They say golf is like life – only more complicated. That’s why, from the first tee all the way to the final putt, being mentally prepared is crucial.
Perhaps more than any other sport, golf is a mental game. A golfer can have great technique and a mastery of a wide variety of shots. But without a strong inner game, it can all fall apart in an instant.
But can you really prepare? Isn’t a strong mind something you’re born with?
While it’s true that some people have a natural ability to deal with pressure, and others tend to fall apart when the going gets tough, mental strength is definitely not set in stone.
In fact, the best golfers work incredibly hard to develop a strong inner game. It’s what separates them from us mere mortals.
But you don’t have to be a scratch golfer to use sports psychology. By focusing on simple techniques, anyone can significantly improve their game.
How does psychology affect golf?
If you’ve played just one round of golf, you’ll know the feeling.
You’re standing over the ball, going through the steps for the perfect shot in your mind. Your heart starts beating faster, as anxiety starts to creep in. Your palms feel clammy, and your legs feel like jelly. The silence is deafening.
In your mind, you can already picture the ball slicing horribly into the rough. You try and push the thought down, but it won’t go away. So you swing, in the hope that your natural technique will take care of things.
Then you watch as the ball makes an arc to the right, straight into the rough.
Everyone who has picked up a club, from beginners to the all-time greats, has been through scenarios like this. The reality is, in golf, psychology can make all the difference.
What are the main elements of golf psychology?
Let’s take a look at the different aspects of golf psychology and how they impact the game:
Stress and anxiety
Golf is stressful. There’s no denying it.
It may seem illogical, but hitting a little white ball around some grass can reduce some people to a nervous wreck. Different stressors include making poor decisions, losing concentration, physical limitations, external conditions like the weather and the pressure of competing against other golfers. Being able to control the way these stressors affect your game is crucial.
Sports arousal
I’m not talking about getting a bit too excited about hitting the perfect tee shot – we’re keeping it clean here. In sports psychology, arousal refers to the response to stress.
A golfer who is under-aroused doesn’t have the motivation to improve and overcome. They feel dejected and defeated by the situation. A golfer who is over-aroused swings at the ball in frustration. Finesse and technique go out of the window and emotion gets the better of them. Getting a balance and keeping control is key.
The inner voice
Your two golfing voices – the confident, decisive one and the emotional, nervous one are a big part of your game. You need them both. In fact, getting them to work in harmony is key to optimising your game.
Like it or not, the second golfing voice is in there. You just have to figure out two things: how voice number one will talk number two down when things get hot; and how to harness voice number two’s cautious approach to make better decisions.
Ironic process theory
Don’t think of a pink elephant.
You thought of a pink elephant didn’t you? This is known as ‘ironic process theory’, and it demonstrates that trying to suppress a thought, such as ‘don’t slice the ball’ only makes you think of it more. And you end up slicing the ball. It’s a huge mental obstacle in lots of sports – none more so than golf.
Confidence
Having faith in your ability is massive in golf. When the pressure is on, approaching the ball with confidence can sweep anxieties away.
Some are born with it. With others, confidence comes with lots of preparation. However it comes, confidence is king when it comes to doing the simple things right, taking on those tricky shots and having that swagger that will take your game to the next level.
What psychology skills are useful in golf?
You may have practised your swing and perfected your putt all day long. But when you step onto the first tee, the mental game begins.
Certain mental skills can make all the difference. Use them effectively and, come the 19th hole, you’ll be raising a glass to your new and improved game instead of drowning your sorrows.
Focus
Being able to concentrate and stay present in the moment is hard enough in actual life. Getting it down on the golf course is a huge challenge – it takes planning (what exactly are you going to be focused on at each moment?) and, most of all, practice.
Visualisation
Having a positive mental image of where each shot is going has an incredible impact on your game. It’s part of the magic of golf – the fact that you can almost ‘will’ the ball to go where you want it to go.
Keeping calm
Nothing wrecks your game faster than a rush of blood to the head. Staying detached and cool under pressure is vital. The best players learn how to be almost robotic in their approach.
Setting goals
Stepping back and taking a look at both your physical and mental game can give you a better idea of how to improve. Setting goals is useful, both for assessing and improving weaknesses before a game, and planning your strategy on the course.
Which golfers have had success using sports psychology?
When it comes to overcoming the odds and showing supreme mental strength, few come close to British legend and triple Masters winner Nick Faldo.
In the early ‘80s, he was considered a talented golfer who lacked the stability to make it to the very top. After completely reworking his golf swing, at first his game took a major nosedive.
But, persevering with a style that he knew would eventually benefit his game, Faldo had strengthened his mind more than he realised. Then, at the Open Championships in 1987, something clicked.
“…there you are in your own little world,” he said later, looking back, “on a really tough golf course in tough conditions. That’s your little world and you’re out there churning out good shot after good shot and fighting…” Faldo racked up 18 consecutive pars, recording one of the most famous rounds in Open history and claiming his first major title in the process.
Faldo developed an inner game that helped him fully realise his potential. He went from talent runner up to the best golfer in the world and, eventually, one of the greatest of all time. It was a studious approach to sports psychology that took him to the top.
Over the next few weeks, we will be releasing a weekly article on the subject of golf psychology and how you can use it to improve your game. So if you haven’t done so yet, please sign up to our free newsletter via the link below!
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