Four golf tips when you are having trouble on the course

You will know you have good mental processes when you get out of position or are in trouble on the course, but yet it doesn’t bother you because you know how you will manage it. I believe being able to play well when things are not going as you would like is a crucial skill in being able to win. So here are my four golf tips to use when you are not where you would like to be. 

Winning golf tips that the pros use

#1 Slow down. 

Yes. Read that again. Slow. Down. Do not rush. 

Your tempo impacts how you play. 

You'll see that this is advice everyone benefits from; whether you are an amateur or a professional player, you will score better because of this. You can check out what Damon Green says about my walking tip in regards to Zach Johnson winning The Masters. Also, you can watch Keegan Bradley talk to me about what he learned from the way Tiger Woods walked.

To slow down does not mean that you are a slow player or it takes you forever to make a decision. Slowing down means never getting in a rush and mastering a mental rhythm that allows you to play the game instead of letting the game play you. 

You can slow down in many ways. I work through exercises to slow my students down and help them play better, especially under challenging circumstances. You can work on having a better tempo over the ball when you face a tough tee shot by taking a couple of hard swings at 110% or 120%. This would be harder than you normally swing, but it gets the nervous energy out, resulting in a better tempo when you walk in and take your normal swing. 

Ultimately, there are many exercises you can do, but the objective is the same, and slowing down your mental rhythm so that you stay in control is a goal that yields results for everyone. 

#2 Go to the ball without a club in your hand

Keep your options open. Taking the physical club away gives you more space mentally. My work is about thinking better to score better, and when players create space for themselves, they play better.

You could also use the "Bag-Up" principle, which is an adaptation of the Emotion Zone, and this helps you emotionally let go of the previous shot and move on with the rest of your round. Here you would use a physical boundary to stay mentally composed after a poor shot. Try, before picking your bag up, making yourself do something in the relax phase (of the 4rs process) so that you are done with that shot. 

#3 Look in all possible directions

We are giving ourselves the mental space to look at all our options because it is so easy when things aren't going as well as we'd like, to feel boxed in and narrowed down. Golf shots are typically played “forward and up” (in the space around you) but there are times when this isn’t your best option. Make sure when you are in trouble to always look at other options before you “just hit it and hope”. 

#4 Pitch out to a specific target

Never just punch out.

I teach players to choose commitment over confidence, and when you feel things are not going so well, commitment continues to be your best friend on the golf course. There are so many things you can't control, but there are some things you can, and commitment is one of them. I continually witness that when you are 100% committed to your specific target and step into your routine with this commitment, it results in better scores.

Ultimately, all these golf tips help you improve the mental aspect of your game. As you master the mental intricacies of playing golf, you will form a process you can rely upon, which will allow you to score better. To continue learning how you can think better to score better, join my Score Better Video Program.