Lets have fun creating a Better Golfing Attitude!!

I recently asked the question, “What % of this great golf of golf is mental".

The answers I got ranged from 20% to 100%.

If the mental game is so important, the next question is “How much time, effort and resources do you spend on the mental game?

The answer is normally zero to 5%.

Now how can this be, why would me spend so little time and effort on area of our game that is by far the most important?

Over the next month I want to give you an insight of some of the important parts to develop a stronger mental game!! 

The goal of this game is GIVE YOURSELF THE BEST CHANCE TO HIT A GOOD SHOT!!

Now how we do this is focus our energy into the things that you can control!!!!

 - Preparation (types of preparation)

1) How you prepare for the events (Golf Coaching, practise schedule and training)

2) Building a game plan and creating yardage book for the tournament (homework)

3) Preparation for the golf shot - giving you the best chance to hit a good shot (pre-shot routine)

 - Attitude (how we are going to act, your self-talk and how we talk to others about our golf game)

Now how you think about your game and how you talk to other golfers has a huge impact on your self -belief, which ultimately effects your confidence.
 How many times have you heard that golf is a game of confidence. Your attitude and self-belief controls your confidence, so you control your attitude then you control your confidence!!

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This say that your self-belief ( confidence starts at 10) , everytime you hit a bad shot and react you drop down one point, when you finish your round of golf and try everyone about the 3 putt you had on the 14th hole you lose 2 points. What you are doing pushing your self-belief down and down. 
Solution - When you hit a good shot and tell yourself well done , this gains a point, come in after the round tell everyone about the great your tee shot was up 11th hole , gain 2 points. If you write down your great shot for the day and read them you gain 5 point!! The more you can remember and talk about your good shots and better you feel about your game and the greater the confidence you will have.
You need to decide how you want to feel about your game and it starts with attitude !!
My challenge to you is to start now. Take hold of your attitude towards yourself and towards your game!!


Sadly most golfers do the  opposite they focus on things out of their control, such as

-  score and positon

- Dwelling on past holes (cannot change what has already happened)

- What others think about your game?

- Course condition

- Weather

- Playing partners

- Selections and how others are playing

Now looking at these lists, where do you spend most of your time???

Start focusing on your preparation and attitude. These things can be predetermined especially how you talk to others about your game and creating a game plan that promotes your strengths in your golf game.

One solution you can do is if someone asks you the commen question " how do you go", if you didnt play the way you wanted just tell them the facts. I had 78 and that is it!! Then you dont have talk about your round and explain and bad shots!!
An extreme way to deal with golfers talking about how bad they played or how bad they are at putting , is just walk away. If you want to become a better putter, start practising and playing with these players who putt well and listen to them talk about there putting!! 
Remember the goal - give yourself the best chance to hit a good shot!! If you focus on the things you cannot control you will make this goal extremely hard!!
My challenge to you is to start now. Take hold of your attitude towards yourself and towards your game!!

Join me next week and we will look at the secret to staying focused for the whole round/event.

Ben Gallie

NZPGA Golf Professional

Certified Golf Performance Coach