4 Reasons Why Your Mental Game is So Important

1) Stress is the Number One Killer of Performance 

Stress has many negative mental and physiological consequences, including; poor decision-making, focus interference, muscle tension, and inept timing. The list is much longer than that and can significantly impact your rounds over a 3.5 - 5 hr period.

Though your swing mechanics are important, stress can overtake them. That's why one day you can play amazing and the next feel like you “lost your swing.” Though it may seem like it, your swing cannot be “lost” in a day as it takes hours of technical work to make swing changes. 

2) The Mental Game Holds Everything Together

As described above, the best way to avoid stress is to have a strong mental game and understand your natural preferences. A robust mental process will keep your body in balance. All great players fall back on their process under stress. Believe it or not, our mental game may be the most controllable aspect of golf. There are so many facets of golf; driving, irons, wedges, chipping and putting. These are subject to change, per shot , hole, or golf course. However, you use your mind and mental process on every shot, no matter the situation. This is one of the few constants in the game of golf.

3) The Mental Game Allows You to Bring More of Your Best

If you strengthen your mental game, I’m not going to guarantee that you will hit the ball like Rory McIlroy. However, it will help you be more consistent within your own ability [and even exceed that ability]. 

If you are…

1) someone that has good skills on the range but struggles on the course

2) Someone that struggles bringing out their best in tournaments

The mental game is your missing link.

4) Having a Strong Mental Game Allows You to Properly Distribute your Focus 

Many people believe you must stay focused for the entire round of golf. Not only is this false, but it's also unsustainable. Rounds of golf, incredibly competitive rounds, are usually 4.5 hours and sometimes last up to 6. The SAT [the standardized test] takes about 4 hrs and requires constant focus. If every time you played, you focused  throughout your entire life; it would have the mental strain of taking the SAT every day. I don’t know about you, but that sounds awful. It's certainly not a way to approach a hobby or passion that we ultimately do for enjoyment. 

Therefore you need a solid mental game to distribute your focus when needed and save mental energy when you are not executing a shot. Mental skills will allow you to pivot between engaging with a shot, taking a break, and then re-focusing on what’s needed when the time comes. 

Learn your natural preferences and start your journey to playing your best when you want through the Mental Golf Type Quiz or In The Golf Zone