6 Ways to Boost Your Mental Game When Playing Golf

There are many things you have to keep in mind when it comes to improving your game, from getting better gear, such as the new TaylorMade M5 and M6, to improving your position, grip, and swing. Many may not realize this, but another thing every single golfer should be working on consistently is their mental game. This may appear trivial, but as it turns out, it plays a huge role as far as helping you become more successful.

Routine it Up

Oftentimes, there’s a bad connotation connected to the idea of routine, as it is thought that routine is what kills the creative spark. This may be true to some extent, but it is on the basis of a good routine that you can create a good golf game. If you look closely at the pros, you’ll notice that they have a routine that they keep between each and every round, which encompasses little factors such as walking at the same pace and engaging in the same actions before their shots. With that in mind, try to find your own routine that works, and stick to it.

Breathe with Control

Oftentimes, playing golf can be quite stressful, triggering a response similar to the fight or flight one. This leads to your heart beating faster, an increase in your blood pressure, and a mind that seems to be all over the place. When all of these things start happening, it can be quite difficult to stay in the moment and concentrate.

What can you do about it? Concentrate on your breathing, ensuring that you’re slowing it down. Controlled breathing can help pull you back into the present, helping you focus on your actual game and perform better on the links golf course.

Keep Expectations in Check

Everyone wants to play great games, but the fact of the matter is that doesn’t always happen. Often times we have to go through a lot of bad ones before we can look at a game and say that we are proud of it. The thing is, if you’re very harsh on yourself and don’t see yourself at the level you truly are, all you’re going to do is create unreachable expectations, which is simply going to bring you down. After all, the reason you’re playing golf is to have fun, not to get down on yourself. Plus, the more realistic you are about your skills, the better your position is to actually know what you have to work on and thus improve.

No More Excuses

While being too harsh on yourself is certainly not a good idea, neither is constantly coming up with excuses. Indeed, there are plenty of golfers who seem to think everyone else is guilty of their mistakes except them. This sort of attitude blocks you from understanding what you did wrong, and from working on it. So, try to be more objective and look at your actions, so you’ll know what not to do next time.

Have Goals in Mind

Another thing that can help you become better is having specific goals in mind for each game and each practice session. This way, you’ll know exactly what to focus your attention and energy on, and you’re more likely to notice results than if you’re just going to play for the sake of playing.

Don’t Give Up

Everyone has games that just don’t seem to go their way no matter what they do. When this happens, many are tempted to stop playing once they reach the 8th hole. However, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that every single round you play can help you improve, even when things don’t go your way. Keep positive, learn from your mistakes, and most importantly, keep playing!

There are plenty of things that can help you improve your game, but what goes on in your mind is one of the strongest supporters of constant improvement.