The mental game of golf can help to reduce your handicap pretty quickly. Putting is perhaps the biggest part of the game where how you think can make a big difference. Many people develop the putting yips not because they have bad putting mechanics but because they tend to think too much before hitting the ball.
Tip 1: Look and react instead of thinking too much
Sports like soccer and basketball are reaction based and most of the time the players do not have time to think about their mechanics or to even doubt their ability to hit the shot, they simply have to kick the ball or shoot it otherwise it will get stolen. A similar way of thinking in golf might help many amateurs.
You do not need to rush your game before you step over the shot. Instead take your time to pick a proper club or read the green but then once you have made up your mind and stepped up to the ball you need to simply look and react to the target and trust that you will hit a great shot.
Tip 2: Stay in the present
It is easy in the midst of a great round to start totaling up your score and imagining how great it would be if you could keep it going. You need to instead focus on the present and how to best execute the next shot. Try to minimize thoughts of the future and the past. It is difficult to completely block out all future or past thoughts but do your best to focus on hitting the next shot as well as you can.
Tip 3: Do not dwell on missed shots
We all hit bad shots every now and then however the great players are able to learn whatever they can from their poor shots and then simply forget about them and focus completely on the next shot. You need to forgive yourself instead of constantly beating yourself up. It is okay to get a little upset if you hit a bad shot but do not let it last the rest of the round, remember that golf is supposed to be fun.
Tip 4: Manage the course appropriately
One important tip to keep in mind regarding course management is to develop a conservative strategy but an aggressive swing. Most amateurs try to hit shots they have never hit before in the middle of a round. Do not try to be a hero on the course, the pros hit those kinds of shots because they have spent lots of time practicing them and are comfortable with pulling them off with a high percentage rate of success.
Hit shots that you know you can pull off more often than not. If you want to get better then you need to spend more time on the range and practice greens fine tuning your swing and short game, do not try to get a better swing or try new shots you have never successfully hit on the course. Consider some of these golf mental strategies to help you learn how to shoot lower scores fast.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A




Playset Designs - Different Styles Employed by Various Countries
By: Mike McCube | 27/11/2009Every child yearns for a playset that is installed in their own home's backyard. In fact, once you install one in your place, you will certainly see how happy your children will be for the purchase. You are lucky enough that you also have overwhelming choices for these playground items. A...
Outdoor Playset Warranties - The Limitations on These Assurances
By: Mike McCube | 27/11/2009You will always love the fact that with your every purchase of an outdoor playset, a warranty is attached to it. The warranty forms part of cost savings for you, whether or not you will be able to use it for the entire lifetime of the playset or not. But...
Convert Your Basement Into a Billiard and Game Room
By: Jimmy Mathews | 27/11/2009Basements around the country are popularly being converted from dark, damp, storage spaces to fun and exciting, new game rooms! Wouldn't it be nice to have a room in your own home where you and your children can share in activities together like billiards, foosball and video games? It's likely...
Cues, Balls and More - Outfitting Your Billiard Room
By: Jimmy Mathews | 27/11/2009Outfitting your billiard room can be an exciting endeavor. There are so many options on the market for cues, balls and more that narrowing your choices down may prove frustrating. Where to Purchase Cues, Balls Outfitting your billiard room should not have to break the bank. With a little ingenuity and perseverance...
Decorating Your Billiard Room
By: Jimmy Mathews | 27/11/2009Now that you've got the billiard table of your dreams, it's time to start decorating your billiard room! Decorating, for some, can be quite a hassle, but if approached with the right attitude, can be the part that's the most fun of completing the perfect billiard room! Where to Start The first...
Designing a High End Billiard Room
By: Jimmy Mathews | 27/11/2009A high end billiard room is a great way to use empty space in your home in a way that's fun and entertaining for the whole family! Billiards is a great game that has been around for centuries and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. For this reason,...
Get the Powerful Rocket Aeroheads Meat Seeker 2-Blade
By: Jenn Jamie | 27/11/2009Rocket Aeroheads meat seeker broadheads Some family lines were a little unbelieving when it came to the more novel technology of the mechanized broadhead. This is the identical for almost any invention until it is evidenced and established to function. The rocket aeroheads meat seeker broadheads have been proved and they...
Gaming
By: devika rajpali | 27/11/2009Playing videogames has become a culture in itself. Video games make use of animated characters. These games are the result of great imagination, creativity and the graphic expertise.
Golf Short Game Tips to Help You Reduce Your Handicap Fast
By: Marla Paulsone | 03/08/2008 | Sports & FitnessIf you are just learning how to play golf then you must first understand the critical importance of the short game and how it can help you learn and improve at the game very quickly. Most amateurs spend way too much time hitting their long irons and driver and not...
Top Golf Mental Game Tips to Reduce Your Handicap Fast
By: Marla Paulsone | 07/07/2008 | Sports & FitnessThe mental game of golf can help to reduce your handicap pretty quickly. Putting is perhaps the biggest part of the game where how you think can make a big difference. Many people develop the putting yips not because they have bad putting mechanics but because they tend to think...
How to Cure Your Golf Slice Fast
By: Marla Paulsone | 24/06/2008 | Sports & FitnessNobody likes to slice the golf ball as it results in both loss of distance and accuracy which in turn costs you strokes on the golf course. The way to get rid of that nasty slice is not really difficult but will require you to analyze your current swing and...
Affiliate Marketing Success Tips To Help You Make Money Online
By: Marla Paulsone | 14/12/2007 | InternetAffiliate marketing can be one of the best ways to make money particularly if you are new to internet marketing. The advantage of not having to spend the time and money to create your own product has made it one of the most popular ways to make money online. Do...
Golf Putting Tips - Learn Ways To Make More Putts And Shoot Low Scores
By: Marla Paulsone | 07/12/2007 | Sports & FitnessPutting is one of the most important aspects of golf and it is also the part of the game that can make the biggest difference to your scores regardless of whether you are a high or low or even scratch golfer. Here are a few tips to help you on...
Herbal Supplements - Learn About The Benefits Of These Kinds Of Supplements
By: Marla Paulsone | 30/11/2007 | HealthMost people simply do not consume enough quality food that their bodies need in order to stay strong and healthy. This is why it is important to consider some form of supplementation to help introduce sufficient nutrients into the body for optimal health. Unfortunately most regular supplements are man made and...
Get Rid Of Acne - Discover Some Of The Best Ways To Stop Acne Fast
By: Marla Paulsone | 24/11/2007 | HealthAcne is a complicated problem that affects a significant number of people around the world. Finding a solution to acne can be a difficult task for those suffering from it. There are many different acne treatment products out there and it can get confusing as to which one to start...