Golf Psychology - 10 Mental Mantras

Creating the right mindset for golf

Golf is a game of intense mental fitness, and good golfers realise this and work as much on the mental side of their game as they do on the technical. It's not always easy to stay in the right frame of mind, but by following these 10 Mental Mantras you should feel better about your mental game when you're out on the course. Mental training requires continuous practice, so don't give up if it doesn't work straight away. Include it in your normal training schedule and work as hard on your mind as you do on your swing.

1. 1 Hole, 1 Shot

The only thing that matters is the shot you’re playing now. If you’re thinking about what might happen if you sink this putt, then you’re not focused on the shot in hand and you increase your chances of missing it. Forget scores and handicaps - focus solely on the shot in hand and everything else will follow. It doesn’t matter what happens if this shot goes in or if it doesn’t, you haven’t got there yet. And when you do get there, it doesn’t matter then either, because you’re onto your next shot. 1 hole, 1 shot. Make it your mantra, and don’t let yourself be distracted by anything else.

2. I am the only player on this course

It doesn’t matter what everyone else is doing. All you are interested in is what you are doing right now. There are no scoreboards, and there are no other players. When you’re playing you’re playing for yourself, not to beat others or to keep up with them. As you soon as you do that you’re not playing your game, you’re playing theirs, which means you’re not focused on 1 hole, 1 shot.

3. I only have good shots

Thinking about the bad shots you’ve played only makes you that bad player. It lowers your confidence and increases tension which leads to mistrusting your natural ability and more mistakes. The only shots in your mind are good shots – focus on them, enjoy them, celebrate them. Make them who you are. Create snapshots of your best plays and ingrain them in your mind. Replay them throughout your game to give you confidence and keep you focused on the positive.

4. Be happy

If you’re angry about a shot you’ve played, then you’re living in the past and not focused on the shot you’re playing now. That shot’s over, forget about it. Anger creates tension, tension creates mistakes. Smile and enjoy your golf. You’ll be more relaxed and play better for it.

5. Be prepared

If you’re playing a competition, prepare for it. If you’re prepared there’s less to worry about and you can focus solely on what you need to do to perform at your best. Good preparation increases confidence and lowers anxiety. Have all your gear ready the day before. Know what time you’re going to arrive, what you’re going to do and when. Create What If scenarios to prepare you for every eventuality – What if it starts raining? What if there’s a long delay in play? Make sure you get some practice time on the putting green so you know what they’re like before you step onto one. Be prepared, be confident.

6. Practice for real

When you’re on the driving range or practicing on your local course, practice as if it’s for real. Do your pre-shot routines, practice focusing only on the shot at hand, be happy, and fill your mind with your good shots. This should become who you are as a golfer, so that when you step onto the competition course, you only need to play the shots.

7. Make your pre-shot routine meaningful

Pre-shot routines are frequently just habitual warm-up swings rather than effective routines to get you into the right mindset for the shot you’re about to play. A pre-shot routine should relax you, focus you on the shot, help you visualise the shot, see your success, and trust your swing. Every shot has a pre-shot routine, not just the difficult ones.

8. Hit the ball where you want it to go, not where you don’t

If your ball needs to go straight down a fairway with trees on the left and water on the right, then hit your ball straight. As soon as you start saying to yourself “Don’t hit the ball into the trees” or “Don’t hit the ball right”, you’re thinking negatively and you’re either going to hit the ball exactly where you don’t want it to go, or you’re going to overcompensate to avoid the hazard. Give yourself clear and unambiguous directions, and your swing will oblige. Aim to hit the target, not to miss the obstacles.

9. Visualise your way to success

If you can’t see yourself as successful, then what makes you think you ever will be? Find a quiet room, lie down, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to relax yourself. Take yourself to a garden, beach or a favourite place and see yourself there now, with all the sights sounds and feelings of that place. Then relive some of your greatest moments in golf. Really make them vivid, and feel the good feelings that go with them. See yourself playing well in upcoming games, and mentally rehearse techniques you want to improve on. Do this every day, and repeat it just before a competition to get you really positive and confident before you step onto the first tee.

10. Be the golfer you want to be

Are you a poor putter? Do you struggle in bunkers? If you describe yourself this way it’s hardly any wonder you find those areas difficult. You want to be an excellent putter? Then become it. Change the image you have of yourself to the fantastic golfer you want to be. I am an excellent putter. I love playing out of bunkers. Write your new self-image down, display it and carry it with you. Make it who you are and you’ll increase your confidence and improve your game. Be the golfer you want to be.

Need help with your golf game? See our Golf Psychology services.

More articles >

Use of articles from this site

Articles may be reproduced for use on websites and print media, as long as it is used in its entirety, no links to websites are removed, and the following acknowledgement is prominently included:

© Copyright Gary Baker 2007-2008. www.gbtherapy.co.uk

Articles used on websites should have a clickable link to www.gbtherapy.co.uk. Articles used in print and other media should include the website address as above.

For any other use, please get in touch.