Improve Your Golf Game

Golf - Mental Game Strategies to Help You Shoot Low Scores Fast
By Joe Kensingtons

Shooting low golf scores is a great challenge and few people ever learn how to break 80 never mind breaking 70. The mental game can play a big role in helping you to shoot really low scores especially if you already have good swing mechanics and a solid short game. Too many golfers do not have a plan mentally to approach the game and this costs them an unnecessary number of strokes each round. Here are some tips on the mental game that can help you play better golf:

Tip 1: Execute Proper Course Management

Most amateurs are very poor at managing a golf course and try to play the heroic shots that the commentators on television talk about and some of the professionals on tour like to hit from difficult situations. The best approach as far as course management is to have a conservative strategy but an aggressive swing. You need to know what you are capable of doing and play within yourself and only hit the high percentage shots. Do not let what other people in your group are doing influence your decision off the tee. Remember that your main competitor is the golf course itself and your goal is to post the lowest score you are capable of on that day.

Tip 2: Develop a Solid Pre Shot Routine

Having a good pre shot routine will help you to be a more consistent player since it will help to get you physically and mentally prepared for every shot. There are 2 aspects to the routine and they include the mental and physical routine. The mental routine is more important however a consistent physical routine can aid and support the mental routine also. Try to be flexible in your physical routine and allow yourself to take extra practice swings if necessary at times. The key aspect of the mental routine is how you think before you strike the ball.

It is important to clear your mind and focus only on the target when you swing the club. You need to trust that you have trained your swing enough on the range to be able to hit the ball well on the course. If you constantly think about swing mechanics then this will affect your ability to play well especially under pressure. Do not worry if you find your heart racing and even your hand shaking a little during a competition as this is normal and you should even try to enjoy it as it is simply a surge of adrenalin going through your system. Just look and react to your targets and this will allow you to hit the best shots in those situations.

Tip 3: Think Positive

You know you need to do this but most people have a bad habit of dwelling on their bad shots. This can really suck the enjoyment out the game so relax and even laugh a little when you find yourself hitting some bad shots. Remember that golf is a game of mistakes and then recovering from those mistakes as fast as possible. Try some of these golf mental game strategies to help you reduce your handicap faster.

Joe is an author and webmaster. Learn how to golf quickly and easily at our site. We also have many tips to help you improve starting with useful golf driving tips to help you hit those long and straight drives which will make the game so much easier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Kensingtons
http://EzineArticles.com/?Golf---Mental-Game-Strategies-to-Help-You-Shoot-Low-Scores-Fast&id=1613178

I don't really need to let you know that golf really is a mental game. It is also very humbling too. I am sure you have experienced those amazing purple patches when anything you do seems to come off. You just seem to be in the groove and then... bam... you lose it... seemingly.

Trying too hard can be one of the worst tactics to use. Then of course there can be the YIPS. Yips is a term used specifically in golf. It is a freeing up of, shaking or tremors felt in the arm when a golfer is about to swing the golf club. It is considered to be a psychological issue although it manifests itself physically.

Self hypnosis is ideal for helping your mental game. You may be surprised to discover how many sportsmen and women use improvement techniques like self hypnosis. Now you can join these professionals and improve your game