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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If you're trying to work on your putting game, this book is by far one of the best we've ever seen. You'll be able to learn a lot from it and even if you're a putting pro, there are some fantastic tips and techniques that everyone should try. This book can make a big difference in your game and it was one of our favorite golf instructional books of all time. From real tips you can use to thinking material, this book has it all. It's rare to find a book this well written and comprehensive when it comes to putting. You wouldn't think that the art of putting could take up this many pages, but when the author is breaking everything down so that each step can be understood, it more than accounts for the length of this book. Putting is actually pretty complex and you'll have a whole new appreciation for it after you've read this book.

The book starts off with the author's own experiences before moving into the absolute basics of putting. This is a great chapter for the novice golfer and the author did an admirable job putting everything together in an easy to understand format. The third chapter is a must read for any golfer, regardless of their skill level. This one covers the equipment you must use for putting and how big of a difference the right putter can make in your game. If you're a pro but have difficulty on the green, this may contain the answer to your problems.

The next two chapters deal with the art and form of putting, and you can pick up some really great tips here. Everything is discussed, from the proper stance, to the right way to swing a putter and line up your shot. From there, you'll be learning more about the mental game of putting and how to avoid setting yourself up for failure. We read this chapter twice simply because it was so informative.

Last but not least, the author wraps up some advanced techniques to try on your next round as well as a some common problems and fixes. For trouble shooting, this was a great section and it should be of use to most golfers. The putting drills are also incredibly useful and you can get to work on fixing your game right away.

Bottom line, if you need to fix your game, you need to read this book. We really enjoyed how it was put together and the author did a great job of making it easy to understand. Too many golf books tend to be a little inscrutable and they are not friendly for new golfers. We didn't find that the author used confusing terminology or obverse concepts that were too difficult for beginner's to understand. This little manual on putting belongs in any golfer's bookshelf and it would make the perfect gift for any golfer on your list.