Many people look at some of the most successful professional golf players and comment on their physical appearance or capabilities. Fans and viewers often compliment the golfer’s swing, their strength, their ability to improve upon their golf skills as time goes on. Very rarely is it that people focus on or notice a golfer’s mental game and how important their mental strength truly is. Golf is not only a physical game, it is psychological as well. There are many ways that you can not only practice your physical game, but practice how your mind works on the course – which is just as vital to your success! Here are a few ways in which you can improve upon your mental game:
Know yourself. First and foremost, you need to know yourself to be successful on the course. More importantly, you need to know how the game of golf affects you individually. If you have a great shot, do you tend to get overly confident and let it affect future holes? If you have a bad shot, do you let it affect your mood for the rest of your day? Know yourself, know your limits, and know how far you can push yourself to be better.
Keep your emotions in check. Whether you are successful or unsuccessful on the course at any point throughout your game, keep your emotions in check and do your best to stay calm and relaxed. Your adrenaline may be pumping for good or bad reasons, but it is important to not let it get the best of you and to stay focused.
Stay in the present. From when you begin to prepare for your game to the very end of it, make sure you are staying in the present. Before your game, concentrate on how you will best prepare. Throughout the game, if you have a bad shot, do not let it hold you back from the rest of the game – the past is the past! Focus on each shot and hole individually. Think positive throughout the game, but also allow yourself to be constructive so you are internally aware of how you can improve moving forward.