Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Being Positive - The Right Attitude

By June-Anne Jones

If you want to improve your golf game it is more than the kit you choose or the shots you make. Let's face it if it was going to be that easy, we could all have single figure handicaps.

You may not know that we take to ourselves in our heads up to 70% of the time - its a process we call thinking. Thinking starts from the moment we wake up. How often has someone said to you 'what are you thinking about?'

When we play golf it is really important what we 'think' to ourselves. I bet you can recall hearing some of the following comments:- This hole isn't good for me - Water is like a magnet to my ball - That's the bunker I can never get out of - My score always goes downhill when I hit the 17th!.

Why do we even bother to play, because just as soon at the prophecy happens we say 'There you are what did I tell you.' Of course you should not be surprised - you already said to yourself what was going to happen, and you were right. You need to turn all those negative thoughts around to positive ones.

Why do we stop being positive?

Well it's simple, we have 'thought barriers' and they are not always easy to recognize. We can be the most positive and confident person at home or work. So when we step onto a golf course, why is it that the different person takes over?

Do you recognize any of these:

She plays off 10, I have no chance. Of course she will know the rules, she's played for 18 years. I don't have the same confidence that these youngsters have. On some days I just don't seem to be lucky. I never seem to be able to get over the water.

All these phrases we have heard at sometime and are negative thoughts. You're not giving yourself a chance because you start off with a negative mind and those thoughts are likely to come true.

It is important to change your mindset to a more positive approach. You should tell yourself "YOU CAN" then YOU WILL.

Look at the examples above and change them to a more positive approach.

You can beat the 10 handicapper, you have more shots than they do, or they could have an off day, or maybe you will just play exceptionally well.

There are a lot of golf club members who don't know all the rules, and you should politely challenge if you feel in the right.

Youth is great, but it's not always a match for experience and course management ability.

A positive mental attitude can help you get luck sometimes.

I can get over this water, I have the shots - I just need to choose the right club.

Remember when you are on the course to motivate yourself, because your playing partner wont!!.

Forget the bad shots, you cannot change what's already happened. Don't be distracted and concentrate over each shot. If you have a bad hole, or you are having a bad round, don't give up - you maybe better than you think because you don't know what everyone else is doing.

Its important that you set yourself a target before you go out. Maybe you want to break 80,90,100 - it could be that you want to get a certain number of birdies or pars but it could be anything that will motivate you to shoot a better score.

If you have positive thoughts you game will improve. You must make sure that every shot has your full concentration and your positive commitment.

Is there a magic way to reduce your handicap? Read more great articles by June-Anne Jones about the skills and techniques needed to help improve your golf game. More articles on ladies golf sets and information on ladies golf clothes

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