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Fearless Golf
The person who is
relaxed and confident plays a better game of
golf than one whose knees are shaking at the
thought of sand traps. Fear is one thing
you never want to take with you to the
driving range.
Problems with a good
player are almost always mental in nature.
Thinking clearly really is the name of the
game. And a clear head is impossible when
fear reigns.
So if you change how
you think, you change your game. Don’t
worry why the ball flew where it did. Just
keep your mind focused on the next shot.
One of the big problems
for some folks is that they constantly worry
about what others will think of them if they
make a bad shot. If you’re thinking about
how someone else is going to perceive you,
you’re not concentrating on the ball, on
your swing, on the basics.
Must you have the
approval of others? In the grand scheme of
life, is hitting a bad shot truly a disaster
you can never overcome?
Psychologists tell us
that we tend to become a composite of the
five persons we’re around the most. Maybe
you need to find some more relaxed folks to
practice with.
Playing with a
perfectionist translates into “no fun”. Why
ruin the joy of the game for yourself? Find
friends you can play the game with just for
the pure enjoyment. Your game will likely
improve as you’re less tense and able to
swing more freely.
One help in this aspect
of overcoming fear is to concentrate solely
on your game. Ben Hogan wrote that “to
ignore the gallery and the other golfers,
and to shut my mind against everything but
my own game” was key to his concentration.
If you’re worried about
what others think, chances are your game is
really inconsistent. You’re overly
aggressive one second and overly
conservative the next.
The key? Focus on the
target, not the situation. Ignore the
stakes. Just concentrate on your game.
Perfectionism not only
causes ulcers, but it ruins the joy of the
game. Top players refine their skills every
year. They’re always improving in little
ways that add up. You’re not always going
to play your best game, and you’ll never
play a perfect one - no matter how skilled
you are. Work to improve little faults and
your game will gradually get better and
better.
Smiling widely relaxes
your facial muscles, and serves you well in
overcoming anxiety. Get into the habit of
smiling before hitting the ball instead of
furrowing your brow.
Don’t dwell on
mistakes. As Tiger Woods says, “I hit it
and forget it.” You can’t go back in time
and replay a shot, so just forget about it
and move on.
Don’t worry about what
others think of your shot making.
Overcoming that fear alone will improve your
game vastly! And when you’re ready to play
your next game – think confidently and stay
focused.
You’ll soon become a
master of fearless golf!
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