A Day In The Life

How to play the mind game of golf

Keep a Tight Rein on Your Emotions

Panic is a major dilemma on the golf course; often, when you find yourself in serious trouble, it's easy to lose your composure because you allow a feeling of anxiety to take charge of your inner self. And usually the situation is not as hopeless as you interpret it to be.

Being realistic about your ability is one of the most difficult mental tasks that we all face on the golf course. And that doesn't mean you should ever take a defeatist attitude toward your game; just be practical in how you try and overcome obstacles such as a bad lie or other predicaments.
Whether on the golf course or in everyday life, it's difficult for all of us to recognize our limitations. Accepting our shortcomings and learning to live with them is important in daily life and it's vital on the golf course.

All golfers occasionally hit poor shots at the worst possible time. The normal reaction is to have a feeling of desperation creep into your psyche, feeling you have to do something spectacular to make up for the bad shot. For most of us that isn't possible and it's inviting disaster to even attempt near-impossible shots.

Often we find ourselves in an untenable situation on a particular shot because of the weather, a prior poor shot, or our limited ability. When this happens, don't try to force a miracle shot that will lead to a round-ruining hole.

Here are six examples of problem shots that all golfers encounter from time to time:

1 On a par four or five, you can have a long approach shot to the green because of a poor tee shot or a fierce headwind. If it's a shot that you are unlikely to hit successfully with a three-wood, use a more-forgiving club like a five-wood that will leave you in a good position to approach. The percentages are against reaching the green with the three-wood and you can end up in the rough or a trap if you try it.

2 When you have an 80-100 yard iron shot that's downwind to a pin set behind a trap on a downhill lie, don't try and hit a miracle shot to get it close. You're in a situation where you have to accept a par or bogey and go on to the next hole. Be sure and hit your approach safely on the green so you don't jump up a double-bogey by hitting a dumb shot.

3 Don't be embarrassed to hit a wood instead of an iron to a long par three into the wind, even if your playing companions all hit an iron. It's a game of how many, not how. Play within your own capabilities.

4 On slick, downhill putts with a lot of break, allow more break than you need to in order to stop the ball close the hole. If you try and make the putt, chances are you'll let it get away and three-putt. However, circumstances during a particular round will dictate whether or not to do this. But it's a good rule to play more break than you think you need on treacherous downhill putts. In other words, you're sacrificing a long-shot chance to make the putt in order to be certain of a two-putt.

5 On short pitch shots out of heavy rough close to the green, it's easy to try to be too cute with them. You have to chop down on the shot and hit it firmly to be sure it comes out of the heavy rough. This shot is extra tough to get close to the hole and the first consideration should be to make certain that you get it on the green within easy two-putt range.

6 When an errant tee shot puts you in the trees and you have a choice between hitting through a narrow opening or pitching back to the fairway, take the safer route. If you try and hit a full shot through a narrow opening, you can end up in even more trouble and jump up a double- or triple-bogey.

That's just six examples of difficult shots that can lead to wasted strokes; there are so many predicaments requiring you to rein in your emotions that they would fill a book.
You have to think on the golf course and you must maintain your concentration and poise. Be aware of and accept your weaknesses and make the best of unfavorable situations; that's a practical rule for golfers of all skill levels.