|
Accentuate the Positive
 The mental skills necessary to play your best golf need to be learned and grooved just as good swing techniques do. Proper mental habits need to be ingrained to replace unhelpful ones. One of the most common unhelpful habits is the tendency to focus on the negative, which needs to be replaced by emphasizing the positive. A conversation I had with a touring pro provides a good illustration of this point.
After the first round of a tournament, I asked how the day went. He said, "I played o.k., more or less. I had one hole where I chose the wrong club and made double-bogey." It sounded to me like he'd come in at one or two over par. Later that day I was looking at the scoreboard and was completely surprised when I saw his hole-by-hole score. In our conversation he'd neglected to mention that he'd made an eagle and four birdies!
Mental Game Challenge: So often we focus on the negative and disregard the positive. This is perhaps the most common unhelpful attitude among golfers (and people in general). The mistakes are what stand out in our minds, what we remember. This just adds to any pressure we feel and undermines our confidence. We're often our own worst critics, finding something wrong in almost every shot, even the very good ones. We have some idea (probably one we've had most of our lives) that if we don't make a big deal about a mistake we've made, we'll never learn from it. And when we do well, that's what's expected, so it doesn't get much attention. We usually don't get excited about making a four-foot putt, but we get very upset about missing one. Because of the added emphasis we put on negative events, they become more prominent in our memory. It's been said that golfers get more nervous about short putts as their careers go on because they've accumulated too many memories of the ones they've missed.
Mental Game Solution: This is a simple problem, but not an easy one to correct because it is such a strong habit. It takes practice and patience to break habits. The first step is awareness. Pay attention to what you say out loud or to yourself about your shot or your round. You'll probably be surprised at how often you have a negative comment in your mind. Instead, find something good about every shot, about every round, to change the habit of finding something wrong with it.
Another point is to let go of the errors, but dwell on the successes. It's been said, "You need to have a short memory for bad shots and a long memory for good ones." Take time to appreciate a good shot as it flies to the target and settles down just where you planned. This will imprint a positive image in your mind, and build your confidence. After a round, spend a few minutes reviewing the good decisions and the good shots you made.
Perhaps the most important point is to give yourself a break when things don't go well. If you were with a friend who was having a bad time, you wouldn't call him names and criticize him and make him feel bad. You would be supportive, telling him that everyone has a bad hole or even a bad day, and he'll do better the next time. So be a friend to yourself and tell yourself those encouraging words!
Other Articles by Dr. Parent
- Accentuate the Positive
- Beware of Trying
- Putt with Imagination
- Patience Pays
- Confidence in Mind and Body
- Be Decisive
|
