Golf Mental Game Tips To Help You Shoot Lower Scores

Golf is both a combination of physical activity as well as a mental challenge. However the mental challenge may be greater than other sports which are faster paced so you do not have time to think much and instead have to react. It is a good idea to play golf by looking and reacting and not thinking too much especially when you are about to hit the ball. This does not mean that you should rush instead take enough time behind the ball assessing the situation such as the lie, wind, distance and such. Once you come up with  a good first impression then trust it and step up to the ball and look and react to the target keeping your mind sharply focused on the target.

Course management tips:

Many players lose a lot of strokes each round due to bad course management. Every time you play you are faced with unique conditions that may require an adjustment in the club you take off the tee or the way you swing the club. Sometimes you will be faced with heavy wind so you may need to adjust your strategy. If the wind is blowing hard in your face on a par 4 hole then you should take a club that keeps the ball low like a 3 iron. The key is to play high percentage shots and not take unnecessary risks.

Many times the pin will be tucked in a corner close to a bunker or water hazard. In these situations it is often best to aim for the center of the green even if it means leaving a long putt and simply take your par and be more aggressive on pin placements that are in safer locations. Also whenever possible try to leave yourself with uphill or straight putts so adjust your approach shots accordingly for this.

A good rule of thumb is to take a conservative approach but always have an aggressive swing. There are times when you may need to be aggressive, for instance if you are in a tournament and need a birdie in order to make a cut then you may have to take driver off the tee on short par 4’s or be more aggressive with the pins you go after even if they are tucked in tight corners close to hazards. Apply the above golf mental tips to your game to help you shoot lower scores.