I’ve compiled this Top 5 golf psychology mistakes from working with both amateurs and tour pros over the last few years. But pointing out mistakes is not much use unless you have ways of overcoming them. In each solution, there are links to other articles that include coaching processes to solve these mistakes. Each solution will also help the other mistakes listed here too.

MISTAKE 1: Thinking, not feeling

In a process called Verbal Overshadowing, talking to yourself during shots uses up parts of the brain not useful for playing golf. The more you talk to yourself, the less you use the more useful parts of the brain – those involved in seeing and feeling.

Solution: Use the Playing State to silence your mind and connect to the target.

MISTAKE 2: Playing before you’re ready

Every good routine ends in you having a congruent focus on the target so that you’re ready to play your shot. Yet the vast majority of golfers consistently play shots without being fully confident and ready.

Solution: Know your two triggers for Readiness – one to tell you when to leave the Think Box and address the ball, the other to tell you when to play the shot in the Play Box.

MISTAKE 3: Focusing on the swing not the target

The desire to have the perfect swing uses up so much attention on the individual parts, that the whole purpose and connection with the target is lost.

Solution: Always have a clear image and feeling of the shot before and during each shot

MISTAKE 4: Making the outcome more important than the process

Judging the success of shots purely on where the ball ends up can not only be misleading, leading to little or no learning, it can also be soul destroying.

Solution: Love every moment of every shot, from the routine, the shot and post shot learning. Love it so much that the outcome becomes irrelevant.

MISTAKE 5: Inconsistent routines

Inconsistent physical and mental preparation leads to inconsistent swings, leading to inconsistent shots. Add pressure to this mix and you can understand how things go sideways.

Solution: Develop a consistent routine that you ALWAYS use, regardless of whether you are practising or leading in the Club Championship. Here’s an example of an excellent putting routine.

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Love every shot!

Adam Sprackling

Mental Golf Coach