Every golfer knows the highs and lows of playing golf. Regardless of their ability, excitement and disappointment is attached to every shot. It is that one sport where you are in total control of your results and wearing your emotions on your sleeve can be helpful or a detraction. I certainly have felt elation and despair during my many rounds. I am not sure I can control the situations, but I sure can control my reaction to the extreme during events. As amateurs develop their game, controlling our responses to the peaks and valleys of golf is one aspect of becoming a better golfer.
Continue readingmental focus in golf
Competing In Golf Tournaments
Golf tournaments show what kind of golfer your are and could be. The pressure of playing in a competition will accentuate our strengths and more importantly or weaknesses of our game. The area that I notice the most challenge for amateur golfers competing is on the mental side of the game. They are more concerned with what other players are doing, that they let it overshadow their game. For full disclosure, I have fell into this trap in my early years. As I mature as a player and developed my game, I found that what other players were doing was less a factor as what I am doing on the course. I am not sure there is a simple solution to the mental challenge of ignoring what other players are doing, but I seem to have know I turned the corner to success many years ago.
Continue readingPlaying It Safe: A Failing In Golf
How many times have I tried to play the safe shot and failed. Knowing what the proper shot during a difficult situation is not that challenging, yet I seem to have a only a 50/50 chance of hitting a successful shot. Usually, my woes occur when I drop down to a 3 wood from my driver. For some reason, I swing poorly and pull the ball left. Sometimes, I mentally start to fail even before I start my pre-shot routine. Knowing I can physically hit the ball properly, I think my challenge is mental. What do you think?
Continue readingRushing Your Golf Swing For No Reason
Golf is a game of tempo. There is no one correct tempo that fits everyone’s game, but there is that one correct tempo that fits your game. I have one as well and I know when I am in the groove by how I feel hitting through the ball. To be fair, my tempo does fluctuate slightly from round to round, but for the most part it is very consistent. What I do find frustrating during a round is when I rush my shot for no reason. It dumbfounds me when it happens because this wayward shot comes out of left field and usually disappears as quickly as it arrives. Regardless, any rushed shot for no reason has no place in my game and I forbid it from ever coming back!
>Taking For Granted Basic Golf Concepts
As a very experienced golfer, I have played/worked/lamented/fretted over the development of my golf game. I have approached my improvement through trial and error (not recommended), education (recommended) and repeated practice (recommended). After all my efforts, I sometimes play myself into a zone where I am on autopilot and accept the routine of not thinking about my golf game. I step up to my ball and quickly make a shot with excellent, great, average, mediocre and terrible results. It is here when I take all the technique and concepts for granted. Not an ideal way to play golf I am thinking!
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The Grateful Golfer 