| |
The Mental Game Of Golf
Ten Strategies For Better Concentration
Bill Cole, MS, MA
Do you arrive at the golf course hoping your A game will show
up that day? Or do you have a system for making sure your
concentration will be zoned in? Players who give consistent
performances know how to fine-tune their minds.
Here are ten mental strategies that can help you improve your
concentration in golf.
- Create A Pre-Zone Period: To get in the zone in
the round, create the zone feeling in advance. At home,
or away from the office, do 10-15 minutes of mental readiness
preparation, including positive visualization, making a
game plan, and positive thinking. Arrive at the course 20-30
minutes early to practice and gather yourself. When you
have a strong mental game of golf, you will add this extra
time to your golf experiences to guarantee your mind works
for you, not against you.
- Be Aware Of Nuances In Pre-Shot Routines: You may
have a different pre-shot routine for various clubs and
situations, so be consistent within each of those. Be aware
when you alter these routines, and start over. When you
have a strong mental game of golf, you will be more aware
of these important subtleties.
- Commit To The Shot: If you change your mind about
anything on the shot, back off the ball, recommit and refocus
on your routine. Picture the result you want in your mind
and before you swing, let go of that image, and refocus
on the ball. When you have a strong mental game of golf,
you will have more mental discipline.
- Accept What Will Happen, In Advance: Paradoxically,
to get the results you want, you need to release your urge
to micromanage these results during your swing. Players
who are control freaks can't let go of their conscious mental
control that makes their swing guided and tight. Instead,
accept what will happen in advance, trust your swing and
let it fly. When you have a strong mental game of golf,
you know that letting go paradoxically gives you more unconscious
control.
- Stop Evaluating Your Progress: Instead of riding
the emotional roller-coaster of being excited when you hit
a good shot, and depressed when you don't, try staying more
emotionally even as you play. To do this, don't be consumed
with how well you are doing or "If you will win". Instead,
suspend judgment and take a "Let's see what happens" approach
and simply keep your mind in the here and now. When you
have a strong mental game of golf, you have more poise and
patience with yourself.
- Down-Size Your Vision: The closer you walk to your
ball on the course the narrower you want your concentration.
As you get over the ball you want a microscopic external
focus, not a broad, internal or external focus. Look closely
at the ink on the ball, any shadows, the grass around the
ball, and let that help your mind become calmer and more
tuned in. When you have a strong mental game of golf, you
know how to use appropriate attentional cues.
- Drop On-Course Self-Instruction: Your swing checkpoint
lists and deep technical analysis that help you grow in
practice just get in the way in a round, so leave them on
the practice area. Stick to simple swing cues and quick
fixes, and begin quieting your mind in the minutes before
your round as you warm up. When you have a strong mental
game of golf, you know that analysis and tweaking is best
left for times other than the round.
- Dampen The Noise In Your Head: You might have thoughts
of self-doubt, worry, fearful images and other internal
distractions, but you can cover them up. As you begin your
pre-shot routine, listen to your breathing or hum a tune
to block out these unwanted thoughts and images. When you
have a strong mental game of golf, you know how to manage
your mind, and your focus.
- Use Performance Trigger Cues To Automate Your Swing:
Use these to initiate the swing and then let them go. You
can use words or images that convey smoothness, balance,
power, ease or any other focus that helps you. When you
have a strong mental game of golf, you make your mind an
ally, by using smart triggers and cues.
- Execute The Swing With No Mental Guidance Or Mid-Swing
Tweaks: Your mind can initiate the swing, but don't
let it guide or adjust the swing. You need to trust what
you have initiated, and simply allow it to unfold. When
you have a strong mental game of golf, you trust your training.
I encourage you to make concentration a strength in your
game. Follow these mental game strategies and watch your enjoyment
go up while your scores go down.
For a comprehensive overview of your mental abilities you
need an assessment instrument that identifies your complete
mental strengths and weaknesses. Here is a free, easy-to-take
65-item sport
psychology assessment tool you can score right on the
spot. This assessment gives you a quick snapshot of your strengths
and weaknesses in your mental game. You can use this as a
guide in creating your own mental training program, or as
the basis for a program you undertake with mental
coach Bill Cole, MS, MA to improve your mental game. This
assessment would be an excellent first step to help you get
the big picture about your mental game.
Copyright © 2010 Bill Cole, MS, MA. All rights reserved.
Bill Cole, MS, MA, a leading authority on peak performance, mental toughness
and coaching, is founder and President of the International Mental Game Coaching
Association, https://www.mentalgamecoaching.com.
Bill is also founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants, a consulting firm that helps
organizations and professionals achieve more success in business, life and sports.
He is a multiple Hall of Fame honoree, an award-winning scholar-athlete, published
book author and articles author, and has coached at the highest levels of major-league
pro sports, big-time college athletics and corporate America. For a free, extensive
article archive, or for questions and comments visit him at www.MentalGameCoach.com.
Article Source: SportsPsychologyCoaching.com
Return to The Mental Game
of Golf Articles directory.
|
|
