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Writer's pictureGeoff Greig

Mental Performance Training for Golf: Lower Your Scores with Better Bad Shots

𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫


• Your best shots are your "ceiling".

• Your worst shots are your "floor".


The fastest way to shoot lower scores is to "Raise Your Floor".


There's nothing wrong with "Raising Your Ceiling".


It's fun to improve the quality of your best shots.


BUT:


  • "Raising Your Ceiling" means lots and lots of correct PHYSICAL swing repetitions.

  • "Raising Your Floor" doesn't require any PHYSICAL swing repetitions.


You just need to train your MIND... to be able to minimize "distractions/noise" like pressure, expectations and emotions.


When you strengthen your mental game so you can "quiet" distractions on command... Your floor shots get better IMMEDIATELY.


Better floor shots GUARANTEES better scores.



Tip #1 - Quiet the Noise


One of the biggest differences between your best shots and your worst shots... is what's going on in your head.


Your worst shots are a result of too much NOISE in your mind.


Examples of Noise:


  • Swing thoughts

  • Score thoughts

  • Emotions

  • Expectations


Swing thoughts and score thoughts are you talking to yourself... telling yourself what to do.


Emotions and expectations are you talking to yourself... about what you want in the future or what you didn't want in the past.


It's all Talking.


Mental/Emotional NOISE that you are creating... that does not help you hit better shots.


Your best shots happen when your conscious mind is quiet... and it is not giving you directions on what it wants to happen.



Tip #2 - Tune Your Pre Shot Routine


Most golfers have a pre-shot routine.


It is an important part of the process of preparation for each shot.


HOWEVER


Only the best golfers include MENTAL PREPARATION in their pre-shot process.


Optimizing your grip, posture and alignment alone is NOT enough preparation to make sure you are hitting more "ceiling shots" and more importantly raising the quality of your "floor shots".


The optimum pre-shot process is... to turn up the volume dial of your SENSES and listen to what the golf course is telling you and listen to what your body is doing while you are swinging.


Choose the goal for your shot and then just let it happen.


LISTEN to how your subconscious decides to hit the shot and be excited / curious for what your subconscious is going to come up with.


If you've never tried listening as opposed to talking before... it's going to take some practice.


But it's worth it.


Just ask Tiger:



Tip #3 - Focus on the Shot... NOT the Score


Most golfers constantly worry about their SCORE.


• the last hole

• the next hole

• the round

• the tournament


𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝.


The more you worry about SCORE... the less you are focused on hitting the SHOTS that will give you a good score.


The more you worry about SCORE... the more NOISE you are creating and the lower your chances get for raising the quality of your "floor shots".


The best place to put your energy, your intent and your focus... is on the SHOT you are hitting.


It is what you have the most control over AND what ultimately creates your score.


If you are worrying about the past or the future... you are just stealing energy, intent and focus that you could be using to hit a better SHOT in the present moment.


Here is an analogy:


If you are taking a test in school the way to get the best possible grade (score) for the test... is to put all your focus and energy into answering each individual question (hitting the shot) as best you can.


𝑮𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 "𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓" 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒕.



Strive for the Ceiling

Raise the Floor


Even the best golfers in the world only hit a few Peak Quality "Ceiling Shots" every round.  


Hogan was quoted as saying he only expected to hit 3 -5 Peak Quality Shots on his very best days.


It is great to set a high, long-term goal to "Strive for the Ceiling" but it is equally important to accept and enjoy a short term, achievable goal.


This means that the primary daily focus for improved play is to bring "Floor Shots" closer to the "Ceiling Shots".


The higher the quality of the "Floor Shots" the better your overall Shot Quality and the faster your confidence will grow.

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