“What separates great players from the good ones is not so much ability and brain power but emotional equilibrium,’ so said American golfing legend Arnold Palmer.
It’s no secret that conquering 18 holes calls on mental skill, rather than just physical, which is why it’s deemed one of the most difficult sports to play. Mental and emotional mastery are hugely significant to performance on the golf course and without that mind-body connection, the game can seem like an impossible challenge.
But the good news is, the brain isn’t hardwired, which gives you an empowering opportunity. This is because when we form a belief, new neural pathways are established which physically changes the structure of the brain. This ultimately unleashes great potential, not just for golf but also life itself!
So, ahead of our golf day on Friday, Sports Performance Coach Andy Duncan shares a few pointers to help improve your performance mindset to supercharge your game for a great round of golf.
1. Putt to warm-up
If you start your warm-up with putting, this will allow your mind and body to start gelling together for the game. This will help familiarise yourself with the speed of the greens. Start with long-distance putts at varied distances before moving your way up to putting whilst aiming at golf tees as a target.
This helps to narrow your focus as the target hole appears bigger during the game. To finish with, hole ten short two-foot putts in a row and listen to the ball dropping in the hole. This is also a great confidence builder for your putting.
2. What’s done is done: move on
Never dwell on the past, they say – this is particularly true in golf. There’s not much point in wallowing over a poor shot. Once it’s been hit, nothing can be done about it. But one thing you can affect is what happens next.
A good tip is to think of the ‘10-yard rule’ – a psychological strategy employed by the likes of Tiger Woods when he was at the peak of his game. It’s an effective way of letting off steam and forgetting about the errors. After a bad shot, internally vent your frustration until you’ve reached a point 10 yards from where you struck it. When you cross this imaginary line, this becomes the point when the shot is history. Wipe the slate clean, forget about it and let your mind move on to the next stroke.
3. Develop your own routine
It’s crucial to work on your own pre-shot routine prior to a round of golf. You could close your eyes or waggle the golf club 10 times – whatever works for you and your game. This should become a routine that forms part of your mental golf training. It forms the lynchpin of good rounds and is one of the best things you can control while on the course.
4. Visualise success
Before making your move on the course, take the time to carefully study each hole and shot. As you walk around the course, envision yourself playing each hole well. This allows yourself to feel like a champion rather than place great expectation or pressure on yourself.
Imagine the sensation of striking the ball from the fairway to near the pin and making a birdie. This helps fuel your subconscious to condition your conscious reality to succeed. When harnessed correctly during a round of golf, this mental golf technique is a powerful weapon.
5. New shot, new challenge
The objective is to get it into the hole from the current position in as few shots as possible, whatever it is. If you hit a bad shot that ends up in a tricky spot, think of it as a new challenge. Don’t chew over the predicament; start from scratch.
Being logical and rational are key. The best way you can tackle a ball lying in a bush is to limit the damage, perhaps by taking a penalty drop to give you more space where you can take a full shot. Hacking in hope won’t achieve anything and you will squander shots, which is when you can clock up the really big figures.
6. Appreciate and enjoy your golf
Golfers will all agree that golf is a game of frustration, but this can be tempered just by adopting the attitude of being truly grateful. It’s important to love and enjoy the game regardless of your score.
It’s about learning to quickly overcome minor tragedies during the round and not bemoaning your ill fortune on the greens. Focus on the positives. Accept that experience and skill come with continuous practice. Like most things in life, there will be both good and bad days on the course. The key is to allow yourself to grow and enjoy the game.
Delivering your A-Game goes beyond the world of golf. This is why Ford & Stanley have developed GENIUS Performance, designed to give people access to the same level of performance support traditionally reserved for top performers in the world of sport – helping them develop the sort of focus that turns ambitions into tangible achievements.
Its team of passionate experts work in collaboration with its clients to identify issues and provide essential the tools and techniques to address and overcome any obstacle to high performance, to help them to enhance their reputation and drive their ambition.
To find out more about its unique services, visit: https://fordandstanley.com/.
