Wednesday, August 7, 2013

How The Psychology Of Golf Can Affect Your Game

By Nita McKinney


Lots of golfers endure times when they lose their confidence or problems in their game seem insurmountable. This is rarely due to technical weaknesses, it is usually because of some problem the player is having with the psychology of golf. When the psychology goes awry, then the game can seem impossible to play.

When a golfer's game is in bad order, they tend to be low on confidence, they play bad shots at crucial times and nerves get the better of them when they are near to winning. Many enthusiastic golfers stop playing the game altogether because they cannot get themselves into a positive mindset.

When a golfer visualises a shot but doesn't execute it correctly, it can cause self-loathing. Many amateur golfers can be seen on a course berating themselves, swearing or displaying negative body language after a bad shot. In some cases, a feeling of helplessness takes over the player, as though they will never be able to get their game back on track again. This is especially true when they miss easy putts.

Much of a golfer's negative response to a missed shot is really a projection of themselves on to the game. They think that because the shot was a failure then they are failures as human beings. Golfers try to tell themselves it's only a game but their subconscious will not accept that point of view. This mindset stems from the failure to live up to perfectionist ideals.

The way someone reacts to failure is decided in childhood. If their parents were over protective and failed to allow them to try anything, then this can lead to the child growing up with a shortage of confidence. If their parents became too frustrated with them whenever they failed, then they might think that failure is too much to bear and so never try anything. If a child grows up with plenty of encouragement from their parents, then they will be able to deal with failure and so keep trying new things and learning.

One of the things you can do to improve your mindset is to think about the worst case scenario if you played badly. Then, make yourself aware of the thoughts which pass through your mind when you do play badly. Don't try to dismiss them, just try to register them. Then make a comparison between your thoughts when you play well and when you play poorly. This will help you to change your mindset for the better.

Building confidence is another way of improving your golfing psychology. Enormous confidence can be gained through setting realistic practice goals. Each time you accomplish one of them, your confidence increases. Your improved confidence in practice can then impact how you play in matches.

Watching other players of a similar standard to you is another way to build confidence. Observe them when they are playing well and winning. Even the best players in the world do this. Seeing other golfers playing well can inspire you to improve your game. This is how powerful the psychology of golf can be.




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