The Confidence Coach Answers Your Sports Psychology Questions
Golf: I am taking a long time deciding what shot I should play. How can I speed up my decision making?
Everytime I hold a Sports Psychology clinic at a golf club, I can be sure to get asked this question.
Well one of the reasons for indecision on the golf course is what is known in sports psychology parlance as 'fear of the consequences'.
What I mean, is that when sizing up a shot are you thinking about where you do want the ball to go, or where you don't want it to go?
This is The Fear Of The Hazard Syndrome. The fear of the water; the sand; the deep rough; the trees. We fear the consequences of putting our ball in these hazards. We fear dropping a shot or two. The hazards are having their effect on our thinking.
And all the hazards have to do is just be there. Doing nothing. Just being sand; or water; or rough; or trees. We fear them, but they have no feeling for us!
We tend the exaggerate the fear of the hazards. Remember - if you put your ball into a hazard, start to trust yourself to get out of that hazard.
Develop the shots you need to play out of sand, or a bad lie. Begin to have confidence in your game. Trust yourself. So, your in sand? Well, find the shot to play out of sand. If you don't have it, then practise until you do.
The Sports Psychology Summary
So, the key, always, is to focus on what you do want. Yes, only what you do want. Be very clear about the shot you want to make. Think precisely about the shot you want. Focus exactly where you want the ball to go. Exactly where. Not in the general direction. But pick an exact spot. And then commit to that shot. Fully.
This will create a positive, simple mind set, with more certainty, more great shot making and more successful outcomes. And in answer to the question - speed up your decision-making!
Remember - focus on what you do want, rather than what you don't want.
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Martin Perry - Confidence Coaching & Sports Psychology - 0044(0) 77897 56425
