Use The Psychology Of Golf To Become A Better Player

By Nita McKinney


Lots of golfers endure times when they lose their confidence or problems in their game seem insurmountable. This is rarely due to technical weaknesses, it is usually because of some problem the player is having with the psychology of golf. When the psychology goes awry, then the game can seem impossible to play.

When golfers go through bad patches in their game, their confidence is low, they make mistakes at important times and get nervous when they are close to winning. In fact, many keen golfers quit the game because they cannot overcome these negative experiences. What was once an enjoyable sport can turn into a nightmare for some players.

When a golfer doesn't hit the ball in the way that he wanted to, it can lead to self-hatred. Amateur golfers can be found on any course shouting obscenities at themselves, telling themselves off and throwing their club into the ground in frustration. Players can feel completely overwhelmed, as if they will never play well again. This is most evident when they miss putts to win the match.

Much of a golfer's negative response to a missed shot is really a projection of themselves on to the game. They think that because the shot was a failure then they are failures as human beings. Golfers try to tell themselves it's only a game but their subconscious will not accept that point of view. This mindset stems from the failure to live up to perfectionist ideals.

The way you react to failure is influenced by your experiences as a child. If your parents were too protective of you then you can lack confidence when growing up. If your parents overreacted to failure by becoming angry or frustrated, then you may never be able to face up to failure and so don't bother to start anything in the first place. If you grew up in a positive environment though, chances are failure will not crush you and so you will try new things in order to learn.

One technique for fixing a negative mindset, is to visualise the worst possible outcome of having a bad round. Then, when you actually have one, watch the thoughts which arise in your mind closely. Avoid trying to get rid of them, just try to be conscious of them. Then make a comparison between the way you think when you play well and when you play badly. This will help you make adjustments to your thinking which will help your game.

Improving your confidence can have a positive impact on your mindset too. Setting tasks during practice sessions is a good technique for this. Whenever a task is completed successfully your confidence is boosted. The greater confidence in practice can then spill over into your match play.

Another way to build confidence is through watching other players of similar ability succeed. Even the very top professionals have role models to inspire them. Seeing other players win can fill you with the belief that you can too. This shows how far the psychology of golf can impact a player's game.




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