Golf Mental Game Tips To Help You Shoot Lower Scores
Shooting lower golf scores is a challenge and it will require both good mechanics and a solid mental game. The mental game of golf is simply how to think in order to play the best golf you can. Here are a few tips to help optimize your mental game to help you play better golf.
Tip 1: Develop a quiet mind
It is important when you are about to hit a golf ball to not think too much really about anything except the target. You need to stay out of your own way and avoid any extraneous thoughts. Most people think about swing mechanics when they are about to hit a golf ball on the course.
Thinking about swing mechanics has been shown over and over again to negatively affect your golf swing and performance on a golf course especially when you are under pressure. This may not be evident if you are a weekend golfer but if you strive to become a professional then you will be put under enormous pressure in tournament situations and this is where your mental game can really help you.
Tip 2: Use a selective memory
Of course, the last thing you want to think about on the course are your missed shots. You must learn to forget those and instead think about the putts you did make and the shots that you did hit well. Develop a selective memory that banishes all poor golf shots and only keeps the good ones.
This is critical to help to maintain your confidence when you are about to hit your shots and putts. Confidence is a very important factor in becoming the best player you can be so do whatever you can to build it and maintain it. This is something you need to work on continuously and not just when you are on the course or practicing.
You need to monitor your thinking and ask yourself whether or not the way you are currently thinking is helping to build your confidence or not and then make the changes necessary to develop a mindset that builds greater confidence.
Tip 3: Manage the course properly
Learning how to manage your game on the golf course can make a huge difference in your scores. Most golfers like to be aggressive and go for the big flashy shots they see the pros hit on television. The problem is that these golfers have not developed the skill yet to consistently pull off these kinds of shots.
The professionals hit those flashy shots because they know they can pull them off the majority of the time so it fine for them to do it. If you are an amateur then you need to know your current limits and play well within them. Do not try to hit a 350 yard drive if you have never done it consistently in practice before.
You are better off being conservative with the long game as well as your golf swing. Relax and let the club do the work and do not try to force things to happen. Hit the shot you know in your gut you can pull off more often than not and rely more on your short game to make the birdies. Follow some of these mental strategies to help you lower your golfing handicap.