Golfers tend to think that if they could play every shot as if it were in practice, they would see a huge improvement in their scores.

This just simply isn’t true. The first and most important thing to understand here is that this energy, which we perceive to be negative, can be harnessed into a positive force more powerful that you can ever imagine.

Whether it be fear of poor play in front of playing partners, not playing to your own expectations or not playing well in that big competition, there are several reasons which give you that emotion we call “nerves”. You get nervous because what you are doing means a lot to you and you are greatly concerned by what might happen in the future. This in itself could be considered a positive. But we immediately think nerves are bad because we are used to associating them with fear and doubt, and then ultimately not playing to our potential.

If we can start putting a positive association with those feelings, we will no longer fear them but play better as a result.

Realize this – you will never “get rid of nerves”, you will just learn how to use them to become a better player. The best players in the world actually welcome nerves, as it increases their intensity and focus. It lets them know they are in contention and in a mental state that makes them capable of playing their best. Experience with managing this emotion and turning it into a positive will allow you to start realizing your potential as a golfer.

None of us know exactly what we are capable of doing or becoming in this world. But what we can say for sure, is that if we never leave our “comfort zone” we will never find out just how good we can be.

When we are out of our comfort zone we are in the realm of the unknown and this feeling of being frightened (or nervous) tells us this. Nerves tell us we are about to break into new possibilities and reach new scoring levels. You have to embrace it and realize this is the state you will be in when you break your best score or win that competition.

Think about this the next time you experience nervous feelings.

Being as prepared as you can be for each shot will increase your confidence and reduce negative interferences such as doubt and fear. But the feelings of nerves will give you that level of focus and awareness that you can never feel when you are practicing. Your senses are far more powerful.

A well practiced and disciplined shot routine is a great way to take you into the zone and keep you in the present moment. For me it’s a huge part of a good mental game and playing your best golf. If we can focus on the steps of our routine instead of our fears, we will feel more confident and make a better execution. You can even introduce breathing methods to relax you if you find this helps. Making it a habit to be focused on a positive intention for the shot instead of thinking about negative possibilities, or the past or future, is the key to getting better.

In addition, our practice of golf as a more visual and feel based game instead of a technical one, will gradually reduce our tendency to think about our swing mechanics which is another major cause of doubt on the golf course. As Bob Rotella tells us “Confidence is playing with your eyes”.

Change your perspective of nerves from a negative to a positve and you will get better playing with them. Think about nerves, not as something that will hold you back in the future, but as something that will give you positive energy in the present. You are only feeling nervous because you are not in your comfort zone which is exactly what we need to break out of in order to get better.

Harry How/Getty Images

I based this article on this month’s Golf Magazine interview with Fred Couples by Mike Chwasky. I found it very compelling reading because so much of what he said was in accord with the philosophy of the Golf State of Mind teaching. In his always very candid style, Freddie gives us an insight into how he is able to continuously play relaxed, confident golf, despite all the pressures of the game.

Freddie has always had the demeanor of someone un-fazed by life at the top of his sport. Great golf seems so natural to him. The characteristic pulling of the shirt, the slow, ambling walk between shots, his congenial manner – all convey a man that is grateful for the game and simply enjoys life. His swing is an extension of his personality – easy-going, relaxed and laid back. But what lies within in a fierce competitor that has made him one of the legends of the sport. We have so much to learn from Freddie.

Tempo and Rhythm

If the average amateur golfer could copy the smooth tempo and rhythm of Freddie Couples (or Ernie Els for that matter) they would see a huge improvement in their game.

This “effortless” power and graceful rhythm that Fred generates starts with his hands:

“The tighter you hold anything, the slower you’ll be. You really need to be soft and supple to create clubhead speed and power. When I’m at address you could walk up and take the club out of my hands easily. That’s how soft I hold it.”

To the average golfer wanting to crush the ball huge distances, this might sound counter-intuitive. They think that the tighter they hold the club and the harder they swing, the more power they will produce. In fact, as Freddie tells us, the exact opposite is true. Freddie “Boom Boom” Couples, even at 50, is one of the longest and best ball strikers on Tour. He attributes this to keeping his whole body (and most importantly, his hands) relaxed and maintaining good balance.

“When I reach impact, my right hand feels like it’s almost off the club, which gives me a more powerful hit through the ball than if I was “choking” the grip. I wouldn’t necessarily teach anyone to do that, but it’s the right kind of feel.”

Remember the phrase “light is right” next time you are out there. When it comes to your grip pressure, the looser the hands, the better rhythm, power and ball striking you will achieve.

Successful Putting

On discussing his on-going success at the Masters, he puts it down to a deeper understanding of the “art” of putting and green reading:

“If you can’t read a putt you don’t have much chance…I see the line from behind the ball and then hope to see the same line when I get over the ball. When I do, I putt well.”

Putting is probably the most important factor in winning at Augusta. Under pressure, staying relaxed and centered over the ball throughout the stroke is the key, especially on short putts.

“The worst thing you can do is move your body or head on a two-footer because it takes almost nothing to open or close the club face just a tiny bit, which will lead to a miss.”

We would (obviously) all like to play golf like Freddie Couples. But even when he’s not playing his best, he looks like he’s relaxed and having fun. And why wouldn’t he? This is perhaps the most important thing to learn from him. Enjoy it no matter how you play. Try to follow Freddie’s lead and play relaxed, stress-free golf. Simply gripping the club a little lighter is a great start. Tension in your body and mind is not conducive to playing your best golf and Freddie’s style is testament to that. Take a look at the video below and feel that same tempo and relaxed action the next time you are on the course or practicing.

Do YOU want to learn how to switch between being relaxed and enjoying yourself on the golf course into the zone which will give every shot your maximum attention and focus? This and many other mental game techniques are covered in the Golf State of Mind CD and mp3.

REUTERS/Shaun Best

Not thinking about the 1 of 7 cuts he had previously made in a major, Oosthuizen had a calmness about him all week. While others were focusing on the “unfairness” of the weather conditions, Louis looked as if his aim was to have fun and simply enjoy the challenge of playing one of the world’s best courses on the biggest stage.

But just how did he keep his composure and remain so efficient in his process with such intense pressure on his shoulders? A four shot lead in the final round of a major can be erased in a matter of minutes (remember Dustin Johnson at Pebble?) but he never looked like blowing up and losing his grip on the Claret Jug. His secret? A little red dot just above the thumb on the glove on his left hand

Known as a “Concentration Trigger” the aim of the red dot was to take him deep into the zone during his Pre-shot Routine. The theory behind this is that in golf, a game that lasts for up to 5 hours with continuous stops and starts, a player has to be adept at switching from a relaxed state into a a highly focused state that connects them with the shot they are about to play. Louis Oosthuizen recognized that past failures to perform were largely due to poor temperament and lack of focus, not lack of talent. By looking at the Red Dot it told him all his focus had to be on the shot at hand.

In other sports this is easier to achieve (e.g. a referees whistle), but in golf, you are on your own. Using the trigger, Louis was able to stay calm between shots, and then regain his focus when needed. A visual trigger like this can be all that is needed to immerse you in the shot and give it 100% of your concentration.

For Louis, looking at the Red Dot, was his trigger to go into a deeply focused state of intense concentration during his Pre-shor Routine and stick to his process of executing every shot as best he could.

Do YOU want to learn how to switch between being relaxed and enjoying yourself on the golf course into the zone which will give every shot your maximum attention and focus? This and many other mental game techniques are covered in the Golf State of Mind CD and mp3.

If, before every shot, you are thinking about how the outcome of it will affect your score, or whether you will impress or embarrass yourself, you put too much pressure on your ability to execute. Ever wondered why you are able to play great on the driving range, but horribly on the course? This is the very reason and understanding why is an integral part of learning to play better golf through the inner game.

Golf has a inherent lure to the ego. The first time you bombed the ball 200 yards onto the green and holed the putt for birdie probably made you think of turning pro. Then, trying to follow it up on the next hole, you inevitably get brought back down to reality. No one can play to their true potential or enjoy the game to the maximum whilst continuously listening to their ego. It’s an emotional roller coaster ride with no ending.

The ego is protection from our fears, and when you play “ego golf”, you are not playing with complete trust in your abilities. You are being distracted from what is real and from truly connecting to the shot at hand. You are looking at yourself from the outside, instead of listening to what is coming from within.

Thinking about future possibilities and how you will look in front of your playing partners or to others in general, takes away from the potency of the present moment, which is entirely where you need to be to play your best golf. The past is irrelevant, and at this point, so is the future. The focus has to be purely on the shot at hand. Visualize the shot, feel the shot and use your routine to get into “the zone”. Thoughts about score and equating your self-worth with the outcome of a golf shot only creates doubt and a lack of focus on your true objective. Accept the bad shots in the same way you do the good ones and just appreciate this great game.

By getting rid of our ego, we open up entirely new possibilities for our golf scores and in our lives in general.

But how do we do this? The Golf State of Mind audio book will show you how to disconnect from ALL the negative mental interferences that prevent you from reaching your true potential.

When you set scoring goals for yourself and you are not meeting them, frustration and dissatisfaction set in, leading to more poorly hit golf shots. In golf, you need to give up control to gain control. Learn how to accept the outcome of all shots (good or bad), swing freely at your target and enjoy all the challenges that the game throws at you.

A great way to break away from scoring targets is to set yourself goals that have nothing to do with the number on your scorecard. One such goal is trying to to stick to your shot routine for x number of shots per round. Even the top players in the world struggle to achieve this for every shot, but they continually work to improve it. Being able to go through a good shot routine and make sure you are mentally prepared for each shot as well as accepting the outcome of the shot, will help you more than continually measuring your game by your score.

At the end of each hole write down the number of shots that you felt you successfully stuck to your routine. Total these numbers and make this your new target.

Try this and I’ve no doubt that you will see lower scores.

In this video, Jeff Ritter shows us an effective way to read greens and improve our scores through better putting. Green reading is an integral part of any good pre-shot routine on the putting green and we can always get better at it.

In the Golf State of Mind Audio Teaching, I talk about how to develop a strong routine for better green reading and this video includes a few of those elements. We can hugley increase our chances of holing a putt before the ball is struck and this is why this it is considered to be part of the “mental game“.

Helpful tips include visualizing where water would run if you poured a bucket of water on the green and feeling the ground beneath your feet to better judge the slopes. Remembering to look at the putt from as many different angles as possible (not just behind the ball) and not under-reading the break will also help you make more putts.

Eben Dennis, former short game coach of six-time major winner Nick Faldo, and current coach of PGA Tour players Shaun Micheel and Billy Mayfair, will be coaching at a luxury 5 day golf vacation in the Dominican Republic, hosted exclusively by Pro Golf Vacation, LLC.

Eben Dennis is one of the most distinguished golf instructors in the game. He has received many accolades for his ability to communicate the fundamentals to advanced, intermediate, and novice golfers. His teaching guides students to improved and more consistent full swing, short game, and putting, within hours. His “power-feel” approach will give you dynamic balance and control of the golf club so you will become a great shot maker on and around the greens. He learned golf from some of the game’s great Masters, including Jimmy Demaret, Jackie Burke, Ben Hogan, Julius Boros and Bruce Crampton. He is now considered to be a master instructor, teaching in seminars, clinics, schools, and one-on-one.

Eben’s Dominican Republic Golf School is for groups of 6-12 students and will run for just a few weekends throughout 2010. It is expected that spots will fill up quickly. Each day will include 5 hours of full swing, short game and putting tuition, along with a round of golf accompanied by Eben and a PGA Tour winner.

Students will stay in a private villa with its own chef, wait staff, bartender and concierge, in a private estate on the north east coast of the island. They will enjoy golf at the magnificent, Robert Trent Jones designed, Playa Grande golf course. Also called “the Pebble Beach of The Carribean”, this course will provide an unforgettable golf experience. This is the perfect setting to relax in breath-taking natural beauty and take your golf game to the next level.

I will also be there, offering mental game instruction included as part of the package. I have taken lessons from Eben Dennis and can say with complete confidence that it would be hard to find a teacher that has a better understanding of the golf swing and can explain it more articulately.

This fantastic opportunity to learn from one of the world’s best teachers costs $3800 per person and includes:

4 nights/5 days of accommodation in a secluded luxury villa
One round of golf per day at the Playa Grande and unlimited use of the practice facilities
3 days of golf coaching from PGA Tour Coach Eben Dennis, a PGA Tour winner and Mental Game Coach David MacKenzie
All bedroom suites have private bathrooms with Air-conditioning
Chef and Full Kitchen Staff providing a world class culinary experience
Concierge Staff
Daily Maid Service and Turn Down Service
Private Bartender with full Wait Staff
Private Swimming Pool
Domestic Open Bar – Alcohol Ready Set up
Billiards Table
Commercial Music System with Over 20,000 songs
Wireless Access
Tennis Court

Other activities on offer include:

Sport Fishing
Yoga/Fitness
Casino Player Trips
Beach Party- Bonfire
Horseback Riding Tours
Boat Tours
Quad 4 Wheeler and Motorcycle Tours
Dominican “Live” performance Shows and Dance lessons
Private Professional Card Dealers
On your Villa Grounds – Great Private Fireworks display

Testimonials:

“With its palatial villas and well planned hospitality scene, this trip has written a new chapter that truly captures the charm of the Dominican. Add the majestic, oceanside golf course (Playa Grande, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. creation) And the package doesn’t get any better.”

John Kunda …Golf Pennsylvania/ Golf Northeast

“Thanks for everything. As a CEO & President, you should know that
this trip, “EMPLOYEES”, food, golf course & people exceeded all
expectations.”

Mike Managan, Hyperion Solutions, NorthEast Regional Sales Manager

“PHENOMENAL!! The trip to the Dominican Republic surpassed all of our expectations. We had a great time. We thank you for your personal attention to every detail which allowed us to just relax and enjoy. Believe me, we will certainly pass the word.”

Kathy Brandon – Executive Director MONTCO Chamber of Commerce

For more information, please contact david@golfstateofmind.com

But unfortunately, for most of us, the many hours spent practicing, is simply put, A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. As each year passes, how many of you feel like you are a better player, but this isn’t reflected in your scores? This is because your practice is not as effective as it should be.

The golf industry has a tendency to want to fill our heads with thousands of tips that will quickly transform our games. Pick up any golf magazine and you will find endless technical drills and training aids available, which will (supposedly) quickly shave strokes off your handicap. But this is not what they achieve. Instead, they create a golfer full of doubt and fear, resulting in poor golf scores and frustrating rounds. With such self induced over-complication of the golf swing, there is so much that go wrong. And most golfers practice and play in fear of it doing so. This is obviously not the way golf is intended to be played and is not why you devote so much of your leisure time to it.

My advice to you for the new golf season is this: stop looking for the quick fix and breaking your golf swing down to a million moving parts. The most important factor in playing better golf and reaching your true potential is learning to trust your swing. Building confidence in what you have is far more important than trying every possible swing drill. Perfect the fundamentals, yes, but make your practice about experimentation and learning to synchronize your body and mind with one clear goal.

When you are on the driving range, start to become aware of how shots feel (try to hit as many different shots as possible). See the shots you want to hit, and then feel what your body needs to do to execute them. Try not to consciously think about what your body is doing, just feel it. Honing your senses of visualization, feel and building a trust in your body to execute golf shots is the most effective way to improve. Quit the technical over analysis and start to play sensory golf.

Continuously learning new techniques completely disconnects you from visualizing and feeling good golf shots. What will help you most on the golf course, is believing you can hit the shot you can see in your mind, not the quirky swing tip you picked up from this month’s golf magazine. When we practice in the right way, we ingrain good golf shots in our minds and with a good shot routine, we can find them anywhere on the golf course. As Bobby Jones once said, “the golf swing is too complex a movement to be consciously controlled”.

Make golf a simple and enjoyable game of visualization, feel and trust and you will learn quickly how you can reach your true potential. Why not set yourself this goal for this season: To have at least one round of golf where you don’t think about anything technical. You see the shot, the target and just hit it there! Golf is a game of confidence and this is exactly what you will achieve when you change the way you practice.

The best putters in the world are “spot” putters.

This means that (after reading the break on the putt) the focus is on the direction you want to the ball to travel in the first 2-3 feet of the putt. You pick a spot that you want the ball to roll over in this range and then focus on executing this. This spot can be a discolored piece of grass, a spike mark or anything that gives you a target to aim at within 2-3 feet, the closer to the ball the better. This achieves the following objective which is key for good putting. Firstly you are not concentrating on the hole, so you are less likely to come out of your posture prematurely and look at the ball’s final target, which causes miss-hit putts. Staying over the ball until the ball has been hit will improve your ball striking leading to more consistent putts. You achieve a much more consistent “roll” on the ball, which is the most important factor in good putting. Not “trying” to make putts, but instead hitting a solid putt to an intermediary target will make you a much better putter. Try it!!!

Would be great to hear how you get on with this new thinking.

I have also written the following articles on putting:

The Art of Putting

Routine and Commitment will make you a better putter