  One of the traits that just about
every great golfer has is a desire to make
something good happen. While this might at
first seem to be true for every player, there
are a lot of players who are focusing too
much on trying to avoid having something bad
happen. One of the forefathers of Psychology
believed that all of our actions are based on
either movement toward what we want or away
from what we fear. We see the latter
frequently in golf.
Trying not to hit the ball left, staying out
of the hazard, making sure not to three-putt,
not chunking it, not coming over the top with
the swing, not missing the cut, etc.
These are examples of the type of thinking of
players who are fearful of a negative
consequence. The problem with this line of
thought is that one’s mind becomes full of
words and pictures that have us paying
attention to the things that are the opposite
of what we’d like be focusing on.
What follows from a negative or fearful
picture in one’s mind is a tendency to get
tentative (play scared) or rush through
things (“hit and hope”). Both of these
inevitably lead to poor play. Indeed, one of
the things I tell the players with whom I
work is that they are very likely to create
whatever they are thinking about! Think
about negative situations, you are likely
going to play more tentative or rushed. On
the other hand, thinking about a positive
scenario increases the likelihood of
success.
Picture hitting a ball with a draw toward a
specific target. See yourself rolling the
ball so that it dies over the front edge of
the cup, playing enough club to catch the
front edge of the green, playing one shot at
a time and letting the results happen,
feeling a smooth tempo, etc. These are
examples of the types of thoughts of a
champion. Paying attention to what they want
to have happen, and creating pictures and
thoughts that represent accomplishment rather
than failure.
Make sure that you are picturing success.
This will ingrain a habit for you as a junior
golfer that will sustain you throughout your
golf career- and your life!
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