Whole Mind Golf

What is a Winner’s Mindset?

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:33:01 +0000

When thinking about the word winning and what it means many players simply look at who won as the only real criteria for what a winner is. He or she won so they’re the “winner”. Well, in this conversation I’ll be talking about what I believe a winner is. I know for certain a winner is much more than a label for the player who finishes in 1st place…

Are you a winner? Do you think like a winner? Do you play like a winner? Think about these comments for a moment or two. A winner has a way of looking at things that is waaaaaaaay different from a loser’s perspective. A so called “bad shot” and the resulting anger that is openly demonstrated by many players is a reflection of a loser’s mindset.

In defense of uncontrolled anger I’ll hear players say “well it shows I care. After all if things didn’t matter why bother playing the game?” Have you ever heard (or said) this before? Now this is absurd, of course, since there are countless players who play with a joy filled, serene calm when playing, should we assume they don’t care and that the game doesn’t matter to them? Obviously not.

The Heart of a Champion

Now we’re getting to the heart of this discussion. A loser (and I don’t mean loser in the popular derogatory sense) is someone who has a mental habit of looking at things in the worst possible light. A bad shot is perceived as devastating and as evidence they won’t be able to shoot a good score.

Their focus tends to notice the bad breaks and not the good ones. The fundamental viewpoint is one of a battle where something is always against them. Their opponents, the golf course, the greens are bad, the group ahead is playing too slow, and on and on.

Now certainly we’ve all had one or several of these thoughts before but I’m talking more about an overall mindset that a loser plays with. Now why do I cal thisn a loser’s mindset? It’s because this mindset is measurably detrimental to performance. It is also a direct killer of joy!

Ok, I’ll give that conversation a break and move onto where we all want to be if we choose to play at our own, personal best more consistently.

Build it On Solid Ground!

A winner’s mindset is built from the ground up. You feel connected to the ground. Centered and balanced. You’re filled with anticipation for each shot and the challenge that it brings. You enjoy the test, both internal and external, that each shot offers you. You look at the conditions of the golf course and the weather as an opportunity to leave the rest of the field in the dust as you know most all of them are whining and already making excuses for why they won’t play good today.

Jack Nicklaus would walk in the locker room after a particularly difficult day (meaning it was very windy and the conditions were affecting everybody) and he would listen to players whine about the conditions. Then he would smile inside and say “this is great, now I only have a handful of players to compete against for the rest of the tournament, these guys have given up.”

I recommend you really begin to look at the game in this new light. Gary Player, when commenting on green speed and quality of the putting surface during tournaments he played would say, “there’s no such thing as bad greens.” Pause for a moment and let this land. He’s saying that you adjust. If you like fast greens, for example, tough luck, they’re jot fast! Now what? Do you give up mentally and are you immediately finding reasons to justify your upcoming poor round?

It’s All About Mental Toughness

I’m being tough on you as a reader as this is how I want your mindset to be: TOUGH. When you are able to break through your own inner resistances around the gamer and all the things you currently feel are necessary for you to shoot good scores you’ll reach a new level. You’ll walk through a door that few players do. It opens to a place where your play transcends those “self imposed” limits.

Now you can be a winner. A winner isn’t merely a player who holds the trophy at the end. No, It is much more than this. A winner is as player who doesn’t quit internally.Doesn’t give up when things don’t meet their particular perspective on how things are “supposed to be”. Thinking things should or shouldn’t be a certain way is delusional and prevents a player from experiencing reality as it is that day.

Embrace everything the game throws at you. Get excited at the challenges. Treat each shot, no mater how it comes off, as exactly the same. You walk to the next one and focus and commit to it. NEVER give up and keep committed until the last putt drops. That’s a real winner.

Hypnosis For Golf

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:47:40 +0000

Using hypnosis for golf is one of the most effective golf training techniques for improving your game. If you’ve ever mentally talked yourself into loosing a game by reducing your self esteem, or pressuring yourself into winning, or lost because of stress, then you are probably familiar with the negative affects. Self-hypnosis works to calm the body and mind so that you are concentrating fully on your shot and your whole golf game.

Not What You’re Thinking

Self hypnosis does not involve spinning rocks, long periods of closing your eyes, or doing anything anyone tells you to. It involves focusing your concentration fully on a task until you aren’t interested in or notice anything else. It’s as simple as narrowing your world down to your golf game. You should clear your mind, relax and concentrate on golf. A self-hypnosis system can also include a recorded track such as a therapist talking, the sound of the ocean, your own voice or other soothing sounds.

Golf hypnosis requires you to lay back. It also incorporates you relaxing and listening to soothing music or a pre-prepared soundtrack that will put you in the right mindset. You visualize your swing and imagine yourself aiming putts and being confident that you’re rolling the ball in the hole. You are a winner. Just relax, when you get up from your session you will feel calm, empowered and ready for anything.

Golf After Hypnosis is Like Deja Vu

When you step onto the field, ready to play, these thoughts and the feelings of relaxation will come back to you. If you’ve ever been engrossed in a good book and looked up to realize an hour had passed, then you know the feeling you are aiming at for. Golf self-hypnosis works to transform and inspire your mental process in order to provide you with the positive and comforting thoughts that allow you to be a winner.

Those of you who are member’s of Whole Mind Golf know the power of a calm, relaxed, focused mind and how scoring becomes natural and effortless. This is the byproduct of the proper application of hypnosis for golf.

Subliminal Messages For Golf

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:24:14 +0000

Top golfers in the world use subliminal messages for golf so consider this…Tiger Woods became a golf icon not only because he won numerous prestigious tournaments, but because his steely determination and mental focus were apparent to any golfer, pro or amateur, that watched him play.

Not all of us have such meditative focus. Tiger was lucky enough to have a father who taught him mental strategies from a young age, that helped him to master his golf game, but you can use subliminal messages for golf to help create the mental prowess that is needed to really ace your game.

Some subliminal message programs are better than others

Subliminal messages for golf can help you to create the perfect putt in your minds eye and the confidence to carry it out before it ever happens on the green. It can help you to avoid hazards, not just by placing your ball exactly where you want it, but by using heightened mental focus created by subliminal suggestion.

If your game has been lagging, and you just cant seem to break through that plateau in your swing or your handicap, it might not be a technical problem, but a matter of mental focus.

Not just in golf, but in almost every sport, from swimming to horseback riding, basketball to bowling, the best athletes know that their edge over competition is mental more than anything else. Sure, you have to have the skills required of your sport, in this case an amazing swing, or a great eye to read the course, but the most important thing is your mental acuity.

You can find it easily with subliminal messages created specifically to enhance your game. Instead of beating yourself up with the same tired swing on the driving range, or getting swamped emotionally when you hit a few bad holes, use mental prowess that comes from a seeming wellspring inside you. That’s what can do.

Peak Performance Golf Swing Q&A

Giospro — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:09:09 +0000

George asks…

Has anyone tried the Peak Performance golf swing by Don Trahan is so what are the cons and pros?

Is Don Trahran golf swing worth the effort in trying has anyone had good results with this type of swing beside his son.

bob answers:

I have used a swing that is very similar to the one that he advocates, due to breaking my back and neck years ago and having limited movement and not being able to make a full big turn in my golf swing. I learned mine from trial and error. After learning about his swing via the internet and clicking on his site for the ten videos and more than weekly tips that he sends, I can tell you, if your having trouble making a full complete back turn , then this swing could very well bring you the ability to still enjoy the game of golf. His son uses this form of swing out on the tour and he does just fine . He may not always win or place up there with the big name stars , but he does retain his PGA tour card and the pay check that comes with it.

Mary asks…

Who uses the peak performance swing?

I would like to know who other than DJ Trahan uses the Peak performance Golf Swing on tour.

frank answers:

I don’t know of many people who use this swing theory. I have integrated part of it into my swing, but just a small part. I have shortened my backswing and actually increased club speed and distance as well as accuracy. I would say, though, that watching Camillo Villegas probably helped me make that decision more than Don Trahan.

Mark asks…

Wear can I buy Peak performance Golf swing CD’s by Don Tranhan in Houston Texas?

Golf instruction CD’s by Don Traham

Giospro answers:

You can buy them at www.peakperformancegolfswing.com

Mandy asks…

does anybody have the links for don trahan’s peak performance golf swing free videos?

i have got the first three videos and they have helped me so far but i don’t want to wait seven more days for the rest

hal answers:

Http://www.nowtorrents.com/torrents/don-trahan-peak-performance-golf-swing.html

You can download some of the videos from here

Donald asks…

Peak Performance Golf Swing by Don Trahan . Anybody heard of this? I wa?

This was on a site called http://www.peakperformancegolfswing.com, is it a good?

cindy answers:

It is pretty good as he has some interesting thoughts that would be very helpful for beginners

He has a series of videos that will give you insight to every part of your game

He tries to make it very simple

Worth the money, but he was offering a money back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose

Give it a try

Cure Slice in Golf Swing

Giospro — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:06:26 +0000

Carol asks…

How do you cure a slice in your golf swing?

I have tried everything from turning my wrist to placing the ball in my stance different to closing the club head, and changing my stance to a draw stance so I swing inside out and nothing seems to work? I am looking for a solution.

Giospro answers:

Try Slowing Your Swing Down A Touch.

Make Sure You Hands Are In Front Of The Ball On Your Set Up.

And Make Sure Your Grip Is Correct (Favoring Strong). So you can see 3 knuckles on your left hand when holding the grip.

Ruth asks…

Do Anti-Slice Golf Clubs really cure someone’s very bad slice swing.?

Giospro answers:

If you have a horrid slice, even an anti-slice club isn’t going to solve your problem. It may reduce the slice somewhat, but when the mechanics of your swing are so out of wack that your shot bends to the extreme a club like that isn’t going to help your game. You are better off working on your swing with a standard club to reduce your slice and if you can consistently minimize that bend it might be worth it to get one of those clubs.

Daniel asks…

What part of the golf swing causes a slice?

What part of a golf swing causes a slice, how would you cure it

Giospro answers:

A slice is fundamentally caused by imparting “clockwise” side spin on the ball (for a right hand-er). There are a multitude of things that a person can do to cause this, and without knowing “what type of slice” you have, it really isn’t possible to tell you of any fixes over this medium.

Here is a list of some of the possible reasons:
- Your club vs your body’s alignment to the target; (i.e. Your body may be aiming well left, but your club is aiming at the target)
- Club face open at impact
- Club face square at impact while swinging across the ball from out to in (looks like a back Slash “”)
- Not transferring your weight correctly
- Golf shafts too stiff for you (this would lead to a really weak low slice)
- Ball could be positioned too far forward in your stance

Given all of these possible reasons for slicing (and i’m sure that there are more that i just can’t think of at present), the only way to truly cure it is to invest in some lessons with a pro. Now they will make a couple of suggestions and some of them may feel awkward or strange, but if you stick with it, and practice, you’ll improve. Lastly, if the pro suggests simply aiming further left and allow for it, ask for your money back and find another coach.

David asks…

How can I cure my slice?

I have a good swing and usually hit the ball with a straight, high penetrating ball flight. Just recently I seem to be slicing the ball with every club except my pitching iron. I can’t work out what I am doing wrong, my swing feels no different to how it used to. How can I cure this?….it’s driving me crazy!

Giospro answers:

Okay, time for a real answer…….enjoy!

There are a number of things that can contribute to a newly acquired slice. Anything from working out at the gym to the Golf God’s sending you moon beams of hate. Here are some things to try.

1. Answer this first, have you been working out? If you have, it is likely that you are swinging faster, thus, the shaft stays just a bit more flexed at impact, not allowing the clubface to square up. If you find that you are now swinging harder than before, you can either back off a bit or get some stiffer shafts.

2. You may have crept a little closer to the ball. Standing just an inch or two closer to the ball will “jam” you at impact. This can contribute to an inside-out swing. Try standing a couple inches further away and really concentrate on getting your arms a nice extension through the ball.

3. Try flattening out your swing. You may be coming over the top a little too much on your backswing. If you try taking the club back on more of a “baseball swing” angle, this will let you know if that is the problem almost right away. Having more of a flat swing will result in draws and hooks if everything else stays the same.

4. Your grip. There are so many things to perfect in the golf swing, that often, the grip is overlooked. Setup to the ball, loosen your grip (keeping your hands interlocked) and rotate your entire grip clockwise about 1/4″ and regrip the club. Now take your normal swing. This new grip will now allow the clubface to be more closed at impact.

5. And the most important part. Don’t try more than one of these at a time. Give one of them a shot for 10-20 balls on the range, and if it doesn’t seem to help. Go back to square one and try something different. I hope this helps, good luck.

Mark asks…

I need a good drill to cure a slice?

I have a bad slice when I drive the ball. From what I can tell it is caused by an out to in swing path, or maybe the other way around, I can’t remember. It starts left and then curves sharply to the right. I love the shot on doglegs to the right but need some help on straightening it out on tight fairways. Any drills that I can do to straighten out my swing?

Giospro answers:

To change from outside in to inside out swing path it starts at the top of the back swing : the right elbow needs to drop into the beltline so that the club comes from the inside . Two things to do : towel drill fold a totwel and place it under your right arm up against your rib cage . Take a swing if the towel drops your elbow is way out there it should stay as close to your belt as possible. Second is learning to drop the elbow into you side to intiate a down swing . You can do that with or with out a club . Just get to the top of your swing and drop that elbow into place . If you start eliminating the slice and find now that you have a hook , be happy as most golfers never learn to correct the slice. The hook is much easier to fix , and is a result from agressive inside out swing. I know cause i went through this process . I used to slice everything now i hook . I open my front foot about 20-30 degrees to allow my hips to clear through impact. And wow does that ball fly !

The Zone in Golf

Giospro — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:39:47 +0000

Carol asks…

I want to start playing golf but I don’t know what to do?

Hey I am 15, going to be 16 next month, and I want to play golf. Almost two years ago I played golf for the first time in New Jersey with my uncle and I loved it, but I was too nervous of getting into a league because I’m scared of being embarrased and my whole life I have always been scared of embarrasing myself. Now I want to come out of my comfort zone and start golf, but I’m afraid I am too late of a boomer to become descent. What should I do?

bob answers:

You are definitley not too late to get good at golf. You can still become an excellent golfer if you put your mind to it and have some talent. (Even without talent if you put in a lot of work).

First thing, if you don’t already have a set find a cheap beginners set of clubs. You don’t need much, just a few irons, a driver and 3 wood, a wedge and a putter. A sand wedge would be recommended too but you can get by without one for a while if necessary.

The next thing you should do is try to find some local golf junior group lessons at the local courses and country clubs. These group camps over the summer for juniors are usually very cheap and sometimes free. Many times courses have summer camps which consist of a 2 hour lesson once a week with lunch or something as well. Learning in a group session to start will really help you get used to things and meet some people your own age to play with.

I would also recommend getting one on one lessons if the money is available from a local PGA Professional. He can guide you with equipment questions, technical issues, rules, etc.

Try to find people your own age to learn the game with. Family members, classmates, or friends. It always helps to have people there.

If you find a league or something to play on just remember a couple of things.

1. It doesn’t really matter how well you play, you are out there to have fun. Just make sure you are aware of the rules of the game. You can go to www.usga.org to find the rules of the game or talk to an experienced player.

2. Know the course etiquitte. Much of this is learned through experience, so let people know when you start that you are a beginner and they will be more than happy to let you know what is expected. Its really just common sense stuff, you should pick up on it quickly.

Hope this helps, and remember… Just get out there and have fun. It really is a wonderful game you will play for the rest of your life!

Lisa asks…

Is there a list of golf communities in Orlando area?

I am looking to buy a villa and would like a list of all the golf communities in the Orlando area (including Kissimee and Polk County) that have villas for sale and are in a zone that allows short term rental.

wendy answers:

Here is a website that may help you : http://www.orlandogolfcommunities.com/search.jsp
It has the MLS search , so I believe you can check for properties for sale and what not.
Hope this helps you!

Sport Psychology for Golf Q&A

Giospro — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:15:16 +0000

Sandy asks…

For any Athlete out there, Name your sport and would you use a Sports Psychologist based on what you know ?

I am just wondering for any athletes, golf especially, would you use a sports psychology coach to get better at a sport based on what you know about it?
For any and every athlete or coach out there. Just name your sport, but from what you know about Sports Psychology, would you hire a sports psych coach for you or your team?

Giospro answers:

I probably would. Mostly because I have the worlds worst case of Nerves when it comes to competing in sports.
And, they could help with the pressure you might get when you have competition.

~AtA~

Thomas asks…

I would like information and reviews on National University?

I am looking to major in and get a degree BA in Sport Psychology with a concentration in Professional Golf Management or Bachelor’s of Business with an emphasis Professional Golf Management. I look to become a Head Golf Pro, Teaching Pro, and/or General Manger of a course also I would like own my own course some day. So I would just like to know what degree would be better for what I want to do? Also anything about the college would be nice. Good or bad

Giospro answers:

I actually just answered a question like this. But I can give you the watered down version.

A business degree is almost an absolute must if you want to be a Head Pro. Most head pros literally run every aspect of the course. And, obviously, even more so when it comes time to run your own course!

The other half, at least in my opinion, is making sure you learn as MUCH as you can about the game. Everything from the mental approach (as you mentioned) to swing fundamentals. If you find a college that has a golf program, you’d more than likely be learning even more than that. Things like maintaining facilities and even treating/caring for the grounds (greens, fairways, etc)

Lizzie asks…

Where is a great place to live?

I am planning on moving this September and am looking for some opinions. I live in Arizona right now, but I am considering moving to Denver, CO, Portland, OR, ….

My degree is in turfgrass science, so anything with golf or sports will do and my fiance is in the Neuro Psychology field.

We would like to stay on the west coast… .what are some great places to live, and why?

Giospro answers:

Http://www.city-data.com/

This is a pretty good site for the question.

Think of what features attract you to a city, what kind of neighbors you want, the activities you enjoy. There are lists that rate cities as per those features.

George asks…

Chance at Brown University?

Do I have a ED chance or should I not bother?
High school:
(if not indicated, all grades As)
9: Honors English 9, Hrs World Regions, Hrs Biology,Guitar I,P.E.,Algebra I,Spanish II
Middle School: Spanish I
10: AP Biology (AP Exam: 5),Honors Lit 10,Honors World History,Chemistry, Algebra II, Spanish III, Health (semester 1) & Interactive Multimedia (sem 2)
11: Geometry (credit problem)B for semester 2
Marine Biology
AP Lang & Comp (AP Exam: 5)
AP Chem (3)-B
Precalculus
AP US History (5)
Career Practicum (worked at hospital: ophthalmology, operating room, radiology)
Additional Online Course: AP Psychology (5)
Extracurriculars: President: Children’s Coalition, National Honors Society, Philosophy
Chief Editor of Literary Magazine
Member of Film Club
Freshman & Sophomore Class Council
Student Council
Continuous School Improvement
Brain Bowl
Model UN
SAT: (low, but retaking) 2060: 680 C 610 M 770 W
740 Bio 750 US Hist
Sport: Golf
I’ll have good essays & recomendations
ED is for Early Decision. I will attempt at their Medical Program.
I live on a naval housing base. I have good character, very passionate about my education.
I’m also in the top 5% of my class. If not ranking number 1.
Sorry, I didn’t distinguish them. I took Biology (740) and US History (750) for subject tests.
I’ll definitely be working on SAT Reasoning Math and Critical Reading. Unfortunately I had the stomach flu when I took it for the first time.

Giospro answers:

You have a really good profile, and I’d say to definetly give it a shot. Applying ED raises your chances of getting in from something like 12% to 17%.
I don’t know much about the PLME program except that it’s really competitive.

I applied ED to Brown, and my SAT score was a little bit lower than yours (but I didn’t take any subject tests and so I submitted my ACT, which they accept in place of the SAT and Subject tests)

If you know you want to come, apply ED. It’s a lot less nerve racking to know where you’re going a whole semester before everyone else, AND you can get a Brown hoodie to sport for Christmas.

I hope to see you on campus next year!

Mark asks…

What do you think of my CV?

I just finished school and I am applying for jobs this summer. Is my CV good?

Education
GCSEs (6 As and 4 Bs):
A grades in Maths, English Literature, Additional Science, Geography, Information Technology and Religious Studies.
B grades in English Language, French, Core Science, History.

A-Level (awaiting results):
Geography – predicted A grade
Psychology – predicted A grade
Economics – predicted B grade

I hope to study geography at The University of Liverpool in September 2011.

Skills
I am a reliable, conscientious, hard-working person who is able to work within a group and individually. I am enthusiastic when it comes to work and will always aim to complete my goals to my greatest ability.

Having taken GCSE IT, I have advanced skills in Microsoft Office programs, including word, powerpoint and excel. I can also work with the majority of of other software packages.

Work Experience
Towards the end of 2009 I completed two weeks of work experience at a Leeds Performing Arts Festival. My job was to collect and use data to help improve the event for future years. I created a survey questionnaire to ask for the views of theatre goers and then used the data to create a series of graphs and a report which would be given to the organisers for planning purposes.

During the summer of 2010 I worked for one week at a firm of quantity surveyors (a career option I may pursue), visiting building sites, attending client meetings and undertaking practical work.

25 hours of volunteer work at Oxfam between December 2009 and March 2010.

Interests
I am interested in a variety of sports. My particular favourite is skiing, in which I have reached level 8 with the British Alpine Ski School. I hope to reach level 9 in 2012 and ultimately go on to take an instructor’s course. As well as this, I love to play and watch football and am an avid supporter having attended many games. I also enjoy watching other sports, including rugby, golf and cricket.

Giospro answers:

With CVs opinions vary, even amongst so-called experts. However, with respect yours breaks some basic rules. It is a shame as you already have employability!

A CV is to get you an interview, not the actual job.

Below are my amendments for you…

Heading:
Not “CV” but your Fullname.

Contacts:
You’ve missed this. Full Address; Telephone(s); Email; any Website.

Personal Profile:
Placed here, not with Skills. This should not be ‘I am’ but ‘I achieved’ statements. You achieved a great thing and that was the theatre’s survey. Connect this by mentioning your liking for QS. This alone would get you noticed.
Additionally, at school, eg. Football team captain?

Education:
Year at schools, with their names. Bullet-point your exam passes, listing them with best at the top.
Instead of ‘I hope…’ use ‘Applied…’

Skills:
The first para removed and the second para modified into bullet points of what done only.

Experience:
Month, Year; Jobtitle; Employer only.

Interests:
Skiing, Team Sports.

All in 12pt ‘Arial’.

Best Golf Instruction Books

Giospro — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:26:39 +0000

Richard asks…

Good Golf Swing Ebooks?

Hey gang. Any golfers out there have golf swing e-books that they’d like to recommend? I’m just getting started and can’t really afford professional lessons or coaching so I’m looking for some good instructional ebooks, preferably ones with clear instructions and lots of photos, etc. Many thanks for your help.

Giospro answers:

I’d pretty highly recommend The Simple Golf Swing (with a nice review of it located here: http://www.usfreeads.com/741561-cls.html )

Golf swing guides are a dime a dozen but The Simple Golf Swing is one of the better written ones, and, most importantly, has tons of illustrations and photos to back up the sound advice.

Ruth asks…

in a high school golf match, is it a penalty to kneel on the putting surface?

During a recent high school match, a girl was penalized a stroke according to the opposing coach due to kneeling on the putting surface? No where does it state that penalty in the rules book. I didnt know if there was other ruling on the judgement.

Giospro answers:

There is no USGA rule against kneeling on the putting green. Unless there was a Local Rule for this particular event, there would be no penalty… And if there is a local rule like that, it would be very unusual. On the USGA website there is a section on golf etiquette on preventing unnecessary damage to the course. If this player was kneeling hard enough to be causing damage to the green and was doing it on a consistent basis, the USGA has the following recommendation on their website – http://www.usga.org/etiquette/tips/Golf-Etiquette-101.

If players follow the guidelines in this Section, it will make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

If a player consistently disregards these guidelines during a round or over a period of time to the detriment of others, it is recommended that the Committee consider taking appropriate disciplinary action against the offending player. Such action may, for example, include prohibiting play for a limited time on the course or in a certain number of competitions. This is considered to be justifiable in terms of protecting the interest of the majority of golfers who wish to play in accordance with these guidelines.

In the case of a serious breach of Etiquette, the Committee may disqualify a player under Rule 33-7.

Your Questions About Mental Golf Game

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:03:17 +0000

Helen asks…

What are some links to websites to iprove the mental golf game and course management?

i am a 16 year old golfer and iv picked up the game in a year with a natural swing and have a handicap of around 4-6 and the problem i have is i let one bad shot get to me.

admin answers:

What the he** are these people talking about?!

Anyway, you should be congratulated for wanting to take your game to the next level. Any of the leading golf websites (the golf channel, golf digest, etc.) will have entire sections that focus on the mental aspect of the game. Golf professionals focus on game management everyday and so should you. You just need to study the game, study different professionals, read, read, read, and find what is going to work for you. It will eventually be a combination of a few different teachers ideas that works for you.

Lastly, any teaching pro worth anything will be able to teach you how to get the most out of your game. And of course shop around for a pro you like, which is far more important than a “knowledgeable” one.

Good Luck!

Joseph asks…

How much of a Golf Game is mental?

I have been playing for years and I practice a lot. But I am wondering if I am stressing to much every time I go up to hit the ball. A friend of mine has told me about a Golf Mental Conditioning Program that he listens to before he goes out and it works. He listens to it 30 minutes before he hits the greens. He always seems very relaxed and self confident. He plays pretty good too. What do you think?

admin answers:

Many pros have a mantra to help not get distracted by the last shot / hole.
- A good hole makes you feel bullet-prrof, and you try too hard next shot… And slice/hook it
- a poor approach shot gets you in a defeated frame of mind, and you add another 3+ shots to the hole
Whenever I tell myself “Avoid the water” the ball goes there like a homing misslie. A negative mantra is keeping the wrong message at the front of your mind.
My calming mantra is “Business as normal”

Jenny asks…

What are some good drills for the mental game of golf?

I am a 3 handicap who needs some mental help i often start thinking to much or just cant calm down an forget about one bad hole?? I need some tips to help my mental game

admin answers:

Everyone is different and techniques are different. When i have a bad hole i will tell myself “no harm done” ” I can get this back”. I will then call my shots for the next hole. Not out loud to others, but, i mumble to myself. I will call out the drive or tee shot I want to hit saying where it will start out and where it will land. I do this for each shot on the hole. I stay focused on hitting just that shot only. It keeps my mind free of other thoughts and it is amazing just how well you can hit the shot you have just called out. Many times you can follow up a trashed hole with a birdie or a good par. Stay positive with all of your thoughts and your actions. Allowing negativity to enter into your game allows disaster to creep in

Lisa asks…

I am a 16 and my mental golf game isnt good, what can i do to help this?

during the summer i shot around 37 38 for 9 holes. Once i got to the high school season, i fell apart, shot horable. Shot around 45 46, and even shooting some 50s. What can i do to help this?

admin answers:

When I was a freshman I had the exact same problem, I came from a summer season with shooting even par for 18 holes and under par a couple times, and then blew up when highschool golf came.

I’m assuming that your poor play has happened just recently this winter. It may be because of the lack of practice. It gets harder and harder to get practice hours in when winter comes because the hours get shorter. This means that you will have to practice smart, you’re going to have to stop depending on your swing and shots to score, and get your short game better to keep you more consistant and away from the big numbers. Winter also brings wind so you also can’t just not spend any time on your swing either. You want to find a balance between the two and try not to rely on one or the other to keep your score down.

As for your mental game side, its all a matter of confidence. When you get on the course, don’t think about any swing thoughts. Just know that you’re on the tee box, and you want it to go in the hole within _ strokes. Point A to point B, doesn’t matter how you get there. So with that said, nobody said you had to hit fullswing shots all the time. Go one club up and imagine/FEEL like you’re hitting a 50 yard pitch with your sandwedge. Trust me, even I do this when I’m not hitting good in a tournament. When you start missing putts, stay patient, tell yourself that you’ve made a good stroke, and thats all you can do. The subtle differences with the grain can make the ball bump offline and not go in.

Good luck.

John asks…

Mental Golf Game? – Is this an answer?

Hello everyone. I need your help. I love to play golf but sometime my golf game gets the better of me. I get very frustrated over the game. I know that sometimes I play bad because I let a bad day at work get to me. I don’t think my clubs can take much more of me pounding them into the ground.

My dad sent me a link to a CD program that you listen to for 30 minutes a day and it is suppose to relax you and help your mental game. I know my dad has used programs like this in the past and they have worked for him. I would appreciate your input. Also, the program is only $44.97. Not a lot of money and I can send it back if I don’t think it’s working.

http://www.thinkrightnow.com/audios/golf.asp

Thanks in advance for your input!
LoL- and no my dad is not trying to get me into a pyramid scam.

admin answers:

Yes these things work if you apply them. So many people buy stuff use it once and say it is crap.
Don’t buy it on the basis that you can return it. You will need to do it over and over again.
My favorite is Michael Anthonys Mental Keys.
Check out the Mental Game at http://www.playthelie.com

Best Golfer in the World

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:39:39 +0000

When you think about the best golfer in the world, who do you think of? Is it automatically your first thought to think about who is ranked #1 according to the Sony World Rankings? Are there other criteria you feel are necessary in order to determine the best golfer in the world?

There are various viewpoints from differing governing bodies, sports writers, talking heads, and golfers in general. No matter what criteria you feel is the most important I will categorically state that there is one thing that rises above any and all points of view. I’ll get to that in a moment…

Sony rankings rate a player’s rankings higher if they win or finish high in a tournament that has more of the top players in the field. But what’s funny (and almost arbitrary) about that is it’s the Sony rankings that determines who the top players are who are in a given field. Ok, now let’s continue with this a little further…

Sony determines what a players ranking is. Players with high Sony rankings enter a tournament and make it a “quality field”. “Big” tournaments like the World Golf Championships evolved on the scene to put a spotlight on the top players. To get into these events you must have a high, you guessed it, Sony World Ranking. The ranking points placed on these events are higher than regular events.

Do the Sony World Golf Rankings Really Determine Who’s Best?

So those who had high Sony Rankings, and are one of the chosen ones, get into these bigger events and are assured of even higher placement in the official world rankings. Hmmm, seems a little incestuous don’t you think? Is a guy who is 1 single point behind the players who are eligible to enter these big events really that much worse than the guy one point ahead of him, or two or three? And now that player who was one measly point ahead will get a boost in rankings just because he’s in the field.

I look at these big events like a boys club. It’s like the “in crowd,” the exclusive insiders club on the tour. In effect this created two pga tours - The regular tour and the world golf championships. Everyone is allowed in the lower tier events but only a select few are permitted n the big events. And of course, all based on the Sony World Rankings.

Some people feel you’re not the best player in the world, even if you’re ranked #1, until you’ve one a major. Again I’ll challenge this logic everyday of the week. If we’re to use this equally arbitrary notion on determining the legitimacy of a #1 ranking then let’s look at some of the past winners of majors and see how valid having won a major really is:

Rich Beem
Paul Lawrie
Shaun Micheel
Stuart Cink
Andy North
Michael Campbell
Bob Tway
Larry Mize

What Really Makes A Player The Best In The World?

Ok, I hope you get the idea. Some of these guys never won again and most of them only won a few tournaments in their entire career. But they all won a major. So what. Now if a guy is ranked #1 in the world (according to those self appointed masters of ranking - sony) and has won 4 tournaments in a year but no majors, that means waaaaaay more than a guy who’s finished in the top ten only 3 times but won 1 major that year. I don’t care if you’re playing in Asia, Europe or in a regular PGA tour event, a win is a win and it is NEVER a walk in the park to win, anywhere.

In my humbly biased opinion a player who plays at a very high level, plays all over the world (which demonstrates serious mental and physical toughness), has numerous wins each year from all over the world, finishes in the top 10 more than any other player in golf: now that is a real #1 player.

In 2011 Luke Donald became and remained the #1 player in the world and did so in a way unprecedented in the history of golf. He won Player of the Year on both the European Tour AND the PGA Tour. He won BOTH money titles and the race to Dubai, the European version of the Fedex Cup. He finished in the top 10 an unbelievable 14 times in only 19 starts on the PGA Tour! And get this, since he became a member of the European Tour he has NEVER missed a cut. Those numbers and that level of consistency are impossible to ignore.

But in the end there is one ingredient that the #1 player in the world ALWAYS has. An incredible mental game. This one quality is essential and rests in the heart of all greatness. Luke exudes a wonderful calmness and an admirable humility that is a worthy of the golf world’s respect. He is legitimately the best golfer in the world.