What is the secret to having a good mentality on the golf course?
Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at
11:15 pm
I am 14 and i struggle with having a good mentality on the golf course. I always get mad even though i try my hardest to keep my cool. What should i do?
Asked by:Trey
Tagged with: Golf Course • Mentality
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Don’t expect so much from yourself. Golf is difficult and each shot isn’t going to be perfect like you envision in your mind. Spend more time on the driving range practicing and getting to know each individual club better.
Getting mad is easy. Before and after each shot, good or bad, relax and take 3-4 deep breathes and say to yourself, “This too can be worked out, I am learning”.
Never follow a bad shot with a dumb shot. Playing mad is dumb.
It is okay to express your disappointment with a shot, but set it aside and plan your recovery shot. Do not think about the shot again or mention it to anyone in your group.
good luck.
Set small goals for yourself. Don’t think you will go out there and shoot a 63. or even an 80 or whatever your try to beat. If you shoot in the 90′s normally, set a goal to shoot an 89. Or how about limit putts to 2 a hole.
Just don’t get mad. Even your worst shot could be worse.
My best advice would be to remember that you are to have fun, first and foremost. I played last week for the first time in two years (I travel outside the country for extended periods) and I didn’t even bother with a scorecard – I just went out and hit it. Out of bounds? No big deal. Lost forever in the trees? That’s ok too. Mulligans? No worries. And I loved every minute of it.
Just try to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither did Tiger become the best just by picking up a club. He worked hard to keep his cool and not vent his frustration when he was learning and practicing, and he got better by not losing his concentration and focus when it counted.
Good luck, and just remember it’s all about your enjoyment, and just let each shot go.
Maturity usually leads mental stability on the golf course. At 14, you are too interested in results rather than improvement. Unless the shot is perfect you are disappointed which makes you lose your ” cool”. As you get older and realize that no one is capable of doing his best always, you will develop a better mentality on the course.
IT WILL IMPROVE WITH MATURITY .. ALSO WHEN YOU REACH A LEVEL OF GAME THAT YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT THINGS WILL SETTLE DOWN ..
WHEN I WAS 15 … THATS 40 YRS AGO ,ONE OF MY MENTORS TOLD TO PLAY EVERY HOLE AS IF IT WERE MATCH PLAY ..
YOU FIGURE THIS OUT .. WHAT IS BETTER .. PLAYING 18 HOLES AND HAVING 6 BOGIES ,6 DOUBLES AND 6 TRIPLES … OR PLAYING 18 HOLES WITH 16 PARS ..A 10 AND A SNOW MAN..
CONSISITENCY IS WHAT MAKES YOUR GAME BETTER .
TRUST ME IT WILL ALL COME TOGETHER ONE DAY AND YOU WILL HAVE BROKEN 80 OR MAYBE EVN PAR .. GOOD LUCK !!
i hear that the pros envision every shot and know where they want to hit it every time before they get to the course. this may be difficult to do at a new course but its worth a try. also you must forget about a bad shot, they happen to everyone and will only make you game worse if you dont move on. hope this helps!!