25 Proven Ways to Improve Your Mental Golf Game
Are you ready to master your mental golf game so you can lower your handicap and play more consistently? If so, you’ll love these 25 easy to implement mental golf tips.
After writing about golf since 2017, becoming a +2 handicap and mental golf coach, I’m confident these tips will help you have more fun and master your mental game.
How to Transform Your Mental Golf Game - 25 Tips
First off - let’s clear on the goal of the mental game: stay out stress so you can get in the zone.
When you’re in the zone/flow state, you’re able to play effortless golf and take your range game to the golf course. Think of the mental game like a toolbox that you can whip out mid-round. These tips will help you add more tools so you can get out of stress, enjoy the round, and play to your potential.
1. Set Clear Goals
The first mental game tip is to get clear about what you want from your game. Define specific, measurable, and achievable goals for each round and/or practice session.
The key here is to create specific goals to give your mind a clear objective. As Jack Canfield said, “Vague goals equal vague results.”
Set two kinds of goals; process and outcome goals.
Outcome goals are ones like:
- Win a golf tournament.
- Break 80 for the first time.
- Become a single digit handicap.
Process goals are how you achieve the outcome goals:
- Work on short game 30 minutes/day - 3X per week.
- Speed train with Rypstick to add distance 3X/week.
- Play in 5 men’s league events to get comfortable with competition.
Everything great in golf and life starts with setting clear goals.
2. Reset Expectations
One of the first things I tell all my mental golf coaching students is to reset your expectations. Most golfers think they need to play “perfect golf” to play their best. Which is why I remind them of stats from the PGA Tour - even the best golfers in the world only hit 60% of fairways and 67% of greens.
So, why do you think you should hit every fairway and every green? Or never 3-putt?
Having the right expectations is key to playing wicked smart golf and mastering your mental game.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Meditation is a not so secret hack to help you and off the golf course. As Andy Puddicombe said, “We can’t always change what’s happening around us, but we can change what happens within us.”
Here’s the thing… If meditation works for Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, there’s obviously something to it. So I started in 2017 and now it’s something I do 3-4X (or more) each week.
A mindfulness practice helps reduce distractions and keeps you grounded. Download an app and make a mindfulness meditation practice part of your daily routine to improve on and off the golf course.
4. Develop a Pre-Shot Routine
Want to play more consistently every single round?
Develop a pre-shot routine and stick with it!
A pre-shot routine will help create a sense of familiarity and reduce nerves before each shot. It’s the one common mental component among all great golfers - both pros and amateurs alike.
Check out Pre-Shot Like a Pro to learn how to dial in your routines fast.
5. Stay Positive
Did you know that you’re wired for negativity (not just you, all human beings). It’s called negativity bias - here is a formal explanation from Very Well Mind:
“Our tendency to pay more attention to bad things and overlook good things is likely a result of evolution. Earlier in human history, paying attention to bad, dangerous, and negative threats in the world was literally a matter of life and death. Those who were more attuned to danger and who paid more attention to the bad things around them were more likely to survive.”
Luckily, we don’t have the same threats as we once did. Unfortunately, most golfers get negative after bad shots and make golf even more difficult.
To play your best, use the 3P approach from GYRA Golf (one of my favorite mental golf books). Focus on finding three positives after every shot (even the bad ones).
For example, I used this recently during a qualifying round after pushing my tee shot right but still ending up on the fringe. My 3 positives were:
- I still have a chance to make birdie.
- I have plenty of green to work with.
- My putting has been great all day.
Use this simple technique every round to stay positive and battle against negativity bias.
6. Expect Bad Shots
Accept that not every shot will be perfect and that’s okay. Remember, you do not need to hit perfect shots to play great golf.
The less you can get emotionally involved with each shot, the sooner you can prepare for the next shot. Oftentimes, blowup holes come from being too mad and not being able to focus on the next shot with the right mindset.
7. Use Deep Breathing Techniques
Your breath can help your golf game a ton. The problem is that most of us stop deep breathing and get too shallow, which sends our brain into fight or flight mode.
An article in Headspace found,
“Shallow breathing can turn into panic attacks, cause dry mouth and fatigue, aggravate respiratory problems, and is a precursor for cardiovascular issues. This breathing pattern also creates tension in other parts of the body and can lead to a lot of everyday problems.”
Practice deep breathing to calm nerves and maintain focus, especially in high-pressure situations.
8. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
Stop worrying about your score!
This is something I remind all my mental golf coaching students, especially juniors who are so focused on score.
Instead of worrying about your score, concentrate on executing each shot well. Having the right shot process (routine) on every swing can help you improve consistency and reduce stress.
9. Keep a Golf Journal
A golf journal is a great tool to help you brain dump, record your stats, note what worked well and what didn’t. Reflecting on your experiences can help you identify patterns and areas for improvement.
Before every golf tournament, I do a quick brain dump to declutter my mind and not overthink things. All it takes is a few minutes and will have you feeling as good as when you declutter your house.
10. Embrace Visualization Techniques
Visualization is another one of the most powerful tools in your mental game toolbox.
If you aren’t visualizing success on the golf course, you’re making things much harder on yourself. As Sir Nick Faldo said, “Visualization is the most powerful thing we have.”
Away from the golf course, regularly visualize entire rounds and specific shots in your mind. Sit in a quiet room with your eyes closed and imagine what you want to accomplish on the golf course.
Visualize your goals from step one in detail. Bring in other senses to make it feel even more realistic to your mind. Imagine things like:
- The feeling of raising the trophy.
- Fist-pumping as you drain a putt on 18 to win a tournament.
- Your teammates or friends saying, “Congratulations” after signing your scorecard.
11. Develop a Post-Shot Routine
Most golfers have heard about a pre-shot routine, but what about a post-shot routine? This is something I stress with my players, especially if you get overly emotional after bad shots.
Establish a routine to deal with both good and bad shots so you can move on quickly. A few examples of a post-shot routine include:
- A trigger like undoing the Velcro of your glove.
- A replacement swing (something I learned from Dr. Joseph Parent of Zen Golf).
- The 10-step rule (you have 10 steps to be mad, then it’s time to focus on the next one.
12. Stay Present
Your best golf only happens when your mind is fully immersed at the moment. If you’re time traveling to the past or future, you’ll lose focus and not be 100% committed to the shot.
Focus on the current shot, not the short putt you missed early in the round or the difficult 18th tee shot. Staying present helps you stay focused and reduces the impact of previous mistakes.
13. Use Positive Self-Talk
Want to play better golf fast? Talk better to yourself!
Don’t make golf more complicated by speaking negatively about yourself. Encourage yourself to boost confidence and improve overall performance.
14. Visualize Success on the Course
During your pre-shot routine, visualize the ideal shot to give your mind a clear picture before every swing. As Jack Nicklaus said, “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head.”
Picture successful shots and positive outcomes before hitting the ball as you pick your perfect target. Visualization can boost confidence and reduce anxiety.
15. Accept and Learn from Mistakes
I once had a coach say, “Get curious, not furious after bad shots.” This is a great way to learn from mistakes and become a more complete golfer.
Do not run away from bad shots or bad rounds. Learn from them so you don’t make the same mistakes over and over again.
16. Control What You Can Control
One of the core themes of my book, Wicked Smart Golf, is to control what you can control before, during, and after the round. This includes things like:
- Playing the right clubs.
- Getting to the course early.
- Having a consistent pre-round warm up routine.
- Sticking with a consistent pre-shot routine during the round.
17. Develop Patience
Understand that improvement takes time and effort. Having patience can reduce frustration and help you stay committed to your goals.
Sticking with a consistent meditation practice can help a ton.
18. Check Your Body Language
Just like self-talk, your body language plays a pivotal role in your mindset. It’s also another easy mental golf game tip that can improve your scoring fast.
You want to avoid negative body language like:
- Keeping your head down
- Tense facial expressions
- Arms folded in front of body
- Avoiding eye contact with playing partners.
Instead, focus on more effective body language like:
- Keep your chin and eyes up.
- Smile to reduce facial tension.
- Making eye contact with others.
- Maintaining and open and open posture
You should also take your free Mental Golf Type assessment so you can learn other ways to customize the mental game to your unique personality.
The Mental Golf Type system changed my game in 2022 as it provides tons of tips and tricks based on your mentally hard-wiring. Consider it a “mental fitting” for your mindset, just like you get fit for golf clubs that are right for your swing.
19. Build a Supportive Network
You are who you spend the most time with. Make sure to only surround yourself with positive influences, including coaches, friends, and family that help you get closer to your goals.
Life is too short to spend time with people who don’t support you on and off the golf course.
20. Stay Physically Fit
One of the easiest ways to develop a better mental game is by improving your physical fitness. Regular exercise can reduce stress, build mental toughness, and improve overall well-being.
21. Reframe Nerves
There is no difference between feeling nervous vs. excited. So when you’re nervous on the first hole, say “I’m excited” to shift your mood and use adrenaline to your advantage.
22. Manage Your Emotions
Remember, bad shots happen! Master your emotions so you don’t let one bad shot derail the hole or several holes.
Learn to stay calm and composed, regardless of how your round is going. Emotion management is key to maintaining focus and performance.
23. Play with Confidence
If you’re a committed golfer, you’ve already put in the work on the driving range. Now it’s time to trust it on the golf course.
Walk into each shot with confidence to significantly impact your performance. If there are shots you’re constantly worried or fearful about, make sure to spend more time on them in practice.
24. Reflect After Each Round
Most golfers whine and complain after the round, but this is a losing formula. Instead, spend time reflecting on each round to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Reflection helps you learn and grow as a golfer. After reach round:
- Write down 3-5 good shots (or more) in a note on your phone.
- Ask yourself if bad shots happened because of mental or mechanical breakdowns.
- Track your statistics (I like Decade Golf for this, plus it’s a great resource to understand course management skills).
25. Never Give Up
The final mental golf tip is to make sure and stay in the fight, mentally as well as physically. Consistency is crucial for long-term improvement in your mental golf game.
Closing Thoughts on the Mental Game
By incorporating these strategies into your game, you can develop a stronger mindset, which is essential for achieving your full potential on the golf course. The more tools in your mental toolbox, the sooner you can get out of stress and play more consistently.
For more mental game help, make sure to learn more about 1:1 mental golf coaching.
