How much of a Golf Game is mental?

Question

I have been playing for years and I practice a lot. But I am wondering if I am stressing to much every time I go up to hit the ball. A friend of mine has told me about a Golf Mental Conditioning Program that he listens to before he goes out and it works. He listens to it 30 minutes before he hits the greens. He always seems very relaxed and self confident. He plays pretty good too. What do you think?

Answer 1

Psychology is definitely a big part of your golf game. If you're psyching yourself out before you play, you're sabotaging all of your hard work practicing. Check out the source link for a lot of videos and tips on how your mindset can affect your golf game. I hope that helps!

Answer 2

At the uppermost levels the first 90% is mental and the other 10% is mental too!

At the weekend player level.....maybe 5% mental, the rest is based on the horridness of the swing, and believe me, there are some horrid ones out there!

Answer 3

90%.  the other half is physical

Answer 4

I am more inclined to think that 20 % of the game is physical and 80 % is mental. Whether one practices yoga, hums for 10 minutes, is completely silent or thinks himself into a " zone" is immaterial. If one has no basic golf swing all the mental preparation is for naught. Think no further ahead than the shot which faces you. Those who comply with that are the better golfers and the ones capable of executing.The game is not " Rocket Science".

Answer 5

90% mental, Colin Montgomery says he has never been nervous over a golf ball,ever. Most professional golfers are confident about their abilities which helps them pull off incredible shots. Tiger's mental game has won most if not all of his tournaments. Just watch how he excels while his opponents fold up like a cheap suit when the pressure is on.

Answer 6

What I like to do is when I tee up is to think I'm hitting at a driving range(normally at the driving range you are calm and enjoying yourself bomb those drives), or you can think of getting an ace on  a hole, those are thoughts that will loosen you up. Most players will say 90% mental and 10% physical, or 90% heart and 10% physical. Thats what makes golf so hard.

Answer 7

All of it ...

Answer 8

Many pros have a mantra to help not get distracted by the last shot / hole.

- A good hole makes you feel bullet-prrof, and you try too hard next shot... and slice/hook it

- a poor approach shot gets you in a defeated frame of mind, and you add another 3+ shots to the hole

Whenever I tell myself "Avoid the water" the ball goes there like a homing misslie. A negative mantra is keeping the wrong message at the front of your mind.

My calming mantra is "Business as normal"

Answer 9

This is a very good question and I think the answer differs with each individual player.  Certainly the game is immensely mental for most of us and unfortunately that is geared towards negative thinking.  In other words golfers often stand over a ball worrying about what can go wrong instead of visualizing the correct result.

Micahel Anthony has a really good little book where he explains it perfectly.  You can find details on the link below.

Answer 10

He may be relaxed because of the confidence he has in his game.  

   The game is about having fun.  If you have been playing for years and you still stress out, it is more then likely because you have poor skills in calming yourself before you hit.  If you have a clear cut routine prior to hitting the shot you can literally wipe all negative thoughts from your mind.  Visualize your shot path, take your practice swings grooving your swing, line up your shot, then recreate your vision.  

   Another very important aspect of golf is to take a look around at the trees, the water, and beauty of your surroundings to take your mind off of a bad shot, then move on with a clear mind for another great shot that you are more then capable of.