The Golf Mind: You Will Never Be Golf’s Master
Article by Richard Tyler
In this article, we are going to discuss the proper golf mind. Most of us don’t have it. A few, like Tiger Woods, certainly do. Today, we will look at a few essential thoughts that you need to have to improve your golf game.
We have all heard that golf is a game that is played “90% between the ears”. Obviously, this means that the proper golf thoughts are essential. Ironically though, few of us actually think enough about golf before we play. We bash balls for hours at the range and we usually get frustrated with each subsequent poor shot. Yet, this does not count as thought. It is action–physical practice–and it is bad practice at that.
One of the infrequently acknowledged things that we love about sports, and golf in particular, is this: It cannot be mastered.
Yet, each time that we go out to play we attempt to “master” the game and it cannot be done. Thus, we are left feeling dejected and that all of our practice yielded nothing.
Have you ever noticed that you typically play the back nine holes faster than the front nine? If you play a lot of public golf in California, as I do, you surely realize that 18 holes of golf takes a lot time. However, the back nine always goes faster.
Why do people play the back nine faster than the front nine? The reason is this: Golfers start hole #1 with high expectations, expectations of mastery. Their golf dreams for that day are quickly dashed, perhaps even on the first hole, as their hopes of becoming a par golfer are left unrealized.
Then, on the back nine, these people simply relax and play the game, not obsessing about their score–since that was already destroyed with two eights on the front side–and they begin to play better golf.
Two of the keys to great golf are humility and relaxation.
Humility allows us to realize that we can never be golf’s master. It will always be ours. The best female golfer of our day, Annika Sorenstam, has said that she will never be truly satisfied with her results until she shoots a 54. That’s a birdie on every hole which she never accomplished. Golf is a humbling game even for the world’s best golfers.
Allowing yourself to be humbled in the game of golf will allow you to enjoy the game of golf and relax. Relaxation is essential to a great game of golf.
If you are a fan of the game of golf, you watch a lot of it on TV. How often have you seen the best golfers in the world make an ugly swing? It does not happen frequently.
Two of the best golfers on the senior tour right now are Fred Funk and Loren Roberts. Using readily available Taylor Made Drivers, each of them swing easy and relaxed and both drive the golf ball straight down the middle an average of 270 yards.
So the next time you go out for a round of golf, remember two things. One, learn from your mistakes without getting frustrated. You will never be golf’s master. And two, make sure your swing is relaxed and flowing by asking yourself: Would that swing have looked good on TV?
About the Author
Watch these free how to play golf videos to learn how to swing a golf club properly and much more. The author, Richard Tyler, is an avid golfer and proprietor of your home for how to videos, ThisIsHowYouDoIt.com.