Reprinted Articles

Improving your golf game is not just about the shots you make or the kit you choose. If it were that easy more of us would have single figure handicaps.

You may not know that we take to ourselves in our heads up to 70% of the time - its a process we call thinking. Thinking starts from the moment we wake up. How often has someone said to you ‘what are you thinking about?’

The ‘thinking’ we do when we play golf is very important. You probably have heard people saying things like:- I can never seem to play this hole well - My ball sees the water and heads straight for it - That bunker and I just don’t get on - I usually have a good score until I get to the 16th.

Why do we even bother to play, because just as soon at the prophecy happens we say ‘There you are what did I tell you.’ Of course you should not be surprised - you already said to yourself what was going to happen, and you were right. You need to turn all those negative thoughts around to positive ones.

What’s stopping us being positive?

‘Thought barriers’ are not always easy to recognize, but we all have them. Amazingly you can be the most confident and positive person socially, at home or work. Why is it that a different person takes over when we step onto a golf course?

Do you recognize any of these:

I’ve got no chance against a 10 handicapper. She must know the rules, she’s been a member for 18 years. These youngsters are much more confident than me. Some days I’m just not lucky. I can’t get over the water.

All these phrases we have heard at sometime and are negative thoughts. You’re not giving yourself a chance because you start off with a negative mind and those thoughts are likely to come true.

A positive approach is important and therefore you must change your mindset. Try telling yourself that “YOU CAN” and then YOU WILL.

Take the phrases above and change them around to make the approach much more positive.

The 10 handicapper is beatable because you have more shots, they could be having an off day or you could just play exceptionally well.

There are a lot of golf club members who don’t know all the rules, and you should politely challenge if you feel in the right.

It’s great to be young and confident, but that also can mean a lack of experience and course management skills.

It’s amazing that the more positive you are the luckier you’ll get.

I can get over this water with the correct club and the right attitude.

Remember when you are on the course to motivate yourself, because your playing partner wont!!.

Bad shots should be forgotten, move on - you can’t change what has been done. It’s important to concentrate over each and every shot - don’t allow yourself to be distracted. You don’t know what the rest of the field is doing, so don’t give up if you have a bad hole, or you’re having a bad round.

Its important that you set yourself a target before you go out. Maybe you want to break 80,90,100 - it could be that you want to get a certain number of birdies or pars but it could be anything that will motivate you to shoot a better score.

Keep thinking positive and your game will improve. Every shot that you attempt should be will full concentration and positive commitment.

Tags: Golf