how to improve mental golf game

5 Top Tips to Improve Your Mental Game.

• 1. Measure Success By Choosing Process over Results To Improve Your Mental Game. This one is simple. It’s key to remember that a good round of golf is ...
• 2. Put yourself under pressure when you practice to improve your mental game.
• 3. Use the driving range to experiment (random practice)
• 4. Learn how to control your emotions and reactions, and respond instead.
• 5. Learn how to be in the present to improve your mental game of golf.

Full Answer

What are some pre-round mental Golf Tips exercises?

Below are some pre-round mental golf tips exercises which will help you enhance your game. Prepare your body for the golfing challenge. Stretching helps get your muscles ready for the game. This prevents injuries and gets you ready for the round. Minimize static stretching during your warm-up routine as it reduces your power output.

Do you need help with the mental game of golf?

It’s all very well having good technical skills, but if you aren’t able to access them under pressure because you are tense, anxious and have trouble focusing, then you need help with the mental game of golf. The good thing about the mental game of golf is that it can be learned and improved just like you work on the technical aspects of your game.

How can I improve my mental game?

One of the best ways to improve your mental game is to work on honing a routine every time you practice and play, and measuring your success by how well you do it. You can do this by using my mental game scorecard.

How can I improve my golf game?

This is a game and it's supposed to be fun, so work on your game by trying out different types of shots: huge cuts, bump-and-runs, high draws, punch-outs and knock down shots. 5. Set a goal for every practice It's amazing, but not many golfers actually set a goal for every practice session.

Why is golf so hard mentally?

The physics of the game make it very hard to play intuitively. While some golfers claim to be self guided, none at the highest level do. You cannot see the club hit the ball on full shots. It is too fast.

How do you control the mental game of golf?

Here are 10 ways to work on the mental game of golfShort game, short game, short game.Make it a competition. ... Set a goal for every practice. ... Play with different shots. ... Avoid hitting the same shot in a row. ... 86 the music. ... Use only one ball to practice chipping. ... No 3-ball putting. ... More items...•

How can I improve my mental confidence in golf?

Ten Tips to Build Confidence For GolfDon't be Self Critical. ... Don't Give Yourself Technical Feedback on the Golf Course. ... Visualize and Feel. ... Develop a Strong Shot Routine. ... React Indifferently to Bad Shots. ... Take Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone. ... Change Your Goals. ... Focus On What You Did Well.More items...•

How can I improve my concentration and focus in golf?

3:595:40HOW TO MAINTAIN FOCUS ON THE GOLF COURSE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMuch better results and if I was laying it up on top are five and I've got a great chance of wedgeMoreMuch better results and if I was laying it up on top are five and I've got a great chance of wedge that ball close. Not the putty now I'll definitely do that one of my core would open now for birdie.

What mental skills does golf require?

The 7 Most Important Mental Skills For Golf7 Essential Mental Skills For Golf. ... The Ability to Focus and Concentrate. ... Awareness and Being Present. ... Being Able To Stay Calm. ... Confidence. ... Attitude/Mood/Optimistism. ... Mental Imagery. ... Goal setting.

What mental skills does golf require?

The 7 Most Important Mental Skills For Golf7 Essential Mental Skills For Golf. ... The Ability to Focus and Concentrate. ... Awareness and Being Present. ... Being Able To Stay Calm. ... Confidence. ... Attitude/Mood/Optimistism. ... Mental Imagery. ... Goal setting.

How much of a golf game is mental?

90% mental“The game of golf is 90% mental and 10% physical.” This quote has been used by Jack Nicklaus many times to help describe how tough the game really is.

How to stay relaxed while playing golf?

While you are moving on to your next shot, talking about something other than your round will help you stay relaxed. Don’t over think holes you have already played or shots you wish you could take back. Counting backwards as you walk or counting the steps you take will help keep your mind occupied and keep you calm for your next shot.

How to play golf without fear?

Make sure to always know how far it is to the water hazard or bunkers before hitting your shot. Decide what tee-shot will give you the best approach to the green on each hole and what club you need to hit. That way you can step up to every shot with confidence and play your round without any fear around the course.

What is the go to shot in golf?

This is where your “go-to shot” will need to be used. This is a shot that you can always count on to have acceptable distance and accuracy. Getting off that bogey train is a must for your mental game and you will need to develop a go-to shot that you can always count on. For some, the go-to shot might be a 6-iron they can play from any lie. For others, maybe it’s an 8-iron. Regardless, this shot will help you build up confidence and momentum for your round to get you back on track.

What are the parts of a round of golf?

There is an old adage that your round of golf is always broken up into 3 different parts. The first 6 holes are all your preparation, the middle 6 holes are your mental strength and the final 6 holes are your endurance.

What was Rory McIlroy's focus on?

After winning the British Open in 2014, Rory McIlroy said he focused on two things during the tournament: process and spot . His pre-shot routine (or process) was arguably the most important part of his win that week.

What is the go to shot for a bogey train?

For some, the go-to shot might be a 6-iron they can play from any lie. For others, maybe it’s an 8-iron.

What is the mental game of golf?

The mental game of golf does not always mean sitting in a chair visualizing making the winning putt at the Masters. Sure, focused breathing and visualization are powerful and overlooked skills, but the crucial part of the mental game is what and how you prepare and practice. Too often, players love the amount of time or number ...

Who said "If I don't work on my putting, then I won't putt well"?

Scott Stallings once talked about the idea of not letting fear guide your practice. If preparation is fear-based, then it's feeling like you HAVE TO practice OR ELSE. (i.e., "If I don't work on my putting, then I won't putt well.") He switched to being driven by confidence and belief instead.

Why is it important to not hope you got better but know you improved after practice?

It's important to not HOPE you got better but KNOW you improved after practice. If you set a difficult to reach goal, then you're training your mental toughness. Also, once you hit your goal, be sure to move on to something different.

Does Mark Wilson putt with one ball?

I reminded Mark Wilson this past season how years ago when we met, his one-ball putting practice made such an impact. He only putts with one ball, because that's all we get on the actual course! Crazy, right?!

Can you hit bad shots in a round?

You will hit bad shots during a round, so don't allow your confidence to be affected by a bad shot. Instead, work on your mental game!

Does listening to music while practicing golf help?

But, listening to music while you practice does not work on your focus or your mental game of golf. Keep the music on in your car or limit it to the gym.

Is golf better on the range or the course?

Golfers often talk about playing better on the range than on the course. There's no stress or consequences on the range, but there is no variability either. We groove the swing on the range, but we will never we hit 10 drivers in a row when we play.

How to improve golf?

Don't set the bar too high when playing golf. This game is about accepting the result and having the desire to improve. Too higher expectations can cause pressure to build-up from within and frustrations when you underperform. Don't focus on the score and instead pay attention to the process and appreciate little progress.

How to get better at golf?

Stay healthy. Fuel your body with food and drinks before each pre-round to obtain the best performance. Drink a lot of water since dehydration reduces your performance during a round of golf. Eat enough and avoid being too full as well as foods with starch and sugar which will increase your blood pressure.

Why do you play different types of shots during the short game?

Play different types of shots as possible from different lies during the short-game warm-up. This allows you to get more creative as well as familiarize yourself with the golf course.

How to hit the ball in practice?

How you are hitting the ball in practice has no correlation to the way you are going to perform in the game. Appreciate each hit and set out to improve. Avoid being hard on yourself and trust your efforts and the process. Work on hitting different types of shots while changing golf clubs.

Why do you need to warm up before playing golf?

You need to spend a number of minutes doing some warm-up exercises before a round of golf. A good warm-up routine allows you to play more consistently in golf. Just like any other sports warming up is necessary for obtaining the best performance and avoiding injuries. Many golf players tend to forego warm-up exercises.

What do you need to play golf?

Always have the necessary golf equipment during the game. These include a yardage book, a pitch marker repairer, ball markers, and tees. Remember to get to the golf course early to avoid preliminary activities like changing, visiting the golf shop, and restroom from eating into your warm-up time.

How to get ready for golf?

Prepare your muscles for the game by stretching. Prepare your body for the golfing challenge. Stretching helps get your muscles ready for the game. This prevents injuries and gets you ready for the round. Minimize static stretching during your warm-up routine as it reduces your power output.

Why do we try to control our swing?

The natural response to golf for most of us is to get more careful and deliberate in our preparation to play the shot and then we often try to control our swing or stroke to get them just right, or perfect because the outcome counts. We may be trying to avoid a miss or making a mistake.

What is the biggest challenge in golf?

1 Golf has one of the biggest challenges of all sports: The ball is not moving and you have lots of time to think, prepare to swing and then swing. This time available to think makes playing the shot much harder than hitting a baseball, or throwing a pass, or shooting a basket from the three-point line.

How does level of arousal affect swing?

As your level of Arousal changes, your swing changes. If your level of Arousal on the golf course is different than it was on the range, then your swing will be different. It won’t feel right or work as well as it did on the range, no matter how many balls you hit repetitively on the range.

What does it mean when you get a hit every third time to the plate?

2 In golf, every shot counts. That means that every shot and outcome are important. In baseball, if you get a hit every third time to the plate you could be in the Hall of Fame.

Why are sand shots so challenging?

Sand shots are challenging because the condition of the sand, the lie in the sand and the distance to the hole, along with the height of the lip are all impacting what is possible.

What is the exact position of the club face through the ball?

The exact position of the club face through the ball is critical to where the ball goes. Fractions of an inch translate to big differences in direction and distance. The path of the club face through the ball also has large effects on the resulting direction and movement of the ball. Then there is putting and short game.

Why is reading the greens important?

Reading the greens is crucial to your ability to pick a good line and speed for the putt or chip. Sand shots are challenging because the condition of the sand, the lie in the sand and the distance to the hole, along with the height of the lip are all impacting what is possible.

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Meet Your Mental Coach David MacKenzie

David MacKenzie is a Mental Coach for Golf and the founder of Golf State of Mind.

What is the mental game of golf?

The mental game of golf is a huge factor in any golfer reaching their potential. It’s all very well having good technical skills, but if you aren’t able to access them under pressure because you are tense, anxious and have trouble focusing, then you need help with the mental game of golf. The good thing about the mental game of golf is that it can be learned and improved just like you work on the technical aspects of your game. To help get you started, I’ve put together 5 of my top tips to improve your mental game.

Why is it important to simulate golf?

It’s really important that you simulate the golf course when you practice as much as possible. You need to create consequences instead of just reaching for another ball (you don’t have that luxury on the golf course).

How to stay present in golf?

How you spend the other 90% will have a big effect on how well you play your shots. There will be times where your mind will want to go back over past mistakes or try to predict the future. Both will agitate your mind and create tension in your body. If you’re able to stay present, you will keep your mind quiet so it’s fresh and ready to focus on your process and give you the best opportunity for great shots and low scores.

What is the most mentally challenging sport?

The great amateur Bobby Jones once famously said: “Golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course… the space between your ears.” Golf is undoubtedly one of the most mentally challenging sports there is. It’s an individual pursuit and there’s nobody to help you on the fairways if, and when, things start to turn sour. If self-belief goes and negative, irrational thoughts begin to dominate, your scorecard will probably start to read something like a premium-rate phone number.

What to do when you play a bad shot?

If you play a bad shot that ends in a difficult spot, try to think of it as a new challenge. Don’t just wallow in the predicament; start from scratch. Remember, your objective is to get down in as few shots as possible from the current situation, whatever it is.

What to do when the ball doesn't drop into the hole?

If you’re having one of those days where the ball just doesn’t seem to want to drop into the hole, don’t bemoan your ill fortune on the greens. Focus on the positives. If you pick a line and start the ball on that line, you have putted well; you just haven’t read the green quite right. Next time, you’ll get the line right and the putt will drop.

How to limit damage when your golf ball is in a bush?

If your ball lies in a bush, the best way to limit the damage might be to take a penalty drop, to go well back and into a point where you have a full shot. You almost certainly won’t get the ball into the hole in as few shots as possible by hacking hopefully at it, willing it against reason to escape back to the fairway – that’s how the really big numbers can rack up.

What is the objective of hitting the ball in the cup?

Each time you reach your ball, your objective is to get it into the hole from that position in as few shots as possible. Don’t think about what has gone before, or the worst-case scenario, just focus on how to get the ball in the cup in the most efficient way from where it lies.

Why do sports psychologists work?

Almost all of the top players now employ a sports psychologist to help them find the right frame of mind before a game, and to give them methods to stay in that, “happy place,” for the duration of their round.

Do amateur golfers return their putts?

The amateurs who get the most out of their games will very rarely post a “No-return” and will tend to give it their all until the very last putt has dropped.