RESULTS
There are many things that are out of our control on the course. Unfortunately, no one has any control over the results, 0%. While we can influence what type of result we may have as a player, results are nonetheless out of our control.
The most common type of result is the score. Focusing on the score (result) is normal, yet it takes away from what is really important and that is your approach to the next shot. Things happen on the course that may not reflect how well the shot was executed. For instance, a bad bounce, a bad lie, an opponents great play, or a tough bunker shot, are all results, yet do not reflect how well an actual shot was executed.
Also, the score never helps your actual game! Often a player who starts out well may feel the need to “keep playing well,” whereas a player who starts out slow may feel a need to “catch up.” When a player starts paying attention to the score, he/she puts more pressure on himself or herself, and play suffers. When things are going well, it is easier to keep positive and just play the game; the problem often arises when the score does not reflect the execution.
APPROACH
Your approach to the next shot is 100% in your control. There are no guarantees in sports or life, but if you have a good approach for every shot, then you are giving yourself the best possible chance to succeed. However, if you forfeit your approach by not physically and mentally preparing yourself, then performing on a consistent basis will become unlikely.
Having a good physical approach often means taking care of your body, working hard in practice, and practicing correct mechanics. A good mental approach in the heart of competition means focusing only on the execution of the next shot. By concentrating only on this shot, you are taking control of your performance.
So, what is the best way to focus on this shot? Remember, you must know yourself and be your own best friend on the field. So, always keep your approach simple.
Simple is powerful! When things are going great, our focus is simple; it is only on where we want the ball to go. This is a powerful type of focus and we must have trust in ourselves to maintain this type of focus. This mental skill can be enhanced and should be practiced! A perfect setting for practicing this type of focus could be practice rounds or actual practice sessions.
Another powerful, yet simple approach is to focus only on one part of our execution. Often referred to as “swing thoughts,” these should be one mechanical thought, or better yet, one feeling that you want to have. Examples can include the keys of “follow-through” or Sam Snead’s “oily”. The most important aspect is to repeat this thought throughout the entire shot. This type of approach is based on the fact that we can only concentrate on one thing at a time, so trust ONE part of our execution. Whichever type of focus you pick as a golfer, keep it simple!
Rob Bell M.Ed is a doctoral candidate in Sport Psychology at the University of Tennessee and can be reached at (865)-591-7730 or rbell2@utk.edu, to order your copy of the mental rehearsal CD.
His dissertation topic addresses helping golfers with the Yips.
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