Golf is a mental sport, just as much as it is a physical one!

Throughout my career as a player and coach, I have seen many physically gifted & technically skilled golfers struggle to reach their potential because they were significantly held back by this one important aspect.

So if you've never thought about the mental side of golf, and your ability to manage your emotions and stay focused on the next shot, I will show you why improving this aspect is key to your success in this game.

Now don't get me wrong.

Obviously you need the foundations of a solid swing to succeed at any level in this game.

However...

It's very easy to get bogged down and overwhelmed by the technique flaws that are plaguing your swing..

But by improving your mental game you can drastically reduce your scores and start playing much better golf.

Even with the swing flaws that are holding you back!

So next time you find yourself recovering from a tricky situation or facing a difficult shot, remember that there are certain things you can practise to ensure you are optimising for peak performance.

Visualise your shot

Visualisation is a key mental skill that can help you succeed on the course.

Imagine yourself hitting that next shot with the correct ball flight, or rolling in that big breaking putt.

How does it feel? 

Really think about what it looks like.

By practising and improving your visualisation skills, you remove the pressure and stress in your mind that causes tension in your body.

When tension creeps in, you often produce a poor shot. 

So use this technique to relax and help clear your mind of doubt, so that you stay focused on the shot you are about to hit.

Practise Positive self talk

As a coach, I often stress the importance of positive self-talk to my students.

It's easy to let negative thoughts creep in, especially when things aren't going your way or you are hitting poor shots and not scoring well.

This can quickly spiral into a downward cycle of doubt and frustration, which negatively impacts your performance.

By reminding yourself of your strengths and accomplishments, you can counteract the negative thoughts and focus on what you're capable of.

For example, after a bad shot, instead of telling yourself "I'm terrible at golf" or "I'll never get better,"

try saying something positive, like "I'm a good golfer and I'm going to come back stronger."

This positive thought can help you remain motivated, and encourage you to try again.

Positive self talk is a simple, yet powerful tool that can help boost your confidence, motivation, and improve your performance on the course.

BUT...

You need to be consistent with your practice as it takes time before you start seeing the results.

Remember, the way you talk to yourself has a direct impact on your mindset, and ultimately on your game.

Practice Mindfulness

Throughout my coaching and playing career, I have noticed that one of the biggest obstacles to success on the course is getting caught up in the past or worrying about the future.

This is where practising mindfulness can be incredibly beneficial.

It's about noticing what's happening in your mind and body, without judgement.

Practice staying in the present moment and pay attention to your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.

For example, if you hit a bad shot, it's easy to dwell on it and let it affect your next shot.

But with mindfulness, you can acknowledge the negative thought and then let it go.

This allows you to refocus your mind on the next shot.

Tiger Woods is famously quoted as saying he will only allow himself to be angry for 10 steps.

Once he has taken his 10 steps he frees his mind from the negativity and focuses completely on the next shot at hand.

By utilising a mindfulness practice on the course, you can step back from the stress and see the situation more objectively.

This helps you to make better decisions and ultimately play better and shoot lower scores.

Deep Breathing

This is a great technique to manage tension and anxiety on the course.

Golf is a very mentally and emotionally demanding sport, especially when in high-pressure situations such as competing in tournaments or playing with a close score.

The technique is to breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and then exhale slowly through your mouth.

This can help slow down your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and reduce stress on your body.

There are different deep breathing techniques that you can use.

However I prefer the 4-7-8 method.

This involves inhaling for 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds.

This can be especially helpful for high-pressure situations, such as standing over a crucial putt.

When you face these high pressure situations, it's natural to get tense and short of breath.

But by learning to control your breathing, you can relax your body and your mind, which allows you to focus at a deeper level.

Emotional Regulation

Golf is a game of ups and downs.

So managing your emotions and keeping a level head is an important aspect to scoring well.

A bad shot can lead to frustration and disappointment, while a good shot can lead to overconfidence and complacency.

It's easy to get caught up in the moment and lose control of your emotions.. We've all been there.

But in order to perform your best, it's important to keep your emotions in check.

Learning to control your emotions can help you maintain focus and play more consistently which ultimately improves your game and lowers your scores.

Pre-Shot Routine

Along with the previously mentioned aspects like, mindfulness and deep breathing, a solid pre-shot routine also helps to keep your emotions in check.

A pre-shot routine provides a consistent, systematic process that you can rely on before every shot.

It helps you to focus on the task at hand and mentally and physically prepare for the shot.

By going through the same routine every time, you can build muscle memory, which can help you to be more consistent with your shots.

Additionally, it allows you to take a step back and focus on your breath.

This can help you to manage your emotions, and be in a calm state of mind.

It allows you to clear your mind of any distractions, like the score, other players, or pressure, which can help you to make better decisions and execute the shot more effectively.

Additionally, a pre-shot routine can help you to be more mindful of your body language, which can affect your overall state of mind.

It reminds you to have a good posture and also to have a good alignment, which is crucial for a good shot.

Having a solid pre-shot routine is an effective tool for you to be more consistent and perform better on the golf course.

Set Realistic Goals

It's a powerful tool that can help you stay motivated and focused throughout your round.

Before you start a round, it's essential to set realistic goals for yourself.

This will depend on your current level of play, but it can be something as simple as hitting fairways and greens, or even just trying to enjoy the game.

Having a clear goal in mind can help you stay on track and give you something to work towards.

One example of a specific and measurable goal is "I want to hit at least 70% of fairways in my next round".

This is a specific goal as you have set a target percentage of fairways to hit, and measurable as you will be able to count the number of fairways hit and divide it by the total number of fairways to calculate the percentage.

Another important aspect of goal-setting is setting short-term and long-term goals.

Short-term goals are goals that you want to achieve in the next round or few rounds, whereas long-term goals are goals that you want to achieve in the future.

Having a mix of both short-term and long-term goals can help you stay motivated and focused in the short term and give you something to strive for in the long term.

Whether it's aiming to break 100, shooting a personal best, or simply trying to enjoy the game, having a clear goal in mind can help you play your best and achieve the results you want on the course.

OVERALL

The mental side of golf is a vital aspect of the game, often overlooked but its importance can't be overstated.

By improving your goal-setting, visualization, emotional regulation, deep breathing, mindfulness and pre-shot routine, you can improve your ability to score well and achieve the results you want on the golf course.

Want some more tips on improving the mental side of the game?