they struggle to complete. It has been proven over and over that being relaxed and confident on the golf course leads to lower scores. "Fear is not an option" when it comes to lowering your score.

The more skilled a player becomes the problems that begin to manifest themselves are usually more mental than physical. Players tend to over think the simple parts of the game and one mistake is compounded by another mistake. As mistakes begin to pile up the golfer becomes fearful and tentative. Being able to control you thinking can help change and control your game. By not worrying about your last shot and keeping your mind on the next play allows you to focus and move forward.

One of the major problems for many golfers is being afraid how their game appears to other golfers. They spend more time worrying about what the other members of their group think about their game rather than focusing their attention on their game. This desire for approval causes a clear problem that many golfers are not able to cope with.

In social situations psychologists have determined that every individual becomes a composite of the 5 people with whom they spend the most time. This means that many golfers may feel the need to be perfect based on the players around them and not living up to the goal of perfection is ruining the game of golf for hundreds of thousands of people. By monitoring the attitudes of the people you play with you may actually improve your score. Recreational golf should be fun. If the people you are playing with are having fun then you will be more relaxed, have more fun and actually play better golf.

By letting your focus drift to the thoughts of others you game becomes inconsistent. You are not longer focusing on your target and are keyed on those around you. You must learn to ignore the "gallery" of watchers and concentrate completely on your game. This will allow you to beat your fears and become a more consistent player.

Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are great golfers. But they were never perfect golfers. Striving for perfection ruins your game and can lead to problems off the course. The great players throughout history spend many thousands of hours working and reworking their skills every year. They constantly refine their skill in a myriad of different ways that all add to great play on a consistent basis. Play your game work on you problems a little at a time and enjoy the time you are able to spend relaxing. In this way your game will improve over time and your enjoyment of the game will expand exponentially.

One of Tiger Woods most quotable training tips is "Hit it and forget it." Once the ball is hit you have a whole new set of opportunities with which to challenge yourself. If you dwell on the past then you will continue to be tense and increase the chances of making consecutive bad decisions and shots.
Focus on your game and not on the games and comments of other golfers. Just controlling this one single item will improve your game. Clear your mind, think forward and have fun. Golf is played in a beautiful setting allow that setting to set your mind for your next game.

Master you fears and control your focus and soon you will be the master of your own golf game.