The old saying is definitely true. Golf is 99% in your head and as maddening as that is, if you're not getting the right mindset for your game, you may never be able to achieve your goals. If you're ready to get that score to where you want it to be, you've got to start working out your brain as well as your body. Here are some tips to help you get mentally prepared to play golf.
1. Stop all self defeating thoughts.
Most of us will, from time to time, be a little hard on ourselves mentally. If you're constantly beating yourself up however, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Anytime you catch yourself with a negative thought related to how you play golf (or anything else for that matter) you've got to nip it in the bud. Replace that thought with a self affirmation that is positive. Soon, you'll find that all areas of your life start to improve, along with your game.
If you go out onto the course with the thought that you're going to mess up, chances are you will. If you think "Gee I hope I don't slice this," you probably will. Practice thinking the right way and affirm yourself before every single shot. It may take a few tries to get it right, but once you stop setting yourself up for failure, you'll be able to succeed.
2. Play the course in your head.
If you've got a favorite course, you probably already know it pretty well. So, take an hour or two a week to sit in a quiet spot and mentally play some golf. You'll need to be able to remove all distractions so that you can immerse yourself in your thoughts. Start on the first tee and envision playing the perfect round. Keep doing this until you can get through an entire game of golf in your head under par.
You'll be training your brain to handle the course, even if you're not on it. The next time you go, your brain will automatically go back to those visualization sessions and chances are, you'll play better than you ever have.
3. Play some golf video games.
Sounds pretty fun, but can it really improve your game? Actually, it can. While it won't help your swing, it will help the way you think about playing golf. You'll be getting some valuable lessons on clubs, wind speed and how to read different lies. Look for a video game that is as realistic as possible and start to really pay attention to it when you play. Put yourself in your character's shoes and get into it as if you were really playing. You'll be learning while you're having fun and these lessons can be put into use right away the next time you actually do play golf.
Your mind is a powerful tool and when you know how to harness it, you'll be able to become a pro at golf.
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