As with any other sports, mental strength is one of the most important things that you would need to have a great performance in playing golf. It’s not enough that you have the best clubs or equipment. You must also have a sound mind because golf is a mind game. What you think while you’re on the course, determines the outcome of your play. How do you hone your mental strength while playing golf? Here are four things you need to do to strengthen your mind and win the game.
PRACTICE.
Our brain controls everything especially body movement. That’s why practicing or training physically helps condition the mind and makes us move quicker and react faster. Through consistent practice, the actions we do eventually becomes part of our subconscious and our body movements become natural. Once you learn the proper golfing stance or swing, it becomes a habit and you would no longer need to concentrate every time you do it.
VISUALIZE.
You may not be aware of it, but what you think about on the golf course can pretty much have an impact on your game. Let’s say you’re making an approach shot and you notice that there are trees off to the right. Subconsciously, you’re thinking “I must avoid those trees.” You thought about this because in your mind, you have created a picture of you actually hitting the trees. When you think negatively about a shot, it will most likely have a negative effect on your next shot as well. That’s why if you don’t want that to happen, you need to visualize where exactly you want the ball to land. This then would make the brain signal to the body what it needs to do to make that shot.
CONCENTRATE.
Focus is one of the most essential ways to condition your mind. Remember the exercise that your golf instructor taught you wherein you were asked to imagine a straight line between the tee and the hole before you make a shot? Even that simple exercise would require intense focus. Keep in mind that when it comes to playing golf you cannot do multiple things at the same time. You need to concentrate on the present and leave the speculations and ramblings to others. Always focus on your stroke and maintain a positive internal dialogue. No matter how impossible or bad a situation may be, be optimistic about each shot you make and never entertain any negative thoughts.
BE CONFIDENT.
One good sign of a golfer with a strong mental state is when he is confident in every shot he makes, regardless whether it’s a successful shot or a missed one. It’s about being able to control your emotion. Also, bear in mind that just because some people can survive pressure and difficult situations, it doesn’t mean you won’t have a hard time doing the same. Stressful situations in playing golf can be hard to recover from, but never let them get the better of you. Have a balanced mental game of golf by showing sportsmanship as well as appropriate emotional gestures. it’s never a good idea to throw your clubs just because your ball landed on a sand trap.
Ever heard of the saying that the largest part in playing golf lies between the golfer’s ears? Golf is indeed a mind game in as much as it is a physical one. However, always keep in mind that it’s not enough that you have a positive attitude when you play. You would also need to understand the fundamentals of the game, have the right equipment to use and be physically fit. Otherwise, no amount of mental strength can make you win. At the end of the day, it’s about achieving physical and mental balance that makes the difference on the greens.
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