by Andre Sanchez

Most people could improve their consistency immeasurable if they only knew how to be mentally prepared to play better golf. The problem with mental preparation is even mentioning it, since so many amateur players think you to be weird it is unbelievable. Then when you tell them that Tiger uses these techniques, they fall over themselves trying to get to you.

What is about the word ‘mental’ that everybody thinks you must be “mental” to mention it?  Yet mental preparation can give you the consistency that you might need to turn a good round into a great round. How many times have you heard one your buddies complain that they had a great round except for the double bogie on the 14th, or that they would have had their best ever score apart from the 8 on the fifteenth?  “If only” is the most used term in sport, but “if onlys” don’t win anything.  Consistency does.

But how do you get that consistency?  Some call it ‘preshot routine’ and others simply ‘playing naturally’, but they don’t tell you how to do it.  They say it, but give no meaningful advice other than to relax and play naturally, whatever that means. There is a bit in that since if you look at the best pros in the world at the Masters, the PGA or the British Open, they all seem just to walk up to the tee, play a practice swing to loosen and up let rip.  No problems and no hesitation.  There must be something in that, and in fact there is.

However, these guys know the golf course inside out, and also so do their caddies.  Don’t ignore the benefit of the caddy, and a good caddy is worth millions to some of these guys. – and gals too! Part of the shot is knowing what you are going to do with it. You know you are going to fade the ball round that tree, and know exactly what is round the corner. You know you are going to drive 400 yards, or if 360 will do just to stop short in a better part of the fairway. Easier for the next shot you see!

So how does all this help you?  First get a routine going. When you leave home in the morning you are at work before you know about it, and you have never had to think how you got there.  It is automatic. You want your golf to be that to a certain extent. It starts on the morning of your round, but you must apply it for ever game you play.

First take in a few calories and complex carbs to keep your energy up later when you are playing, and keep some quick energy fixes with you on course like some sugary drinks or quick energy bars.  Know that you will not get tired, but make a routine of it just as taking lunch to work is a routine.

Next assume you are going to play well, and think out how you are going to play each shot in a given situation. Imagine yourself in a trap 40 yards from the green.  What do you do?  Work it out so that if it happens you know how you are going to handle it. It doesn’t worry you or faze you, you just jump down into the trap and play the shot. Exactly as you imagined it. Many pros do that, day in day out. They play the shots in their head so they are prepared when the time comes.

You can even practice a few of the situations you have worked out, and find out how they work.  Amend your reaction to them if necessary based on results. The more you do this, then the more prepared you will be for the real thing when it comes.  Your drive should be a given:  you walk up to the tee, place the ball and hammer it down the fairway.  No problems. Don’t think about the ‘what ifs’ because you have them sorted out already, so it doesn’t’ matter.

This works, believe me. If you don’t then give it a go for a week or two and notice the difference in your attitude to shots that you have already played in your mind. You have to play it in your mind when it occurs, so why not in advance?  Then you won’t be afraid to play a shot in case of the consequences, because the consequences will already have a solution.

Your game will improve tremendously because you have thought it out in advance. Many of the best golfers do that, and that is how to be mentally prepared to play better golf.

How to be Mentally Prepared to Play Better Golf was originally published at http://www.golfplayernow.com