When you swing your golf clubs you need to stay focused on the game.
Like any sport, you need to get in the zone to play golf. And it's not always easy. There are countless distractions to put you off your game just as you're about to swing your golf clubs.
But it isn't just the external problems of noise such as overhead aircraft or wayward birds; there are also a whole host of internal problems that can interfere.
Internal distractions
There internal distractions at work when you pick up your
golf clubs are potentially vast. It's not always easy to leave your problems at the gates, and even if you have nothing on your mind, it's not always easy if you have any negative emotions about your abilities.
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Negative self talk
Telling yourself that you're always rubbish at swinging your golf clubs when you are teeing off or that you can never hit a golf ball out of the sand or that your friend John is so much better than you will all impact on your game. The more you tell yourself something the more you will believe it to be true and the more likely you will limit yourself and be afraid to take risks and fail.
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Self doubt
All sportsmen and women hype themselves up and believe they can succeed. You have to believe. Pick up your golf clubs with confidence.
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Anger
If you are angry whether it is your boss at work, not getting a pay rise, or a bad car journey on the way to the golf club, or whether you're angry at yourself for missing a shot with also good
golf bags, let it go. Carrying anger around will only make you lose focus or over swing your golf clubs.
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Focusing on results
If you keep worrying about your score than you will forget to focus concentrate on the here and now.
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Your last shot or next shot
Let it go! As above, when you are about to swing your golf clubs you need to focus on the task at hand.
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Superstitions
Like negative self talk, if you believe that you will have bad luck you are already dooming yourself to failure before you've even begun.
It is up to you to deal with your internal distractions. If you want to succeed don't let them get in the way when you swing your golf clubs. The doubt, break in concentration, extra pressure and tension or distorted judgment can all ruin a game. Keep your golf clubs and your brain focused on the game.
