GOLFMEDIC

Tip From the Archives

Congratulate Yourself

Problem

You get depressed every time you hit a poor shot.

Cure

Make the decision not to allow a bad shot to affect your game. Do not dwell on where the ball landed. Instead, congratulate yourself for each good shot on the course. These are the kind of shots you want to dwell about and replay in your mind. After you make a great shot, remember how the swing felt, the sensation you experienced at contact, and how you just knew you hit a great shot before the ball even stopped flying through the air.

Therapy

Always use a consistent preshot routine to help you to relax, focus your mind, and rehearse a swing that can easily reach your target. When you are upset, your muscles tense up and are not able to swing naturally. So, you just made a bad shot. It is time to accept this as a fact and form a positive thought immediately after this happens. Try replacing this memory with a positive image; such as imagining that you hit the ball exactly as you wanted to and you have a great lie. Even if you get to your ball and the lie is difficult, accept this ball position as an opportunity to challenge or improve your shot making skills. If the lie is good, congratulate yourself for having such a good lie and be positive about your next shot. When you set up to the ball again, know exactly where you are going to land the ball and visualize the ball flying into the air and landing at this location. Make sure your target area is well within your skill level. Know that you can make it to this area and that you have indeed selected the correct club to do it.

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