The Mental Side of Golf
During a four hour round of golf the average golfer will spend about 2 minutes hitting the ball - which means the remaining 3 hours and 58 minutes is spent thinking. Golf is one of the most mentally demanding sports ever invented and it’s not surprising that just over half our clients are golfers and golf coaches.
Golf is psychologically demanding for three main reasons. First, it’s slow allowing for more time for self doubt. Second, it is precision sport which means your accuracy is highly influenced by how nervous and anxious you are. Finally, you play alone and therefore have no one to help you out during tough times (even if you have a caddie, they can’t hit the ball for you).
Condor Performance’s sport psychologists understand the frustration with trying to be the best golfer you can be and have considerable experience working with a variety of ages, levels, genders and ambitions. Some of the mental areas most golfers would benefit from working on are:
- Controlling nerves and anxiety / helping with the yips
- Bouncing back from a poor shot, poor hole, poor round or poor competition
- Learning when it’s important to concentrate and focus and when it’s essential to switch off
- Designing effective physical, technical and mental practice - not going through the motions
- Balancing golf with life to prevent burnout
- Staying motivated by picking the right goals (yes, there are many)
- Learning how to think more accurately and less emotionally
- Deciding if you really have what it takes to make a living from golf
If you’re a golf coach, golf professional or anyone who just wants to play better golf then you might like to contact us today for information about one of our upcoming free Q&A sessions. Fill in the enquiry form to the right and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.