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Concentrate. Up your game. Think positive.
These are some of the phrases that a lot of us have said to ourselves when we are playing your favorite sport or doing an interesting activity, such as biking or running. We are required to focus on staying active and utilizing our learned skills in order to succeed. During moments like these, your mental state is vital, particularly when you’re playing golf. The speed of the game – walking through the range, getting ready for the shot, and observing your opponent’s game plan – guarantees sufficient time to contemplate each movement that you make.
There are times, though, when scrutinizing a hole too much will add pressure to you mentally – something that you don’t really need. Or perhaps you are distracted by a deadline at work while you’re playing, and you are thinking about it while you’re attempting to make a great swing. And you can ask any golf enthusiast who has played regular golf – they know that you won’t get a good shot if you’re disturbed mentally.
On the contrary, if you keep getting out of the range, viewing the beautiful landscape, enjoying the great weather, and releasing whatever is distracting you, then you’ll feel relaxed and subsequently be able to concentrate on the several factors that are associated with the game.
Learn these skills to help you improve on your mental golf game and, in turn, boost your mental health.
Imagine Your Best Game
This technique is frequently used by the golf masters, but any golf lover can definitely do it. Choose a quiet time, preferably before heading to bed, and then play a mental game as if you were watching a movie inside your head. Imagine that it begins with a tee-off, and then you can simply roll the film to how you would like the round to continue. You might not foresee each shot, but that is normal, of course. Nevertheless, this mental practice will help you perceive the appropriate situation – your body mechanics, your putt, and your swing – and ready your mind to keep calm when the moment arrives.
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Create A Routine
Doing the same movements each time you make a shot can definitely help you concentrate. Just imagine the tennis players when they’re preparing to serve, or baseball players about to hit the ball – they practice routine motions that make them ready and comfortable to perform. Your routine may require some breathing exercises, short visualizations of the taking the shot, conditioning your hands, or self-talk about what you desire to happen (‘my swing will be perfect’).
Calm Your Eyes
You heard this in the past: Keep your eyes on the ball. This familiar tried-and-tested suggestion is repeated, regardless of whether it’s about the NBA championships, a child’s baseball game, or a golf game. Some seasoned athletes, including golf masters, really use state-of-the-art glasses that keep track of eye motions – comprehending where precisely they’re looking can guide them in adjusting the way they focus on their ball. You can do visual control by yourself. Experts suggest following a system that entails swiftly moving your fixation between the hole and the ball for a few seconds, then prior to swinging, concentrate on the back of the ball for another few seconds prior to and just after hitting it with the club.
Don’t Think About Your Last Hole
It is already frustrating to take a bad shot, but it’s even more frustrating if you let it ruin your next one – so don’t let it. A difficult hole – which can be your first drive, a wind blowing over, a bunker, or some other instant was gone bad – can certainly be disappointing. However, being able to let that instant go will help you move forward victoriously. Don’t spend time sulking over that one mistake of the day. Use it to go between holes and resetting the start button to prepare you for the next shot. In fact, you might want to set the cart aside and work your body by walking through the course with your club. Several studies have shown that golf players who walked the golf course had bigger scores, maybe because navigating the greeneries by foot enabled them to be familiar with the terrain and have time to think about their next move.
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Learn To Relax
Muscle tension can have some negative effects on your swing, and ultimately your score. However, through some basic strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation, you will learn to keep your muscles loose. Learn these strategies while you’re at home. Lying on your back or sitting down, literally tense each muscle group of your body, starting with the muscles of your feet, contracting them isometrically for five seconds, and then release the tension and relax them totally for about 30 seconds. Move to your calf and thigh muscles, butt, abs, arms, and finally, your hands, contracting them voluntarily and then releasing and loosening each of them.
When you’ve gotten used to it, you can progress to doing short relaxation techniques while you’re standing on the course waiting for your host. Try doing this a few times a week for three consecutive months.