Golf Tips For Beginners: The Mental Game
By Kerry Graylor
A game of golf ought to be a pleasant experience, and golf tips for beginners often fail to prepare you for the dark side. If you lose your temper every time you make a bad shot, your game will probably go from bad to worse and so will your relationships with other players. You will enjoy the game much more if you can learn to accept your bad shots and move on.
Remember that everyone varies in their ability to play the game and it is not always about experience. It can be frustrating when someone new to the game is much better than you are but physical ability, especially flexibility, is very important in golf. If you have less flexibility in your back and shoulders or suffer from arthritis, your game will be affected.
You may be able to take exercise to increase your flexibility. Exercises that involve slow movement such as yoga, tai chi or qi gung are ideal. Working on your body will also help to ground you psychologically.
A good idea is to decide on a game plan before you arrive at the course and then keep to it. Even if it does not seem to be going well, you will learn more from this experience than if you change your strategy at every hole. For example, try going for a safer shot than you would usually take. This kind of experiment can teach you a lot about your own game.
Accept your bad shots, but focus on the positive. Let the bad shot go and remind yourself of what was great about the shot that you made previously. You can even try speaking your positive affirmations aloud. Do all you can to trick yourself into feeling pleased with your game. Visualize your ball rolling straight over the green into the hole. Do this at every shot.
There is no need to be embarrassed if you play badly. Nobody is perfect and nobody plays the perfect game of golf. Did you ever hear of anyone playing a whole round of holes in one? Focus on your strengths and on enjoying the game. Sometimes you can have a run of playing badly, but do not worry, it will not be permanent. If you are well matched with your playing partners, things will go the other way soon.
Breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birdsong and enjoy the day whatever the weather and whatever your score. Golf is great exercise and has the potential to keep you fit into old age -- provided you stay relaxed and accepting of your game.
For more golf tips for beginners, take some advice from the professionals in a golf book or DVD
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