The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog offers some simple thoughts, to help golfers improve their golf mindsets.
Golf: Improve Your Game...Manage Your Emotions
Golfers often think, that they need to show how ultra-competitive they are, on the course, by openly displaying negative emotions. That is, whenever they hit a bad shot, they will loudly swear, curse, throw clubs, all in an attempt to make it clear, how unhappy they are, with their shot-making. As if this somehow demonstrates intensity levels, that makes them look a serious, pumped-up, competitor.
Whilst this may provide short-lived entertainment for the players rivals, this kind of mood-display, serves no real useful purpose. In fact, it will cause the player to lose focus; concentration and confidence.
Emotional energy is as important to your golf-game, as the clubs in your bag. It is the critical fuel that enables you to stay in a positive frame of mind. Emotional energy enables you to believe in yourself and your game. Without it, the player starts to become too hard on themselves, resulting in a tight, pressured game. A game that lacks flow and feeling.
A better strategy, is to start to think more clearly, about why you have just hit a poor shot. A poor shot doesn't happen by accident. It's a result of you doing something incorrectly in your routine.
So, it means having a quick check-list of things that you can run through in your mind. For example, poor concentration or focus; weak commitment to the shot; poor decision-making; a hurried stroke rhythm; fear of a mistake.
A quick check-list, will allow you to think about your poor shot, analytically, and correct the problem before you approach your next shot. Knowing why you are doing what you are doing, will allow your mind and emotions to stay cool and contained. And improve your on-course thinking.
Being a good analyst of your game, will enable you to stay positive during difficult spells, and stop you running up sequences, of round-destroying bogeys. With a little practise and effort, those club-throwing episodes, can become a thing of the past.
Posted By Martin Perry - Confidence Coach & Sports Psychology: 5th June 2008
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