Like every sport, golf is about more than just simple athletics. There’s a mental component to every physical game, and golf is no exception. In many ways, golf has more of a psychological component than most sports. That’s why when working on improving your swing, it’s important to remember the mental side of the sport.
At Burl Oaks Golf Club, our practice facilities are a perfect place to work on improving your mental golf game. We’ve gathered some top mental golf tips to help you master the sport. To get your golf club membership, give us a call today.
1. Practice Without Distractions
When you work out, there’s a good chance you’re rocking out to your favorite high-energy playlist, and few things go better with a daily walk than a good podcast. If you look around the driving range, you’ll likely see a few golfers with earbuds. But if you struggle with concentration, it’s probably better to keep your headspace clear of distractions like music and podcasts.
2. Don’t Let Bad Shots Get in Your Head
One of the best ways to sabotage your swing is to ruminate over what you feel you could have done differently. Not only will this keep your mind off focus, but it will also very likely put you in a negative mood. Try to get into the habit of moving on from bad shots and getting them out of your head.
3. Set More Realistic Goals
There’s nothing wrong with imagining yourself playing a PGA-level round. But if you’ve got a high handicap, it’s probably not going to happen immediately. Instead of setting goals you can’t reasonably accomplish, remind yourself that it takes time to get perfect. Instead, set goals focusing on improving your swing, accuracy, and speed rather than dramatically reducing your handicap.
4. Keep a Record
Hold yourself accountable while establishing a routine by keeping a record of your practice goals and sessions. You’d be surprised at how far you’ve come once you begin monitoring your progress. There are several apps you can download for your phone if you prefer to go digital.
5. Focus On Your Health
It’s easier to control your body and mind when your health is in good order. Keep your mind and body sharp by prioritizing important health choices like hydration and stretching before you play.
6. Focus On the Game
When playing golf, you must focus entirely on the game. Your focus on the game would eventually decide the skills you will develop in the long run, as well as your overall performance in the game.
Your golf skills would only improve with focused practice and dedication to the game. People tend to get distracted easily while playing golf, affecting their performance.
7. Be Mentally Prepared
It always helps to be mentally prepared when it comes to golf. Golf is not like other games where you have limited control. In golf, you have complete control of your shots. You can take that opportunity to be mentally prepared, devise a strategy, and take your shots accordingly.
Always keep in mind that honing golf skills takes time and effort!
8. Warm Up Your Mind and Body
Before you start playing, you should focus on warming up your body for the game. This will help promote blood flow to your brain, improving your focus on the game.
Additionally, you get to stretch your arm muscles, which can help avoid injuries while playing.
9. Appreciate Your Progress
In the race to keep doing more, we often forget to appreciate how far we’ve come. This applies to golf too. Instead of beating yourself up about losing that particular game, you should look back on how far you’ve come.
Appreciating your progress might also help you notice where you stand at the moment and the steps needed to help you achieve your next golf goals.
Spend More Time On the Burl Oaks Golf Course in Minnesota!
Are you ready to improve your handicap? Set up your next practice time on our driving range at Burl Oaks Golf Club in Minnetrista today. Contact us on the web, or call to schedule your practice time at 952-472-7017.