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| The
Mental Side of Golf |
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Beat Your Nemesis
Hole
by
Dr. Richard Coop
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Now that you have some golf under your belt, there's probably one hole
on your home course that's giving you fits. How can you conquer
it? Start by figuring out if your poor performance is the result
of a strategic error or a mental block.
Strategic faults include trying to stretch your distance on a hole you
can't reach in regulation; hitting the driver on a short, tight hole;
and failing to recognize a problem shot for you, such as a side hill
lie. Try to find patterns in your poor shots: If your driver
tends to be wild, keep it in the bag; if you get into trouble trying to crush
a 3-wood, lay up instead. |
One good exercise is to play the hole backward in your mind:
Begin on the green and identify the best place to land each
shot. You'll get a fresh perspective and improve your
strategic approach.
Sure signs of a mental block include negative expectations
based on past experiences and too much emphasis on a hazard or
other course feature, such as out of bounds or a water
carry. In both cases, you need to create positive
thoughts about this particular hole. Go out in the early
morning or late afternoon and play it with three or four
balls, recording the good shots in your memory bank for
later recollection. Also, practice the shots this hole
demands on the driving range. Point is, don't be a
victim out there; control your fate by being prepared.
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