Building Mental Strength - What Exercises do YOU do?

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By benjamin g

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  1. benjamin g

    benjamin g

    Hey Team! During the off season for those of us who live in the cold weather areas I'm sure that many if not all of you have worked on your grip, core, lower body and other physical aspects of your game. I know that I have basically worked out every part of the body that I should be focusing on with the hopes that it will pay off when I finally see 60 degree weather consistently.

    I realized during a workout one day that I have not been focusing enough on the mental side of the game. Even though I'm in top shape physically, it won't matter unless my mind is just as strong. With that in mind, I have been going to a pond near my house every day and hitting over it to a practice green on the other side of the pond. I feel that the mental aspect of needing the ball to travel over the water makes my swing break down, my posture change, my tempo become out of sync....nervous. Therefore, I decided that I would build my own mental strength to overcome these poor habits when confronted by visual and mental obstacles. Over the past weeks I've gone from fatting and thinning balls and hearing that ever depressing "plop" from the water to that amazing sound of a ball hitting the green. I think that I've become stronger mentally about this particular obstacle. The pressure that is created from the drill is also mentally strengthening since the cost of a mistake is that I lose a ball (I'm not ballsy (pun intended) enough to use my ProV1s) but it is still a ball lost all the same.

    My question to you is: What exercises do you do to mentally strengthen your game?

    Thank you for all of your posts I look forward to reading them! Here's to warm weather and an amazing 2017 season!

  2. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    One thing I do is practice with purpose and simulate pressure.

    Be it on the range or putting at home, I always play for something, keep score, and give myself consequences if I miss.

    On the range I play simulated rounds. I pick out targets for fairways and greens. I will mentally play a course I know well, and keep a score out of 32 points (It's 32 points because there are usually 4 par 3's on each course I play.)

    1pt for fairway, 1pt for green, 2 points for a green under on the par 5s, and .5 points for a good chip/pitch if you miss a green. I'll subtract points for critical misses like hitting it into a hazard or missing on the wrong side of the green. I'll add a point for an exceptionally good approach shot too. It keeps the mind sharp, and keeps you from hitting that same buttery 7 iron over and over again.

    I putt at home, and I give myself a consequence if I miss a putt. I'll go until I make 10 for 10 from 3-4 feet to a small hole. If I miss one of the 10 I have to do 10 pushups and start over. Miss again and double the pushups. Trust me when I say that it gets the heart beating a little bit when you're looking at the 10th putt and have 50 pushups to do if you miss... If I'm feeling good, I'll move it back to 6 feet.
  3. Joshua B

    Joshua B
    Connecticut

    Top 4 tips I have read:
    -Mental Strength : put every put until in the cup (no gimmies) to make every stroke count (any situation you put yourself under pressure to fight through)
    -Flexibility: be creative by using different clubs for different shots...or try playing in windy/ rainy conditions to have to alter your game with creativity
    -Balance: stay with the moment and don't wander in your head, and stay even keeled (anger is a golfers worst enemy) Don't focus on a 3putt you did or work yourself into a depression on a trouble hole coming up....just stay in the moment. You can do this at home by going mentally through your favorite course and walk through every hole. Count the number of times your mind wanders and work that down to 0.
    -Stamina: when things don't feel right or the score is bad this round you can get nervous or check out. Make sure you know and recognize your routine no mater what your round is shaping up to be. Also, be yourself...if you joke a lot on the course then do that, if you play fast, then don't change what made you enjoy and exceed at the sport.


    Best of luck this season fellow TTer!
  4. benjamin g

    benjamin g

    Hey guys! Both great posts and awesome tips! I will certainly use everything you both have posted. Thank you so much!
  5. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military
    Along with what Josh and Joshua have said, I think working on short term memory is a key to better golf. Don't obsess over what is behind you, focus on what is directly in front of you.
  6. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    The mental part of the game can be suicidal and I try to avoid that part on the course. My main purpose is to focus on each hole and each shot and to put the past in the past. I never worry about score until I am finished when playing in tournaments. This keeps the demons out of this already full head. Easy to say and hard to do at times. At my age (70) breathing exercises seem to help me maintain a positive mental side of the game and keep me in a (as Happy Gilmore would say) happy place. This avoids any mental breakdowns or outbursts and stay in the moment. I think the thing that I get most aggravated with is making the wrong decision in shots over poor execution. Breathe in, breathe out and count to ten. When practicing, practice with a purpose. Tempo and pattern. Whatever works for each of us and of course tomorrow is just another day. With the Annual City Four Ball Championships coming up this weekend, will see how this all comes together.
  7. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    Great question:
    I practice the scoring shots over and over again on the range by hitting mid-lower irons at the yardage poles. I try to actually hit them. On the practice green I put down (spread out) 20 balls, 2 wedges and chip to a hole then putt them out. Move to a different hole & repeat I count my 1 putts VS 2 putts. It helps my chipping & putting at the same time. I try to make 50% or higher 1 putts. I do this for 5 rounds (100 chips) then practice which one I failed at. From playing competitive sports since age 6 (54 now) I don't feel pressure in competition to make a shot, I always feel like I can make the shot I need at that time. But I know the scoring shots have to be executed properly to score so that's what I make my mind stronger (less thought about actually) at.
  8. Gary D

    Gary D
    Cranston, RI

    My mental trick is simple. I concentrate on the one shot I have to play, right now. You can't change what you have already done so forget about it. You can't change the future holes that you haven't played yet, so forget about it. Just concentrate on the one shot you have to play right now. Play your whole round, one shot at a time.
  9. benjamin g

    benjamin g

    Hey Team! Thanks to all for you the posts! Your advice is greatly appreciated as I continue on the adventure that is learning how to play this great game. Thank you again!

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