As the old saying goes: practice like you’ve never won; play like you’ve never lost. There’s no doubt that the mindset that you bring onto the golf course can have a big impact on your overall scorecard. Playing with a confident, positive outlook can often make the difference, whether you’re a beginner or a pro.
But there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to positive thinking. In fact, the whole concept has got a bad rap over the last few years.
Still, there’s no doubt that positive thinking has a place in the ‘inner game’ of golf. And with the right approach, players of all abilities can benefit from a positive mental attitude.
Know your limits
Ok, before we sing the praises of positive thinking, let’s address the criticism. First of all, there’s clearly a limit to how far positivity will get you. Stutting onto the first tee and chanting “hit it like Dustin Johnson” over and over to yourself won’t stop you from hitting a dreadful daisy-cutter off the first tee.
Just thinking you’re great, won’t make you great. Overconfidence can be detrimental, especially for those who don’t put the work in, and expecting the impossible will set you up for a fall.
Equally, ‘negative’ thinking can sometimes be a positive. As we mentioned in our piece about dealing with stress, this type of thinking is necessary to perform at a high level. Frustration at not performing to the best of your ability can bring about a dedication to improve, while being happy about getting stuck in a bunker isn’t going to help anyone’s game.
Positivity within a realistic framework
So, we understand that it’s not about forced positivity or expecting the impossible. Instead, the key to positive thinking on the golf course is to aim for the upper limits of your ability, while keeping calm when things don’t go well.
The best golfers play with a certain bravery, believe in their skills and are open to all that is possible. While remaining open to uncertain outcomes, they play with a belief that if they focus and remain calm, they will play to the best of their ability.
“Of all the hazards, fear is the worst.”
Sam Snead
Inner angels and demons
You know those two inner-voices who battle it out when the going gets tough? Your golf ‘angel’ and golf ‘demon?’ Preparing the positive talking ‘angel’ to out-do the trash talking ‘demon’ is a big part of mental strength.
One way to do this is to have a keyword or phrase that you say to yourself, out loud preferably, when you feel negativity slipping in. Something light and humorous, to bring a bit of levity to a tense situation. Having a positive trigger is a great way to make sure you stay positive and keep that negative inner voice in check.
Because nothing can wreck your game quicker than a negative inner voice. So, recognise the signs that it’s rearing its ugly head, have a preconceived plan on how to deal with it and snuff it out immediately.
“A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing.”
Payne Stewart
Take a breather
We’ve talked about the benefits of breathing techniques before in our piece on dealing with stress. In order to activate those psychological aspects of positivity, breathing is crucial – on a purely physical level. And while many positive thinking methods require a certain amount of mental dexterity, breathing techniques are simple and produce an immediate, noticeable effect.
Accompany every positive thinking step with calm, slow, deep breaths and you’ll be amazed at how much easier the whole positivity process gets.
Set goals
Giving yourself a framework in which positive thinking can be of benefit is crucial. Be specific about what you want to achieve, whether it’s the number of fairways you want to hit or a certain score for a round.
By compartmentalising your game, you make it easier to implement and maintain a positive attitude, both in terms of hitting the ground running off the first tee and keeping a level head when things don’t go according to plan.
Reflect and move on
Dwelling on mistakes is a sure-fire way to hit upon a downward spiral of negativity. Many golfers, sometimes even the pros, replay negative events in their head over and over, until poor shots from the past have an effect on the present.
The best way to process a poor shot is to reflect on it in a constructive way. Think about what went wrong and what steps you can take to improve the next time. Whether it’s a putt that’s come up short or a hitch in the pre shot routine, an objective analysis, rather than a subjective sulk, can work wonders on any aspect of your game.
Paint a picture
As we previously mentioned in our importance of visualisation article, focusing on positive outcomes and ‘seeing’ a successful shot in your mind can help your game.
Throughout history, the best pros – from Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus to Greg Norman and Tiger Woods – have all had the ability to ‘see’ a shot before they play it.
Not only can positive visualisation effect where your ball ends up, it can also help stimulate the muscles used during your swing, relax your mind before each shot and help bring about a heightened sense of concentration on the course.
Get some perspective
Being able to see the bigger picture is crucial in all sports, golf in particular. It can be so easy to get lost in the moment and let frustration boil over. We’ve all been there – that moment when you’ve sliced yet another shot into the trees and you fight the urge to scream at the sky and send your club hurtling down the fairway.
It is only a game, after all. And having the ability to step back and see the bigger picture can only be beneficial to your overall game.
Even the greats have to get perspective. As Gary Player once said “Golf is like a puzzle without an answer. I’ve played the game for 40 years and I still haven’t the slightest idea how to play.”
Yeah right… who’s he kidding?