IG166 MAY 19

May 2019 www.insidegolf.com.au Instruction 40 5 symptoms (and 5 fixes) of mental game problems T here’s some incredible equipment out in the market now. Just when you think things can’t get any better, along comes some more amazing equipment, even if you don’t understand some of the technology itself. As soon as they’re released, there are videos, articles and blogs testing everything from launch angle to spin rate to smash factor and shot dispersion to name a few. But what does it really mean for the club golfer? Over the years since metal woods were introduced, the club golfer’s handicap hasn’t changed as much as you might have imagined. Since 1992, according to the USGA, the average handicap for male golfers has dropped from 16.3 to 14.4 in 2017 and from 29 to 27 for women. That’s two shots, which with all the research, development and money that’s been spent, it doesn’t seem a huge amount. Why such a low rate of improvement with all this amazing equipment available? We have to look a little deeper than just the equipment. In other words, the ‘operator’. In the right hands, namely professionals, they can achieve amazing results and improvements. Average club golfers cannot be expected to reach the same levels of performance as a professional, obviously. They train longer, harder, more often than the average club golfer. The majority also eat differently. They have different routines and habits. It’s their profession, not a hobby. However, the biggest factor I believe is they have a different mental game. 4) You get angry when you miss a short putt or three-putt from a short distance and struggle on the next hole or two. 5) You’ve got a really good score going and you suddenly start to worry that you’re not going to be able to keep it going and hold it together to the end of the round. These are all examples of the mind being in control and getting in the way when we’re playing. If you’ve experienced any of these, here are some ways to that may help improve your mental game: 1) Use routines not your emotions. Build set routines, from when you arrive at the course, during and after the round. For example, a solid pre-shot routine helps automate your game and limits emotional interference. 2) Focus. Learn to recognise what you’re focusing on. Focusing on hazards and mistakes will only lead to negative reactions. If you notice you start feeling angry or frustrated, you’re focusing on the past. If you start feeling anxious, you’re focusing on Greg Norman was asked a few years ago how he would stack up against the players of today if he had the use of all of modern equipment. His reply was succinct. “Listen, it’s not about the gear. Winning is about what’s in your heart and in your head”. Powerful stuff indeed, and I believe he’s right. The difference between average and high performers is simply the way they think and their mindset when facing challenges. It’s easy to get sucked into thinking it’s the new irons, the putter or the ball that’s not working. So here’s 5 ways to tell if it’s a mental issue: 1) You get anxious when approaching a shot or standing over your ball 2) You manage to hit it great on the range but can’t quite seem to replicate it on the course. 3) You seem to make more mistakes when you’re under pressure. something in the future. Learning to focus on the shot in hand helps keep you present and stops the mind from wandering. 3) Practise with more pressure. Hitting a bucket of 40-50 balls then heading to the course does nothing for your mind or game. There’s no pressure to perform and when you are on the course you have only one ball in play, you can’t simply dig out another one when you want. Recreate the same pressure on the range that you want to happen on the course. Top players view pressure as a challenge, not a threat. When we change the way we look at pressure it changes the way we perform, mentally and physically. 4) Learn an attitude of acceptance. You cannot change the shot you’ve just played, and holding onto negative thoughts and emotions is only going to make things worse. Develop a release trigger, for example putting the putter cover back is the signal to release the thought. Tiger Woods’ trigger was counting to 10 and then it’s forgotten. 5) Finally have fun. We all start out playing the game to have fun, but the competitive nature of golf can cause us to forget this vital element and we often end up being frustrated and anxious, which affects our swing and our results. They may take a little time to get used to, but building healthy habits will go a long way to improving your game and your enjoyment. James Bargeron is a UK-based performance coach and trainer that helps optimise performance on and off the course. He helps golfers develop the mental strategies, attitudes, and resilience needed to become a high performer. www.golfing-minds.com. james@golfing-minds.com Practising with pressure, like many professionals do, is one way to boost your overall mental game James Bargeron james@golfing-minds.com www.keperragolf.com.au QLD Club of the Year keperragolf.com.au