Sport psychology for golf

Sport psychology helps athletes perform better before, during, and after competition by using the latest psychological techniques. The uses of psychology within sport ranges from helping athletes to achieve and maintain optimal performance states, as well as helping athletes with their motivation, concentration and their overall well-being.

Sport psychology draws from a range of fields and a wealth of psychological knowledge to help athletes perform better.

A golf sport psychologist helps golfers to release their full potential and become the best athlete they can. A golf sport psychologist will work both on specific problems that a golfer may be struggling with (e.g, tee pressure, putting pressure, competition nerves, swing consistency) and on improving their overall performance.

Whilst a they may not have a specific problem, elite golfers will work with a sport psychologist to make the shift from being a good golfer to being a great one.

Having the right mindset and the ability to perform under pressure is vitally important in golf. As Gary Player once said, “A strong mind is one of the key components that separate the great from the good”.

Research suggests that “sport psychology has a transformational power that elevates performance”. It has also been documented that all athletes in all sports can benefit from sport psychology and especially whilst learning new skills in golf. There are two main ways that a Golf sport psychologist can help:

Performing Under Pressure

• Confidence – Whether it be on the 1st tee or the 18th green we can improve how you think and talk to yourself so that you have faith in your ability;
• Concentration – Managing your concentration throughout a round, blocking out distractions and focusing on the right thing at the right time;
• Intensity – Playing at your best for large periods of time;
• Decision Making – Being able to make the correct decisions quickly and clearly when under pressure;
• Consistency – Being able to play each shot consistently under pressure to the best of your ability.

The ability to control both positive and negative thoughts is the difference between a good and a great golfer. Sometimes, emotions are complicated because they can be both a good and a bad thing when you are playing. For example, whilst some golfers put more effort in when they are angry, it may also make them lose focus on the task at hand.

The golf course can sometimes be a lonely place, meaning that the way you talk to yourself is vitally important.

How you talk to yourself can affect your concentration, persistence, stress levels and your emotions, which in turn affects your performance on and off the golf course. The way you talk to yourself can also affect your belief that you can always improve and your ability to deal with distractions.

A golfer with a growth mindset believes that their mindset is malleable. On the other hand, a golfer who believe that they can only get to a certain level because their ability is set are said to have a fixed mindset. Those with growth mindsets tend to learn faster and so tend to be much more successful.

No matter what your level is, a golf sport psychologist will help you reach your full golfing potential by tailoring their work to your specific needs. We work with golfers both in the form of one-to-one sessions as well as in group sessions.

What is the ‘mental game’?
Golfers often speak about the mental game in golf. This tends to encompass their ability to make the correct decisions, concentration, confidence, managing nerves and performing under pressure.

How much of golf is mental?
Having a great golf swing will obviously help you play better golf. However, many golfers and Golf Sport Psychologists suggest that the ‘mental game’ can take golfers to the next level. Jack Nicklaus even suggested that “80% of golf is mental”.

How do you work on your mental game in golf?
Working on your mental game in golf is like working on your swing. You start with the fundamentals of a winning mindset. Then, through effort and practice, your ability to perform better under pressure, practice more effectively and ultimately grow all round as a golfer will improve.

What golfers have you worked with?
We have been privileged to work with highly skilled amateurs who have played county and national golf. We have also worked with professional golfers who have competed on the European and International tours.

How does working with a Golf Sport Psychologist work?
Our work with individuals is private and confidential. One-to-one sessions take place wherever our clients prefer. This includes but is not limited to at practice grounds or at your house.

How can I play mentally better golf?
Try focusing on what’s most important and what you can control when you play. Ask yourself: what three things do I need to do well so that I can play my best? If you can focus on these and nothing else, you will be in the best place to perform.

How will a golf sport psychologist help me?
We help you become a better golfer by breaking it into three sections; before, during and after. Before you play, it is all about your focus and preparation. During a round, it is about performing at your best under pressure. After, it’s about reflecting on your performance and learning from it.

Do you understand golf? Because my last sport psychologist didn’t.
Yes. Often, sport psychologists rely on experience from other sports or from your understanding of golf. We are different. We have worked with numerous golfers with a variety of abilities, from those with high handicaps to elite golfers performing on professional tours.

Here are our main golf psychology blogs:

• Develop a Growth Mindset in golf
• Parenting junior golfers
• Stop feeling embarrassed on the golf course

And more of our blogs that could be of interest:

• How good is your first attempt?
• 10 ways to boost motivation
• Build a good team around you
• How to develop resilience
• 8 ways to maximise training
• 7 ways to reduce the fear of failure

And some of our favourite related resources:

• Fearless Golf; Conquering the mental game