There
are some
very distinct
differences
between
the mental
approach
of the
accomplished
and the
average
golfer.
The
first difference
that stands
out is that
good players
instinctively
know that
golf is much
more than
a purely
physical
game of
hitting a
ball. They
understand
that their
mental attitude
affects their
standard
of golf each
day, and
they endeavour
to make this
mental area strong,
positive
and stable during
all their
rounds, in
order to
help produce
solid and
consistent
golf.
Many
average golfers
do not understand
the connection
between their mental attitude
and their physical golf
(even though
the mind controls
the body) -
and they tend
to look for only physical
reasons (and
excuses) for
their fluctuations
in form, such
as blaming
their clubs,
swing etc -
looking for
every excuse
except the
one.
Certainly
these aspects
can have
an impact
upon your
golf, but
the mental
side simply
can never,
ever be discounted
completely
- as if the
mental side
is working
perfectly,
it can overcome
even physical
swing problems
or incorrect
choice of
club. As
well as paying
attention
to a positive
attitude,
good golfers also
often use
techniques
such as visualization
on the course,
knowing that
programming
their mind
can have
a very major
affect upon
their physical
game.
Another
trait of a
good golfer
is that they
are highly
effective alchemists (alchemists
were historically
reputed to
be able to
turn base metals
into gold). Golfing
alchemists routinely
manage to convert
bad situations
(and bad lies)
into good scores,
riding smoothly
through the
regular difficult
situations
and yet somehow
always ultimately
finishing with
a good score.
This is a sure
sign of a good
player - it
is not that
good players
don't get in
to trouble;
it is how they handle
the trouble that
counts most.
Good
golfers instinctively
seem to go
into instant
damage control after
a bad shot, to
make sure
any negative
emotions
they experience
afterwards
are contained so
that they
do not spill
over and
affect the
remainder
of the round. This
is in stark
contrast
to the golfer
who hits
one bad shot
but then
allows it
to blow their
entire round!
Strong
players also
tend to have
highly developed
'switch on,
switch off'
concentration, which
allows them
to hit a
shot - but
then relax
between shots before effectively
re-focusing for
the next.
This allows
them to conserve
their mental
energy, and
have the mental
stamina to
concentrate
for a full
18 holes without
finishing
with a mediocre
score for
the 16th,
17th or 18th
hole. Average
golfers often
play a good
first nine
holes, only
to see their
scores deteriorate
as the back
nine progresses,
due to flagging
concentration
from lack
of mental
stamina.
Accomplished
golfers seem
to understand
that the regular
golfing difficulties they
encounter are
simply an expected
part of the
game -
and treated
as everyday
challenges
which need
to be efficiently
dealt with,
rather than
viewing them
as unexpected
annoyances
designed to
aggravate them, as
many average
golfers do.
Last
but not least,
regardless
of whether
they have recently
been on a good or
bad patch
of form, a
good golfer
always seems
to have a positive
expectation towards
their next
game, never
allowing themselves
to go out there expecting things
to go wrong
for them. This
is important,
as we all know
that in golf,
we don't get
what we deserve,
we get what
we expect.
So
run through
this checklist
regularly
and ensure
you are mentally
approaching
your golf
as all good
golfers do
- because
anyone who thinks like
a good golfer,
must eventually
become one.
