The Right Attitude - Being Positive
by June-Anne Jones
Golf is a complex game and it’s about more than the shots you make or the clubs you use. If it was just down to that we would all be single figure players!
We all ‘think’ or talk to ourselves in our minds up to 70% of the time. We start thinking from the moment we get up until we fall asleep at night. Has someone ever said to you ‘ what are you thinking about?’
The ‘thinking’ we do when we play golf is very important. You probably have heard people saying things like:- I can never seem to play this hole well - My ball sees the water and heads straight for it - That bunker and I just don’t get on - I usually have a good score until I get to the 16th.
So why bother to play at all, because just as soon as it happens we cry ‘ I told you that was going to happen.’ You shouldn’t be at all surprised - you had said before you played what was going to happen, and it did. So what you need to do now is to start and take those negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones.
What’s stopping us being positive?
‘Thought barriers’ are not always easy to recognize, but we all have them. Amazingly you can be the most confident and positive person socially, at home or work. Why is it that a different person takes over when we step onto a golf course?
Do you recognize any of these:
She plays off 10, I have no chance. Of course she will know the rules, she’s played for 18 years. I don’t have the same confidence that these youngsters have. On some days I just don’t seem to be lucky. I never seem to be able to get over the water.
These phrases are negative thoughts. If your mindset is negative and you are thinking in a negative way, then these thoughts are very likely to come true.
A positive approach is important and therefore you must change your mindset. Try telling yourself that “YOU CAN” and then YOU WILL.
Take the phrases above and change them around to make the approach much more positive.
The 10 handicapper is beatable because you have more shots, they could be having an off day or you could just play exceptionally well.
There are not many members of golf clubs who know all the rules, and if you think you are correct then you should challenge (in a polite way) and state what you believe to be right.
Youth is great, but it’s not always a match for experience and course management ability.
If I think positively I will play positively.
I can get over this water with the correct club and the right attitude.
Remember when you are on the course to motivate yourself, because your playing partner wont!!.
Bad shots should be forgotten, move on - you can’t change what has been done. It’s important to concentrate over each and every shot - don’t allow yourself to be distracted. You don’t know what the rest of the field is doing, so don’t give up if you have a bad hole, or you’re having a bad round.
Make sure that before you go out, you set yourself a target to achieve. It could be breaking 100, 90, 80. - getting a certain number of pars or in fact anything which motivates you to a better score.
Thinking in a positive way will improve your golf game. You are in control and every shot must have your positive commitment and full concentration.
Is there a magic formula to lower your handicap? Read more great articles by June-Anne Jones about the skills and techniques needed to help improve your golf game. More articles on ladies golf sets and information on ladies golf clothes
Post a comment