During the press conference ahead of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, Phil Mickelson gave us an insight into how he stayed sharp during his 6 week break from the game. He explained that “mental rehearsal is just as important as physical rehearsal”. He went on to describe how, although he was not able to swing a golf club, he was able to keep his touch by visualizing shots and feeling them with his practice swings. He was actually able to practice, without being on the driving range or golf course. This tells us a lot about the application and power of the mental game for the world’s best. They know how important a strong routine of visualization and feel is to their game and they continually work on improving it. Simplify your game by thinking more in this way, instead of always working on technique. This has nothing to do with your physical ability, it’s about learning to synchronize your body and mind with a clearly defined visual goal. This is the way to play better golf. As Phil explains, this is something you can work on without a golf club, so there is no excuse for not practicing a better mental game.

* photo courtesy of Daily Mail, UK.