THE MENTAL SIDE OF GOLF #101

By: Debbie Constantin

The purpose of this article is to help you evaluate how your thought processes effect your golf game. It has been said that golf is twenty percent talent and eighty percent course management. How do you manage your thoughts and emotions when you play golf? Thinking in a limitless way is very important to your success both on and off the golf course. Below are examples of limitless and limited thinking. Which one are you?

LIMITLESS THINKING… LIMITED THINKING

Visualize what you want … Visualize what you don’t want

See hazards as course beautification…See hazards as dangers.

You live in the Now… You live in the past or present

One shot at a time … Thinking about the end result

Encourage yourself… Downgrade yourself

Play unconscious golf … Second guess yourself

Want to … HAVE TO

Let, allow it to happen … Steer, try and make it happen

Self Belief… Self Doubt

Happiness, fun … Frustration

Know your swing… Imitate others

Actions follow our thoughts and images. A perfect example is the water hole. We have all been guilty of saying to ourselves Don’t hit the ball in the water. If you are thinking don’t hit it in the water and you’re looking at the water, you have just programmed your mind and body to send the ball to the bottom of the pond! Your mind is going to remember the most dominant thought. Now, turn it around and instead of saying “don’t hit the ball in the water” you can say “I intend to land the ball on the right side of the green. Your mind works most effectively when you’re telling it what to do rather than what not to do. Don’t look where you don’t want the ball to go. Focus instead, on where you want the shot to end up.

Another way to manage your thoughts and images is to have a solid, consistent pre-shot routine.

A good pre-shot routine should narrow your focus to the target (the goal) and body alignment to the target (accuracy).

From my experience, most golfers focus on what they learned in their last lesson and actually are practicing their golf swing while trying to play golf. If you are focused on your swing, how can you be focused on your target? Instead of managing the golf course, many golfers are trying to fix their golf swing or work on their golf swing. Proper practice at the range or around the putting green is where you want to incorporate what you have learned in a golf lesson.

Change your thoughts, change your game and have more fun playing golf!!

Move up to the next level in your golf game using successful mind management and limitless thinking!!

GOLF IS A GAME THAT IS PLAYED ON A 5 INCH COURSE-THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR EARS…Bobby Jones

Debbie Constantin, LPGA Master Teaching Professional; TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor; Pine Creek Golf Center, Allison Park, Pa

Debbie teaches men, women and kids, in private, semi private and group venues, runs 2 ladies leagues, and offers on course playing lessons.

debconstantin@pinecreekgolfcernter.com
www.debbieconstantingolf.com