6 Ways To Reduce Stress While Golfing

Have you experienced golfing? Most people think that golfing is a perfect stress reliever because of the beautiful scenery, like having wide open spaces, and it is very peaceful and quiet. Unfortunately, for some professional and passionate players they could see it as something that would give them stress, especially if they are in-game, and they cannot hit the goal or sometimes if they are with their friends and his friends are making fun of them because he is a player, yet he can’t still hit the goal. Yes, it could give you a lot of stress if ever that happens.

“Everyone handles positive and negative stress differently. And yes, for some, positive stress can lead to a negative response to stress, depending on the situation.” –Jessica Harris, LCPC, LPC

There are six tips in reducing stress while golfing.

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First, do some warm-up exercises. Warm-up exercise is very important when it comes to doing physical activities. Before being serious about playing, you should relieve all the bad swings in your system before the game. You need that for you to reduce some negativities before you play.

Second, putt. For your confidence to boost, you need this. Just try sinking 5-foot putts, and you are good. Just do it over and over again until you can already feel that you are good enough to play.

Third, have a positive mind. You need to be a positive thinker for you to feel better. Yes, it might be cliché, but it helps. A positive mind would bring you a positive outcome. Have you tried to bring positive? It brings out all the best in you, right?

Fourth, avoid yourself to be surrounded by negativities–the exact opposite of the third tip. If you are negative, this is where stress starts to take place. Negativities are like demons; they bring out the bad vibes in yourself. You easily doubt yourself, etc.

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Fifth, take a deep breath. We all know that stress is not just a mental aspect, but it is also a physical aspect. You need to breathe like inhale and exhale, even just for several seconds. Repeat several times until you can feel that you are in a better condition for you to focus and succeed.

Lastly, stay social. Golf is not just a game. There are also other people involved in this, which is why being sociable is very important. If you are not that friendly, then you could lead to some fights, and that would inevitably cause you some stress.

“Research tells us that this is a common experience for those under stress. Everyone experiences stress, and up to a certain level, it can be helpful. Yet, stress can negatively impact one’s normal daily functioning or health.”  Edna M. Esnil, PsyD said. Yes, stress is normal, but too much stress can lead to some serious problems; this is why it is essential to know the different tips for reducing it, specifically in playing golf.

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For us to stay safe in doing some physical activities like golf, we need to follow these tips. Besides, it is only for your good. Stress is not that easy to handle, but once you know how to handle it, then you will get used to it, and that’s it. These tips would help a lot. “Some stress is unavoidable, but if you can keep perspective, then it can be a whole lot easier.” Gretchen Flores, MA LPC LCPC, said. There is no harm in following these since it is just straightforward; not only will you have a pleasant and fun game, but you are also going to benefit from winning.

Play Golf, For A Healthier You

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Golf is a very popular sport. It is played around the world. You do not need to be a top athlete to play it. Individuals of different ages and varying abilities can play it. Golf can be played individually, or it can be played in teams. It can be a competitive sport, or it can be a leisurely recreational activity.

The players use golf clubs (a variety of sticks that are tipped with iron or wood) to strike a golf ball, which is small and hard. The object of the game is to aim the golf ball into a series of holes. The number of times you strike the ball is counted, and the player with the lowest number of strokes wins.

It is played outdoors in a vast grassy playing area that can contain as little as nine holes and as many as eighteen holes. Unlike other ball games, the playing field used by golf is not standardized. The areas between the holes that the golf players encounter will vary and will contain differing hazards, such as rocky areas, sand traps, and bodies of water. These hazards add difficulty to the game of golf.

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Benefits Of Playing Golf

Playing golf can benefit your health in general and your heart in particular. That is because “The more you are active, the more you decrease your risk for chronic diseases, including cancer.” Whittney Thoman, Senior Exercise Physiologist, said. Golf requires you to walk an average of three to five kilometers. If you play an eighteen-hole game of golf three to five times per week, you will be giving your heart an adequate amount of cardiovascular exercise. If you do not hire a caddy or use a golf cart, you will be carrying or pulling a heavy bag of golf clubs. This will mean additional calories will be burned, and other health benefits for you. Regularly playing golf keeps you physically fit. It also improves endurance and muscle tone. And it helps you lower your body fat and lose weight.

“There are so many ways stress creeps into our lives, yet if we take control of our time and make proactive and healthy decisions, we can stop these negative cycles and truly take care of our mental health.” Sonja Seglin, LCPC said. Playing golf can also help in lowering stress. It provides a physical activity that relieves stress. And the pleasurable feeling you get while walking through Mother Nature helps ease the mind.

A game of golf can also have social benefits. It is an excellent way of meeting new people. And it is a great way of socializing with your family and friends.

How To Start Playing

A game of golf can be delightful. It can also be an excellent opportunity for socializing. Even while playing against other individuals, you can also play against yourself and try to get a better score.

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An excellent way to start playing golf is to hire a golf instructor to teach you the necessary skills before you start playing on a golf course. You and a group of your friends can also enjoy a few games of golf, learning as you play.

Initially, you may want to rent golf clubs whenever you play. When you start improving, you may wish to purchase your own set of golf clubs. If you are really into playing golf, you might want to buy custom-made golf clubs.

How To Prevent Injuries

Golf is relatively leisurely compared to other sports and, as such, has a lower risk of injury. But it is still a sport and injuries may happen. Most common injuries occur to the eye, the head, the elbow, the wrist, and the lower back. These injuries may be caused by an exacerbation of a previous injury, striking the ground instead of striking the golf ball, using the incorrect technique and overuse.

“For starters, exercise releases endorphins, the body’s “feel-good hormones,” that can calm the mind and relax the body.” Clinical psychologist Jenny C. Yip, PsyD, said. And to avoid injuries, you should stretch and warm up before a game of golf. It is advisable to hire an instructor to teach you the proper techniques as well as the etiquette and rules of playing golf. Stand well away from a player who is swinging a golf club. And use appropriate golf equipment.

What You Should Know Before You Play Golf

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Everybody will tell you that playing golf is fun. But they will not tell you about some things about golf. Here are some items that you should know before you play golf.

Fairways Are Not Created Equal.

Fairway is that part of the golf course that is located between the golf putting green and the tee box. The grass on the fairway is cut short enough so that shots off it is easier to hit. However, the grass on the fairway is not cut as short as the grass on the golf course.

The rules of golf do not require all fairways to be smooth, and they are not all the same. There are fairways that are undulating, causing what you believe to be a straight and perfect drive to ricochet into an area where making a recovery shot is tough.

Do Not Expect Golfers To Yell “Fore.”

Everybody, even people who do not play golf, knows that you are expected to shout the word “fore” to warn other golf players that a wayward golf ball is heading their way and is likely to hit them. It is supposed to be part of the proper etiquette of golf. Unfortunately, since the drive is wayward and embarrassingly unexpected, the golf player making the awkward shot is often caught by surprise. In their panic, they might fumble something incomprehensible, but they seldom have the presence of mind to shout the word “fore.”

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Low Irons Are Difficult To Hit.

Irons are types of golf clubs used to strike the golf ball towards the hole. They can be numbered from zero to twelve. The iron numbered one is called the driving iron, while irons numbered from two to four are called long irons. The driving iron and the long irons are tough to hit because they have tiny, striking faces.

The driving iron is notoriously difficult to hit because it has the least surface area on its face. It is often said that if you are in a course and there is a thunderstorm coming, hold up a driving iron to evade lightning – even God can’t hit it.

Golf Courses And Driving Ranges Are Not The Same.

Driving ranges are areas where golf players can practice their golf swing. It is also a great place to relieve stress, and many amateur golf players use driving ranges as a recreational activity in itself. Of course, the primary purpose of driving ranges is to practice your golf swing in preparation for playing on an actual golf course. But in reality, do not expect your time in the driving range to matter much when you play on the golf course.

Do Not Dress Flamboyantly. 

You may be tempted to emulate the famous golf player William Payne Stewart and dress flamboyantly in patterned pants and ivy caps. If you have not won three major championships, then resist the temptation.

Do Not Aim For Style When Making Shots.

Stylish shots may make you look nice, but they do not always succeed in giving you high scores. Aim for flat and low shots. They may not look nice, but it is your score that matters most.

Golf Is Not Easy.

You might think golf is easy when you look at other golf players play golf. But in reality, it is not an easy game to play. It takes hours of practice or even years of playing it to master.

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It Is Exercise.

You will be walking at least eight kilometers while carrying on your back a heavy bag of fourteen metal clubs. Unless you hire a caddy to carry your golf bag for you or ride around the golf course in a golf cart, playing golf can be good exercise. But do not expect your non-golf-playing friends to believe you.

Your Games Can Get Worse.

If you are having a particularly bad day on the golf course, you might think your performance cannot go any lower. Unfortunately, that is not true. It can get worse.

You Can Still Have Fun Even If You’re Not Good At Golf.

Unlike most sports activities, golf is one game in which you can have fun while playing even though you are going to get the worst golf score in the history of the sport.