Tip From the Archives
Trying to Rattle You
Problem
You are easily psyched out by comments made by other players while golfing.
Cure
Telling you to ignore these statements probably will not do you any good. You can mentally prepare yourself for the statements and find a positive twist to the situation.
Therapy
Take notes and allow the other player to see this. Tell them that it is a good one and that you need to write it down. Do it with a friendly smile. This will send the tension back to the other player because either they did not get under your skin as they wanted to or because you called them out on what they were doing. This will also give you a way to channel this feeling and buy you an extra minute to relax. Later that night, write down all of the statements that have bothered you in the past. Why did it bother you so much? Did you see any truth in these statements? Is it an indicator to you that you need to work on a specific aspect of your game? They are only deflecting their own insecurities. Even if they are ahead at the time, they are feeling threatened by your skills. The next time this happens to you on the course, take pride in the fact that they are trying to rattle you because it is a sign that you are doing something right and you are intimidating them simply by playing. Use this to fuel positive energy and pride in your game.
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