Putting

If there is one thing golfer's really want to know how to do well, it's putting.  Most golfers would say that putting is probably the hardest part of golf, but it is also the most mentally challenging.  This is because of the great amount of concentration needed to be a great putter.  The best advice about putting that I can give to you right now is to trust yourself.  I feel that trust is the key to putting and most of your other shots around the course.  If you can completely trust yourself on every putt in a round, you will find that number of putts is decreasing. 

Routine also comes into play with putting just as much as with every other shot on the golf course.  If you don't have a putting routine that's set in stone, I strongly suggest you find one.  Keeping your routine lets your mind focus on the task at hand.  It also makes each putt simply feel like muscle memory, like you have done it a thousand times.  When I am putting well, I am completely trusting and believing in every putt I stand over.  Once I finish my routine and I'm getting ready to begin my putting stroke, I try to completely trust and believe in the line I have chosen in my routine.  Then, it's just a matter of visualization (like I talked about in the last post) and letting myself make that putting stroke.  You simply have to KNOW that you are going to make that putt on that line that you have chosen.  If you start believing in yourself on the green, you will soon notice strokes falling off of your score.

Routine and Visualization

Today, I want to talk about one of the most important aspects to the mental side of golf, visualization.  If you have ever heard anyone tell you that you need to "see the shot" before you hit it, they are exactly right.  Yesterday I had to work and then go to class, so I only had about 45 minutes to spare at the golf course.  By the time I got out to the course, it was almost completely empty.  This is probably one of my favorite times to play, because I can really focus on what I want to do.  I only hit balls on three holes, but in this case it was quality over quantity.  I spent massive amounts of time on each hole, hitting four or five balls from each tee.  I can only stress the value of routine so much, but you all should know that having a routine and executing it on every shot is extremely important.  Your routine is what keeps you focused and consistent.  But what I really suggest you add to your routine is a short visualization of your shot.  In my routine, I added it just before I swing when I'm done setting up to the ball.  It almost forces me into "the zone" because I have to concentrate so hard in order to visualize my shot.  I try to actually see myself hitting the shot I want to hit.  I try to not visualize the perfect shot, but more along the lines of a preferred location for my shot to end up.  I like to get to the point that, in my mind, I can see myself physically swinging the club and hitting the ball.  Then I try to see the ball going through the air and landing where I want in the fairway or on the green.  My logic behind this is simple.  Visualizing your shot before you hit it makes it feel like you have already hit the shot.  If you can convince yourself that you have already hit the shot, your confidence will skyrocket.  After that, the rest is simple.  I simply let myself swing the club (again) and hit the shot I feel like I've already hit.  I feel that visualization adds a feeling of simplicity to any shot on the course.

I can't stress routine anymore than most of you have probably already heard, but......routine, routine, routine.  Your personal routine sets you apart from everyone else.  It is the best way I know to get back in "the zone" after walking to your ball from your last shot.  I strongly recommend putting a visualization step into your routine as soon as possible.  It will help you in the long run as it has helped me.  The best thing about visualization is only you can see it.  This personality is what can set you apart from other golfers and let you come out on top in even the most pressured situations.

Playing with Problems

Yesterday was Wednesday, just another workday for me, but also a weight training day.  I lift weights every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and I strongly suggest you get on your own weight training program.  The mental side of golf is all about confidence.  I found out that one of the best ways to gain confidence is by hitting the gym on a schedule.  Not only will you look better, but you will feel better, and that is key to taking strokes off your game.  You would be surprised as to how many people think that golfers never really do anything physical.  But I'm sure you fellow golfers know how tiring it is to spend an entire day on the course.  By starting your own weight training schedule, you will hit it further and increase your confidence in your game.  You don't have to stick to something very strict, but a schedule is always nice.  Here's a program that's something like what I do in the gym.

Now back to the confidence.  After my workout yesterday, my entire body was physically tired.  I still decided to go out to the course and try to play a few holes.  When I started hitting a few balls to warm up, I realized I could hardly swing the club.  I was almost afraid to continue for fear of developing bad muscle memory, but I played on anyway because I really had nothing better to do.  I ended up playing fairly well, with a 9-hole score of 36 (even par).  Even though I had a hard time swinging the club, I still played well because I had confidence in what I was doing.  If I hit a bad shot, or if I didn't make very good contact, I didn't let it worry me at all.  Instead I just kept my composure, laughed it away, and kept focus on the next shot.  Through my experience, I have found that the best way for me to stay focused and play better golf is to focus on the next shot.  As soon as I hit the ball, I quit thinking about that shot and focus on the next one.  This has been the key to helping me stay on track and not get any bad emotions floating around.  This tactic lets you keep your mind focused on the task at hand, but it also lets you forget about anything that previously happened in your round.  I suggest you try this tactic.  It will be hard to get used to at first, but if you stick to it you will notice you're having more fun and playing better golf.

Introductions

I just so happen to be an avid golfer.  Golf is a huge part of my life.  I'm also a full time student, working a summer job for 37.5 hours a week, taking summer classes, and trying to figure out some kind of love life.  I'm not a professional golfer, sports psychologist, or teaching pro and I'm not trying to be.  I am simply a college kid who's been playing golf his whole life, and I believe I know a lot about the game that I want to share. 

As the title to this blog suggests, I will be writing mostly about the mental part of the game of golf.  I and many others believe that to be a successful golfer, one must have a strong mind.  Obtaining a strong mind is probably the hardest part of any golfer's career, whether they are professional or amateurs.  Some people may call this "getting in the zone."  I currently play on a Division III college golf team.  When I started playing at the college level, I realized something amazing about golf..... nerves.  Controlling your nerves when playing a competitive round of golf is the key to success.  I started out my college career not playing very well.  I really wanted to make the team and play in tournaments against other colleges.  What this did was make my mind focused on one thing, doing well.  Since then I have learned that in order to play well, you need to not care what your score is or is going to be.  This is some insight into my personal version of the "zone," but since this is just an introduction into what I will be talking about, I will go no further today.