The Mental Game and Golf Strategies
A State of Mind
There is no mystical swing secret that you must learn to become an accomplished golfer!
You will however need to develop the following mental skills:
Confidence
There is nothing you cannot achieve. To play good golf you will have to get yourself into this confident frame of mind more often. Adopt a positive approach to your golf. Stop negative self-talk straightaway!
Patience
The ability to grind out a score, even when things are not going well. Remain cool and composed. Thinking sensibly and remaining in control of your emotions will save you many strokes throughout the year. Remember also that all the holes are important, not just the first few. Recovering from a poor start is part of the deal and many course records were posted and tournaments won after highly inauspicious starts.
Awareness
Watch and learn. Be observant, monitor the wind, check out the positions of hazards, watch your partners shots, how they behave when they land and gather as much information as possible. You will need your wits about you to score well.
Discipline
Resist the score-wrecking temptations. Poor decision-making and attempting to play over ambitious recovery shots will cost you countless strokes. When in a tricky situation, play the shot that you know you can make. While physical mistakes are acceptable, mental errors are avoidable. Think constructively about each shot. Where is the ball likely to land and how can you minimize the risks? Constantly ask yourself: "Is this the best way to play this shot"
Self-Belief
If you do not have faith in your ability, nobody will. Avoid setting yourself limitations as that will impede your progress. Always go for the best score possible rather than aiming for certain targets, such as 90 or 80. As you think, you will become! Start thinking of yourself as a scratch golfer, how you would think on the course, how you would approach the game and how confident you would be. Overcome your fear of failure. Adopt a fearless approach out on the golf course. Make a pact with yourself to swing positively every time and play the game the way you want to play rather than worrying about what not to do or the consequences.
Concentration
Think before you play. Focus when you prepare for and play each and every shot. After that you can pretty much chat away as you like. Arnold Palmer once said that the most important shot in golf is "the next one!"
How to Strengthen your Mental game
Select small targets to aim at to increase your concentration and increase your margin for error.
Commit 100% to each shot. Full commitment is one of the secrets to good golf.
Focus on what you want to do and proceed.
Focus on the shot, not the swing. The former will improve the latter.
Be aware of hazards, but do not focus on them.
Never dwell on your bad shots, rather replay your good shots over and over in your mind.
General Strategies
Know your yardages with every club in the bag.
Discover your stock shot and know your weaknesses, especially in pressure situations.
Make a bogey your worst score on any hole. Don't compound errors.
Use your favourite club in pressure situations.
Never rely on your best shot to clear a hazard.
Keep the ball low around the greens where possible.
Get pin high with approach shots to have that chance for birdies.
Manage your swing and emotions on the course, stay patient and maintain your routine.
Don’t let expectations exceed your capabilities - If you have two shots, use them.
Golf is easier played from the fairway, position often beats distance on long par 5’s.
When playing short, make sure you do.
Treat golf like a game of chess! Constantly ask yourself, where do you want to play your next shot from.
Know the distance of each of your clubs with the full, ¾ and half swings.
Most hazards are in front of greens, use an extra club if necessary.
Chip/Pitch ball in the air only when necessary.
Do not rush – Life is too short.
Champions focus on the target.
Picture the entire shot. Focus on the image of a perfect shot.
No negative thoughts before swinging – stop – regroup en get positive image.
Give yourself the best chance to hit a shot properly.
Use scrambling to spur you on - Winning ugly is better than losing pretty.
Go through the yardage book or scorecard from your home course and devise a strategy for each hole. Pay particular attention to the par-3s and par-5s.
Par -3 Strategies
Get the ball on the green, two putt and walk off - No damage done!
Do not assume you are going to make a par just because the hole is short.
Do not be tempted to go for pins behind tucked behind bunkers or near water.
Check for bail-out areas on the longer par 3's - Look for a best miss area.
If you know you cannot reach the green, or pull of the required shot, do not try.
If you hit a poor shot, make sure that your second lands safely on the green.
Par -4 Strategies
Check the course planner or yardage boards for information about the hole.
Plan your tee shot to avoid fairway hazards.
If the hole is short, check to see where it can bite you.
On long par -4's with a low stroke index, make your shot count.Play it as a par -5 if it relieves the pressure.
Getting pin high with approach shots will take the pressure off your short game.
Par -5 Strategies
Do not get complacent and assume you will make par or better.
Realisticly assess if you can reach or get close in two shots.
If you can, risk hitting the driver.
If not, opt for accuracy over power off the tee.
Lay up to your favourite distance for the second or thitd shot.
Make sure the pitch shot lands on the green.
Matchplay Strategy
Don’t go for too much too early.
Never lose your temper.
Pay attention to where your opponent is, it dictates your strategy.
Assume your opponent will hole every putt and hit every shot well.
Only concede holes when it is hopeless.
Never give up.