Why is the the Mind so important to the game of golf? The mind is the most powerful tool you have at your disposal and many players barely touch the tip of what it can do for them. One’s mind can influence almost every aspect of your game along with your emotions, behaviors. Most importantly the mind can be utilized for self-improvement, building confidence and maintaining the proper perspective while playing.
Mind is defined as the element in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, will and reasons.
What comes to mind after reading the definition of mind? For me, I can really understand the power of the mind as it relates to the players overall game. Let’s think for a moment. Walking up to every shot you must feel the shot you want to hit, think and reason about the conditions and how to execute the shot, and you perceive many things that can influence your shot whether real or in your mind. Bottom line–without a good mental game and solid ‘mind’, you may not be attaining the goals and reaching what you are capable of achieving.
Positive vs. Negative Mind
Let’s compare the mental aspect of golf vs. the physical aspect and the overall importance when compared.
It is my belief and that of most elite players that the mental game is equally as important as the physical game. Realistically, the mental game is much harder to measure than a physically hit 20 foot putt or a fairway shot into the green, but having a clear, direct and positive mind will make the difference. Golf is about achieving a strong mind–mental game.
A player must work hard on the mental game through training and it is absolutely imperative that you maintain a positive and successful attitude on and off the course. You are what you think. A spirited, happy mental game (mind) gives way to positive energy and confident body language. Think good=achieve good. Think negative=get poor results.
Mind as a Weapon
Staying positive throughout the round leads to positive results. Always find a way to never give up and trust in yourself through and through. Look at your mind as your 15th club and it is your bread and butter club–you can always count on it.
Your mind will make the decisions and then you commit to those decisions thus resulting in better results.
Always stay in the present. You cannot change the past and the future is something we cannot predict. Keeping yourself and your mind at the shot at hand will lead to more consistency and confidence. If an unfortunate shot occurs, disassociate yourself from that shot and remember all the good shots you have executed. On the flip side, associate with all the good and positive shots and let them lead you.
Mentally you must practice that there are no setbacks. Never give up and trust yourself in every decision 100%.
Final Thoughts
Focus your energy on all that is good on the course and in practice. Write them all down so you can see the positive. Be patient, calm and committed to each decision you make and you will find yourself with more positive results.
If we replay or talk to our friends about all the bad shots, then those shots will be etched in stone in your mind and will come back time to time resulting in mishits. Practice replaying and mentioning to others the positive things that happened on the course and you will find yourself walking taller with a confidence that will lead you to better outcomes on and off the course.
Let us know at Bunkers Paradise how focusing on the positive mind changes your game.
‘keep smiling and always believe’
