50 Mental Golf Tips to Master Your Mindset & Lower Your Scores
Are you ready to lower your handicap fast? If so, these 50 mental golf tips will help you do just that.
As a +2 handicap and player coach, I stress with all golfers the importance of the mental game. I’ve seen players shoot 10+ shots better (from one day to the next) by simply improving their mental game.
Mastering the mental aspect of golf can dramatically improve your performance and enjoyment of the game.
50 Best Mental Golf Tips
Here are 50 of the best mental golf tips to help you stay focused, manage stress, and perform at your best on the course.
1. Visualize Success
Picture your shots in your mind before you take them. Visualization can enhance your confidence on every shot and a part of Jack Nicklaus’ routine.
As he famously said, “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head. It's like a color movie.”
2. Stay in the Present
To play your best golf, you must be where your feet are at that exact moment. Focus on the current shot rather than dwelling on past mistakes (like a 3-putt on the last hole) or future outcomes (like the scary 18th hole tee shot).
3. Develop a Pre-Shot Routine
A consistent pre-shot routine helps you stay focused and calm under pressure. Learn more about routines by checking out Pre-Shot Like a Pro.
4. Use Positive Self-Talk
Saying negative things about yourself and your game has never helped you play better. Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations to boost your confidence and focus on the course.
5. Set Realistic Goals
Goals are great, as long as you set the right kind. Break down your larger objectives (outcome goals) into achievable, smaller goals (process goals) to maintain motivation and track progress.
Set goals every year and check in on them regularly to see if you need to adapt your plan of attack.
6. Control Your Breathing
Deep, controlled breathing can help you stay calm and reduce anxiety. Make sure to take extra deep breaths before challenging shots like the first tee.
7. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
One of the easiest mental golf tips to apply to your game is to focus on your strategy rather than the score. Make it a goal to stick to the process and you’ll get the results you want.
8. Practice Mindfulness
Being mindful helps you stay in the moment and improves concentration. Check out these golf apps that can help you train your mind off the course.
9. Learn from Mistakes
Mistakes are part of golf (and life). To play better every round, analyze your errors objectively to understand what went wrong and how to improve. This way you won’t make the same mistakes over and over again.
10. Stay Positive
Maintain a positive attitude even when things aren't going your way. Optimism can improve your resilience and performance - not to mention help you have more fun.
11. Embrace Pressure
Pressure is a privilege, don’t run away from it! Instead, choose to see pressure as a challenge rather than a threat to improve your performance in high-stress situations. Pressure is why you work so hard in practice - don’t run from it, embrace it.
12. Use Mental Rehearsal
Mentally rehearse your game plan before the round to boost your confidence and readiness. Even 10–15 minutes walking through your tee shots can have a huge impact on your performance.
13. Stay Hydrated and Nourished
Proper hydration and nutrition can affect your mental clarity and stamina. Drink plenty of water, bring high-protein snacks, and electrolytes to avoid late round fatigue.
14. Play For Bogey for Better
When you’re out of position, ask yourself this one question, “How can I make bogey or better?” A bogey is not the end of the world, but a double (or worse) can ruin a round quickly.
15. Accept What You Can’t Control
There is so much out of your control during a round of golf (course conditions, pin locations, playing partners, etc.). Focus on what you can control and let go of things you can't, like bad weather or less than perfect course conditions.
16. Take One Shot at a Time
Concentrate on each shot as it comes rather than getting ahead of yourself. Don’t “time travel” to the future when you’re playing well, as you’ll likely stop doing what got you there in the first place.
17. Use a Post-Round Journal
Write down your thoughts and experiences after each round to learn and improve. Document your golf career by writing down 3-5 good shots, any swing thoughts that were working, or mental game thoughts.
18. Visualize Your Ball Flight
Seeing the desired trajectory in your mind can help you execute the shot more effectively. Learn your Mental Golf Type to figure out how you pick targets based on your personality.
Read my full review of Mental Golf Type here.
19. Manage Your Expectations
Stop setting unrealistic expectations for your game. You are not supposed to hit every fairway, every green, and never 3-putt.
Instead, set realistic expectations for your performance to avoid unnecessary pressure.
20. Keep Your Emotions in Check
Learn to manage your emotions, whether positive or negative, to maintain focus and composure. The more angry you get, the harder it is to calm down before the next shot.
21. Practice Under Pressure
Simulate pressure situations in practice to prepare for them in real games. Grab a friend or set pressure goals during practice to focus and help take your range game to the golf course.
22. Stay Committed to Your Shot
Once you decide on a shot, commit fully to it without second-guessing. If you have any doubt, back off and restart your pre-shot routine.
If you need course management advice, make sure to learn more about Decade Golf.
23. Use a Mantra
Having a simple, positive phrase can help you stay focused and calm. I’ve used ones like “I got this” or “Why not me” during pressure packed moments. Make it short and easy to remember during the round.
24. Understand Your Tendencies
Know your strengths and weaknesses of your game to manage them effectively. Favor your strengths under pressure vs. hitting low percentage shots that you haven’t practiced enough.
25. Take Breaks
Regular breaks during practice can help you stay fresh and focused. Stop rapid fire hitting golf balls and wondering why you aren’t improving.
26. Practice Visualization Daily
Make visualization a daily habit to improve your mental game over time. Before going to bed after a round, imagine replaying your bad shots with how you wish you would have played them for positive memories.
27. Stay Flexible
Be ready to adjust your strategy based on the situation rather than sticking rigidly to your plan. Things like wind or weather can change your club selection or target, so make sure to adapt.
28. Improve Your Body Language
Stop pouting on the course and start taking control of how you move your body to improve your mental game. Walk with strong posture, shoulders back, and eyes up to signal strength to your mind.
29. Develop a Routine for Bad Shots
Bad shots are part of golf! Make sure to have a strategy for how to respond to bad shots to minimize their impact on your game.
30. Practice Gratitude
The first lesson in my book - Wicked Smart Golf - is about having an attitude of gratitude for every round. Appreciating the opportunity to play golf can help shift your mindset and remove unnecessary pressure from the round.
31. Learn Relaxation Techniques
Techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation can help you stay calm and focused. Read the book GYRA Golf for some of the best mental game tips for pressure packed situations.
32. Focus on the Target
Stop playing “golf swing” and start playing golf. Keep your mind on the target rather than the mechanics of your swing.
33. Stay Patient
Patience is key in golf; rushing (your swing or decision-making) can lead to lazy mistakes. Stay patient during the round and let good shots come to you - don’t try to force them.
34. Avoid Comparisons
Stop comparing your game to other golfers. Focus on your own game rather than comparing yourself to others.
Remember, it’s you vs. you!
35. Stay Confident
Believe in your abilities and maintain confidence even when facing challenges. All it takes is one good shot to get your game back.
36. Change Your Self Talk
Stop saying negative things about yourself and game - it won’t make things better! Be very careful of every piece of self talk to instantly improve your mental game (and attitude).
37. Embrace the Challenge
See difficult shots and courses as opportunities to show off your skills. Don’t be intimidated by them, use them as fuel to focus during the round.
38. Practice Your Routine
Creating a pre-shot routine is key, but then you need to practice it so you can have more confidence on the course. Spend time during practice sessions working only on your routine.
39. Brain Dump Before the Round
Sometimes you need to clear your mind before the round to “mentally declutter.” I challenge all my students to do this before tournaments to find one swing thought and prepare for the event.
40. Stay Organized
Keep your equipment and bag organized to reduce stress during the round (and make sure you don’t leave a club behind).
41. Trust Your Swing
Once you've committed to a shot, trust your swing and avoid overthinking. Spend less time over the ball to eliminate doubt and indecision.
42. Accept Bad Shots
No matter how good you get, bad shots are part of this crazy game. Accept that bad shots happen and focus on recovering rather than dwelling on them.
43. Visualize Success in Pressure Situations
Mentally rehearse succeeding in high-pressure scenarios to build confidence. Imagine how you walk, talk, and carry yourself so you can do it when it matters most.
44. Focus on Rhythm and Tempo
Maintaining a steady rhythm and tempo can help you stay relaxed and focused. A good swing thought is “smooth tempo” to help you avoid mechanical swing thoughts and have a simple thought during the round.
45. Try Out Hypnosis
Self-hypnosis or hypnotherapy sessions can do wonders if you’re struggling with putting yips or confidence on the course.
46. Use Technology Wisely
Apps and tools can help track your progress and provide mental game exercises. But don’t rely on them too much during the round, as it’s easy to get distracted on your phone.
47. Practice Under Real Conditions
Practice in conditions similar to real game situations to better prepare mentally. Make practice more difficult, so rounds feels easier.
48. Maintain a Balanced Lifestyle
A balanced lifestyle, including rest and relaxation, can improve your mental game. If you have a big event coming up, prioritize sleep and recovery vs. hitting endless range balls.
49. Fight Until the Finish
Never give up during the round - mentally or physically. You must fight until the final shot of the round even if you’re having a bad day to maintain self-respect (and every shot counts).
50. Seek Professional Help
Working with a mental coach or sports psychologist can provide personalized strategies and support.
Closing Thoughts
There you have it, 50 mental game tips to transform your golf game. By integrating these mental golf tips into your routine, you can improve your focus, manage stress, and enhance your overall performance on the course.
Learn more about mental golf coaching to take your game to new heights. And check out this video below to avoid some of the most common mental gofl mistakes that are holding you
